C.—lA

1944 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SURVEYS (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

"Wellington, 7th July, 1944. The Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — I have the honour to present herewith my report on the survey operations of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1944. I have, &c., R. G. Dick, Surveyor-General. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT I have much pleasure in presenting a brief report of the activities of the Survey and Draughting Branch of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1944. In spite of additional responsibilities brought about by the war situation, the staff has been able to cope with all essential works. Topographical mapping for military purposes has constituted the major activity of the staff. Routine work has been further reduced to meet the bare requirements of State and public land transactions. The various activities are reported on briefly as set out hereunder. Routine Activities Land Surveys The amount of routine land survey work carried out by staff and contract surveyors during the year has shown a small increase on the previous year. This work is falling into arrears because of the national shortage of registered surveyors available to undertake contracts for other Departments. The number of private practising surveyors engaged on various contract surveys, mainly for the Housing Department, has increased from forty-two to fifty-two. Of the thirty-five staff surveyors, the majority were employed on topographical mapping. ' With the increase in housing and land-settlement- activities, urgent surveys are accumulating. The release of registered surveyors from topographical mapping will assist to a small extent in the reduction of these arrears. The following is a summary of the land survey work carried out for the year ending 31st March. 1944:—

Summary of Field-work

Class of Survey. Average Cost. Total Cost. £ s. d. Topographical survey for settlement .. .. 5,646 acres .. 9-7d. per acre .. 227 11 5 Topographical survey for housing .. .. 126 acres .. £2-38 per acre .. 300 11 0 Rural and suburban" .. .. •• 27,459 acres .. 22-66s. per acre 3,648 16 6 Town sections .. . i .. .. 1,047 sections £3-43 per section 3,592 18 6 Native land .. .. ■ • 1,232 acres, ,. 4'86s. per acre 299 5 3 Road and railway .. .. .. •• 48-9 miles .. £35-85 per mile 1,748 15 8 Other work .. .. .. ■ • ■ ■ • • 2,849 11 7 Total cost .. .. .. •• •• .. 12,667 9 11