C.—lA

16

Crown Lands Branch : 55 plans were examined and approved ; 38 plans compiled in the office ; 17 sale plans were prepared ; 549 tracings made ; 1,104 plans recorded ; 22 record maps prepared ; 2 drawings for map were made of survey districts; 2 revisions of old drawings were completed; 1 borough map and 1 town-district map were prepared. Westland Land Disteict (W. T. Morpeth, Chief Surveyor). Field Operations.—During the year 15 plans were handed in by the field staff, representing field-work completed of 593 acres rural, 65 acres village and suburban, 2 acres town land, and miscellaneous surveys and inspections. The areas dealt with were scattered, the rural surveys generally representing small areas of unsurveyed land applied for from time to time for settlement under mining district land occupation or regulation licenses. The miscellaneous work represented a number of land inspections and valuations, including valuations and reports on lands offered to the Crown for closer settlement.. One inspection of a town survey was made, and the work found satisfactory. Further inspections will be made during the ensuing year. A good standard of work is being maintained by the surveyors, both staff and private. Office-work. —Plans examined and approved during the year numbered 56, classified as follows : Land Transfer, 16 ; settlement, 20 ; statutory, 8 ; mining, 2 ; and miscellaneous, 10; also, 16 plans were compiled ; 397 general tracings and 64 tracings in connection with timber applications were prepared ; 111 lithographs, principally for the information of "the Warden in connection with land applications, were coloured, and 48 lithographs and plans mounted ; 52 20-chain record maps were completed, making a total of 75 completed to date ; diagrams indorsed on instruments of title numbered 865. Excellent progress has been made with the preparation of the 20-chain record maps, as the figures returned indicate. These maps, as regards the more extensively subdivided districts, are now in general use. Although 114 of these maps yet remain to be prepared, the districts involved are sparsely subdivided and could be completed without difficulty before the end of the ensuing year. With the completion of the 20-chain record maps, and with a view to having further 40-chain survey district lithographs issued, it is suggested that the preparation of further photo-lithographic tracings of individual survey districts be put in hand where such is warranted by the extent to which the survey district has been subdivided and settled. This class of lithograph is popular with the public and meets with a ready sale, in addition to being an economical map for office use. Canterbuby Land Disteict (W. Stewart, Chief purveyor). Standard Surveys.—The standard survey of the Borough of Timaru has been completed during the year by Mr. H. A. Adams. The survey comprises 26-45 miles, and a special report on the work has been sent forward. Mr. Adams also carried out rural extensions both north and south of Timaru, but owing to his transfer to Dunedin and a staff surveyor not being available this work has not been completed. I might state in connection with standard surveys and permanent survey marks that extensive trenching operations and permanent road-surfacing have been carried out in the city and suburbs by the various local authorities, and every endeavour has been made to preserve or reinstate these marks, although I am of opinion that it would require almost the full time of one surveyor to do justice to this work. Field Staff. —The present field staff consists of Mr. H. R. Mottram, who was transferred to this district during the past year, Mr. W. Paora having been transferred to Auckland and Mr. H. A. Adams being appointed Land Transfer draughtsman at Dunedin. During the year 48 plans were handed in by the field staff, representing field-work completed of 26,670 acres of rural, 2 acres town sections, 8 miles of road, 11| miles drainage surveys, 41 acres village and suburban, and 136 acres Native reserves ; of these plans three represented comparatively large areas of land being acquired by the State Forest Service for tree-planting operations, one was a large education reserve surveyed for lease and title purposes, and the remainder consisted of small education reserves, resubdivision of settlements for allotment to adjoining lessees, Native-reserve partitions, small township blocks, road-deviations, &c. The work in hand consists of 2,734 acres of rural, being several resubdivisions of settlements, several education reserves, 27 acres of township sections to meet the increased demand for week-end and holiday accommodation, 13§ miles of road-deviation, 84 acres Native partition surveys, and 36 square miles of topographical work. A very high standard of efficiency was shown by the traverse closures returned, the average for rural surveys over circuits of 38f miles, representing 170 stations, being 0-24 on the meridian and 0-18 on the perpendicular. Town Surveys. —These represent 12 sections, of a total area of approximately 2 acres, and comprise two surveys in Hanmer to open up building sections and one survey of the Provincial Council Chamber site. Road Surveys. —These consist of three surveys of approximately 8 miles, and were carried out at a cost of £14 9s. per mile. Rural Surveys—These consist of four surveys for the State Forest Service, three education reserves, six resubdivisions of settlements, and one exchange survey ; total area, 26,670 acres. Native Surveys.—These consist of three surveys, of a total area of approximately 137 acres, carried out under Native Land Court partition orders.