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MARLBOROUGH LAND DISTRICT (G. W. Nelson, Chief Surveyor) Field-work This year has seen the completion of the major survey work on the South Island Main Trunk Railway; minor additions or alterations and the preparation of the land plans still remaining to be attended to. Rehabilitation of servicemen by land settlement has brought a considerable amount of work; topographical and subdivisional survey and the precise search of several hundred of titles as well as the preparation of numerous tracings, plans, and prints. Settlement Surveys: Rehabilitation.—Topographical surveys have been carried out over an area of 6,755 acres at an average cost of 4-Id. per acre, and subdivisional surveys, totalling 2,060 acres, providing nine units have been undertaken. Village and Suburban. —One local survey undertaken for this Department cost 18-ss. per acre, but isolated and outlying surveys done for other Departments have averaged 6415. per acre. Housing Subdivisional Survey.—Six lots in the Borough of Blenheim, totalling 1 acre 1 rood 39-5 perches, were surveyed at a cost of £2-73 per lot. A further survey of 31 lots in the Kaikoura is at present in hand. • Road Surveys.—Two miles of road survey were undertaken at a cost of £27*83 per mile, and one involved deviation survey, covering 8 chains, has cost £24 10s. Id. Maintenance of Survey Marks.—Standard maintenance in the Borough of Blenheim has called for the expenditure of £3B 16s. 7d. Inspection and Investigation.—An investigation of triangulation in the Sounds area, street alignment in Blenheim, and boundaries of the Beach Road, Kaikoura were undertaken, costing in all £6B 14s. 9d. Other Work.—Two miles of levelling in drainage work at the Wairau Pa and Speeds Farm Development Blocks, compass traverse of some 8 miles of fencing, and the investigation of water-supplies and road access in several servicemen's settlement blocks, the interpretation of aerial photographs for the investigation into the proposed Clarence River Hydro-electric Scheme, and the Survey and calibration of D/F Aerials for the Blenheim Aeradio Station were some of the undertakings included in the cost of £284 3s. 2d. accounted to " Other Work." Proposed Operations 1946-47.—The completion of the South Island Main Trunk Railway land plans, the topographical and subdivisional survey of further blocks for rehabilitation and settlement of servicemen, the subdivisional survey of land for housing purposes, and the survey of main highways deviations are proposed to be undertaken. If possible, the completion of the Pelorus rural standard and Pelorus sound triangulation will also be taken in hand. Office Work The draughting staff has compiled or has drawn from the surveyor's field notes a total of 21 plans, and has examined 65 plans, of which 48 are approved, the balance being on requisition to surveyors. A further 18 plans await examination. The revision of five cadastral and two record maps were undertaken, 29 census maps prepared, and 48 diagrams drawn for Crown leases and miscellaneous documents. Four hundred and ninety-three tracings, 195 helio prints, 1,452 title searches, and 1,104 posters for settlement purposes were made, while 220 plans were mounted, and 2,070 aerial photographs indexed and recorded. Lithographs to the value of £1,820 are held in stock,

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