GOVERNMENT SURVEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7914, 25 September 1911, Page 8

GOVERNMENT SURVEY

annual report. THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMME. Tho number of surveyors employed by tho Government during the year, states tho annual report of the Government survey operations, submitted to Parliament last week, was 124, of whom 95 wero engaged in tho North Island and 29 in the South. In addition to these licensed surveyors, a number of cadets and assistants were employed. Tho total cost of tho surveyors and their parties amounted to *£82,787.

The operations this year are likely to bo. extensive. “ The new year," states the report, “ commenced with a field staff of seventy-four surveyors, who have a Very large amount of work on hand and in actual progress. This, as is always tho case, will bo largely added to from time to time. There is also tho prospect of further purchases' under the Lands for Settlements Act and by the Native Land Purchase Board, as well as heavy- calls for the survey of native land in connection with Native Land Boards, and these, coupled with miscellaneous work, will keep the surveyors more than fully occupied during the year. " Tho principal ..classes and area of work on hand at the beginning of tho year are summarised as follow :—Triangulation. 3270 square miles; settlement, 690,518 acres; town, 122 acres; native land surveys, 207,030 acres; roads, 192 miles. Those areas coming under the heading of ''settlement," "town,” and "native land survey," and which may be classed as subdivisional surveys, give a total of 897,690 acres. This largo area, however, does not represent all new work, for the survey of some 120,000 acres has been completed in .the field, the mapping of which has yet to be done. “Of the foregoing areas the Auckland staff has an area of 268,398 acres of settlement lands, 32,000 acres of which have been completed in the field, besides native land surveys of 125,841 acres. In addition to this, a total of some 116,000 acres spread over - the district and representing Crown and national endowment land is anticipated to bo surveyed for selection, which is more than ample to keep the staff as well as contract surveyors fully employed. "In the Hawke’s Bay district the staff has in hand 95,650 acres .of settlement land and 41,580 acres of native land, comprising 13,480 acres for Maori Land Board and 28,100 acres for Native Land Court. In addition to the foregoing areas, there will bo tho subdivisions of the Manawaaugiangi block of .12,000 acres lately purchased by tho Crown through tho Native Land Purchase Board. “The' Tarauaki staff has in hand 113,550 acres of settlement land acres of which is completed in the field — besides 2866 acres of native surveys. "In the Wellington district the area in hand for settlement amounts to 69,724 acres. Tho native surveys total to 21,920 acres.

"The staff of the Nelson district has 62.570 acres of settlement work in hand, 10,000 acres of which has been completed in the l field. In addition to this it is proposed to put in hand some 33,000 acres.

" The, Marlborough district, with 11,900 acres of settlement land, 143 .acres of native and 31 miles of road surveys, will also have ample work in hand. Westland has in hand 20,066 acres of settlement surveys.

"The Canterbury district has in hand .some 3000 acres of settlement land. In addition, to this there will be the sub division of an area of about 10(5,000 acres, comprising the Sherwood, Downs land, of 56,500 acres, lately acquired .under the Land tor Settlements, Act, and 49,870 acres of pastoral land to be offered as small grazing runs at the end of the coming year. There will also be the survey of the Glynn Wye freehold —about 7000 acres..

“Tho Otago staff has on hand 32,400 acres of settlement survey®. .Southland has in hand 13,144 acres of settlement land, and tho subdivision of 14,700 acres for landless natives, situated in the Forest Hill, Waimumu, and Lindhnrst survey _ districts. In addition to this there will be some 18,000 acred tp survey.” The report also* mentions fhe heavy work tho requirements of the Census Department and tho Boundary Commissioners threw upon the staffs. Good progress had been made with tho map of tho city of Wellington and suburbs, and tho completion could bo looked for at nq distant date.