C.—lA.

(1) Printing-costs. Although, there is a slight decrease in the total expenditure for printing-costs compared with the previous year (£1,223), it ! is satisfactory to note that there has been a considerable increase in the number of cadastral maps published from new and revised drawings. This increase in the publication of cadastral maps will require to be maintained, particularly when more staff can be released from the routine work for lithographic draughting. (2) Map Sales and Credits. Table Ib, which summarizes the map sales and credits of the Department, shows that, although there is a fall in the total credits, the cash receipts from the public for the purchase of lithographs has increased from £1,594 to £1,710. Last year's map sales were increased above normal on account of the large number of maps used in connection with the Electoral Boundary Commission. Table lc sets out in detail the sale of lithographs and publications in various districts. The cadastral maps (survey district and county) and the New Zealand 4-mile series are greatly in demand, and sales compare favourably with last year. (3) Lithographic Draughting. Centennial Atlas.—Work on this proposed publication has proceeded steadily during the year. The scope of the contents of the atlas has been considerably extended, and it is not expected that all of the final drawings will be available for printing until the end of the year. The data for many of the special historic and economic maps is being collected by research officers attached to the staff of the Internal Affairs Department. This research work has tended to slow up the drawing of the final maps, necessitating the transfer of Mr. C. T. Brown to the Wellington District Office. The following maps have been completed to date : New Zealand 10-mile series (in eight double pages), Tasman's chart, Cook's chart, Tuki's map, Maori map of South Island, Pacific explorations, Antarctic explorations, physical map of New Zealand, New Zealand dependencies, and world map. The following maps are under preparation : Population maps (four periods), forest maps (four periods), climatological maps (seasonal and monthly), provincial and county map, and coastal navigation map. The supervision of the staff preparing the atlas drawings has been carried out by Mr. R. C. Airey, Inspecting Draughtsman. His time has been fully occupied in co-ordinating the work carried out by the research officers and advising them in respect to the methods of reproducing in map form the data collected. The collection of the data for the many special historic and economic feature maps has almost been finalized, and should all be available for map-preparation early in August. Special Feature Maps.—The following special feature maps have been completed or are in the course of preparation : — (1) Wellington City Street Map : This map was completed, and is now in the hands of the Government Printer for publication. (2) Aviation Strip Maps : The publication of these maps has been considerably delayed, and they are only now available for sale. The Government Printer has experienced considerable difficulty in coping with the increased demand for published maps during the current year. These strip maps are invaluable to air pilots, and are in considerable demand. (3) Soil Maps (Hawke's Bay) : The Department still continues to give draughting assistance to the Scientific and Industrial Research Department for the preparation of maps of the soil surveys of Hawke's Bay. (4) Pasture Maps (Hawke's Bay) : Two detailed pasture maps comprising eight survey districts in Hawke's Bay have been completed, and are now ready for publication. This work is being carried out at Head Office for the Scientific and Industrial Research Department. General Maps.—The lithographic draughting carried out by District Officers shows in most cases a considerable improvement. The adoption of a uniform standard of draughting is tending for greater efficiency in this class of work, the results of which are well illustrated in the high standard of draughting of officers preparing the Centennial atlas. In addition to the routine survey-district and county maps, the following special feature maps have been completed by district offices during the year ended 31st March, 1939 : — Napier Street map .. .. .. .. .. Ready for publication. Christchurch Street map .. .. .. .. Revised for reprinting. Invercargill Street map .. .. . . . . Published. Aerial Survey Mapping (Mr. R. J. Crawford). —Owing to unforeseen circumstances, such as gaps in the original photographic work of the Hawke's Bay area and the necessity to remove the aerialmapping staff to new quarters after the Aitken Street quarters had been damaged by fire, the final plotting of sheet No. 141 is not yet completed. The final drawing of sheet 134- has been completed, and will be forwarded to the Government Printer for publication shortly. It is contemplated that during the coming year a start will be made on the plotting of sheets 46, 47, 48, 51, and 52. The photographing of this area will be commenced early in May by a special photographic flight attached to the Air Force.

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