OPENING UP THE COUNTRY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 34

OPENING UP THE COUNTRY

A staff of seven permanent and three temporary surveyors is at present engaged in different parts of the Wellington land district, and has an area of some 83,300 acres of subdivisional surveys in hand, consisting chiefly of bush land suitable for pastoral purposes in large areas. About 14,000 acres of selection surveys in the Kaitieke block will be completed during the next season. Mr Strachan has the survey of the surplus land around the margin of the Wairarapa lakes in hand, and also the laying out of .roads preparatory to defining reserves for natives. Mr J. Stevenson explored for and located twenty-five miles of road in native reserve A —14,850 acres, situated in the Makotuku and Rarete survey districts. He also located and graded two miles in this block. In native reserve E, situated in block VIII, Kaitieke survey district, he located and graded six miles twenty chains of roads. He also has an area of about 14,400 acres of the Morikau No. 2 block to complete for subdivision and settlement under the Aotea District Maori Land Board; also the location of roads, prior to subdivision, in reserve A, Waimarino. Messrs Girdlestone and Stewart will continue and complete the survey of the Ruatiti block, South Waimarino, of about 18,500 acres, and Mr Johnston the subdivision of the Ohakune extension and Horopito townships. The other staff surveyors, when available will be fully employed in the. subdivision of land for settlements, Crown and native lands, and other miscellaneous work. It is desirable, the chief surveyor points out, that the Wellington City standard survey should be extended to the suburbs (if possible during the coming season), owing to the many subdivisions now taking place around the city.