Council Papers.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 3, Issue 131, 24 March 1860, Page 2

Council Papers.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE Taken before the Select Committee appointed, to enquire into the WORKING OF .THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT, &C. Mr. TIFFEN, examined :— Q. — "Will you state to the committee your opinion of the work performed by the officers of the Survey Department during the past 12 months ? A. — Mr.>Bousfield is the only officer now in Provincial employment who has been in the service during the past 12 months. I have not yet had an opportunity of testing his work, the map not being completed ; but I believe the work has been satisfactorily performed, and the service executed at a fair and reasonable cost to the Government. Q. — How have the contract services named in the report been executed ? A. — They-have been satisfactorily executed as far as they have at present come before me. Q. — It has been stated that the larger suburban sections at Havelock are not pegged, nor lines cut, merely laid out on paper. Is such true, and if so, is such in accordance with contract ? A. — Of the two sides of the dividing road only one has been staked, from No. 32 to No. 39, both inclusive. Q, — Could you suggest any advisable or feasible plan by which the present cost of surveys could be diminished, or by which more work could be done at the same expense ? A= — It would be easy enough, provided that in all cases professional men of high capability could be procured. Q. — Do you think it necessary that surveyors when employed in the field should have a field allowance towards covering the expenses they are put to by living in tents or moving about ?— A.

Yes, in consequence of the hard nature of the , service. Q. — Is it usual in other places to. grant such a field allowance ? A. — I am not aware. Q. — Do you anticipate much good as likely to result from the regulations now in force, by which the different districts of the province are committed to districb surveyors who are made responsible for all works in their district. A. — I think so, provided good professional men can be procured. Q. — Do you think it necessary to have small district survey offices in particular places ? A. — I think there should be an office in each district, for keeping plans for reference in, and for field plotting. Q. — Will you state where district offices should Ibe built ? A. — One at Porangahau, " Waipawa, " Okawa. Q. — Will you state what your opinion is in reference to- the two offices of Chief Provincial Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands being held by the same person, and whether it is desirable that those offices should be held by difi ferent persons or not ? A. — I think if you could get a really efficient person to fill the office of Chief Surveyor a good deal more work could be done, as {the Chief Surveyor could then be constantly overlooking the field work, which the numerous duties attached to the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands will not allow of his now

doing.