DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8072, 13 October 1887, Page 5

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS.

[BV TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.! Wellington, Wednesday. SURVEY OF CROWN LANDS.

The report of the Surveyor-General shows the reductions made in the last three months have effected a saving in the annual expendi - ture of £6200. Current charges show £85,000 a year, £15,000 will be recovered for services performed, leaving £70,000 chargeable to the Crown lands. In Auckland 43 miles bridle road and 50 miles of cart road have been formed, 49 miles of roads and tracks graded for construction, thereby assisting to open up for occupation an area of 100,000 acres of Crown lands at a cost of £19,055.

MARINE DEPARTMENT. The annual report state* that the apparatus and lantern for the lighthouse on Cavier Island has been received. The lamp burns five concentric wicks, being the first of the kind in the colony. It is proposed to proceed with the erection of this lighthouse during August or September next. A contract tor two cylindrical boilers for the Hineraoa have been let.to Cable and Co. for £858. The casualties were 60 as against 65 last year total wrecks 22, as against 10 last year ; 62 lives lost, as against 35 last year. Correspondence hai taken place relative to an application for the exclusive right to take oysters in a bed said to be discovered by the applicant in the Auckland provincial district, but the applicant has not as yet taken the formal steps required by the Oyster Fisheries Act, 1886. The specimens of oyster for* warded have been declared by Dr. Hector to be a new variety of mud oydtcrs found in the vicinity of Cook Straits.