LAND REGISTTRY ACT, 18G0. ■ Incases of correction, the corrected sections will receive fresh numbers; the old numbers being •prefixed, by way of reference, in the same way as in the case of subdivisions; —So that when entries are.made on the Register, referring to corrected surveys, the reference wall .be to such new numbers. V. Registration maps are in course of preparation by the Provincial Governments of Auckland, Nelson, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago, I have received from the Provincial Governments of those Provinces the utmost courtesy and assistance. I have had no opportunity of personally communicating with the Provincial Governments of New Plymouth, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough. They will no doubt be equally ready to forward the object in view. The time required to complete the Maps may be assumed at about six months or a little more, from the commencement of the work. Of course this will depend on the quantity of work and the degree of activity used in the respective Provinces. In Canterbury and Otago I anticipate .that maps will be ready, say, about July or August. In Auckland the Chief Surveyor promises -to supply in about two months, maps of the Town of Auckland and the suburban districts. VI. The charge of these maps it is understood will be local, —each Province will pay for its own, charging the amount against the Survey Department. I may add that this only represents an expence which should have been incurred long ago. The charge on each Province may be estimated at from £300 to £500. I do not doubt the readiness of the Provincial Governments in this matter; but, I submit that it will be desirable to make specific provision, in the Estimates of the General Government in the ensuing Session, for the requisite expenditure, as a " local" charge. VII. As the maps of Auckland and the suburbs will be so soon ready, I recommend that the Act be brought into operation in those districts first. There will be advantage in thus testing the new .system, before applying it generally. Experience will no doubt suggest alterations and improvements. Suitable Buildings will be required for which also provision should be made in the General Estimates. I venture here to draw the attention of ths Government to the necessity of providing proper Record offices throughout the Colony. I think there should be such an office in each Province. At present, all the public records are exposed to great and daily risk of fire. It will in truth be ■impossible to carry into effect the proposed Registration System without providing for the arrangement and safe custody of Documents. As to the office staff required, it is impossible to estimate it with absolute certainty. I propose ;to commence in Auckland with The Registrar-General, .executing for the present the functions of District Registrar. A chief Clerk. A Draughtsman or Surveyor, and say one copying Clerk. But I think provision should he made for extra clerical assistance if wanted. Provision may be made contingently for the other Provinces. VIII. I proceed to explain the proposed course of procedure. I will first point out the Books ■■which I propose should be kept, and the mode of keeping them. The principal Records of the Office will bo the Registers of Proprietors and of Charges. The Act provides, (Section 3,) for the establishment of a Register Office for registering "' The Proprietorship of Land." Section 41 provides " That a separate Register shall be hept of Charges." No other Registers are expressly required by the Act: but Section 59 requires that "An " entry shall be made on the Register identifying the originals or-duplicates of Leases or agree- •" ments for Leases deposited, whereof notice shall be given ;" and .Section 61 requires that the District Registrar shall make "An entry on the Register of Land orCharges as .the case may be, " identifying Inhibitions." The record of Leases and Inhibitions will, in my opinion, be best kept in separate Register Books, referring by number to the Registers of Land and Charges. IX. The first and principal Register will be of Proprietors. The Act requires no specific form ; ef registration, but leaves it to be settled by Regulations of the Governor in Council (Section 71), I »ud by the Registrar-General (Section 74). Considering the importance of this Register, it is desirable that the form of it should be fixed by Regulation, subject to be varied if necessary. The form should be as simple as possible, avoiding unnecessary words. A question has been raised as to using words of description for ] Parcels in addition to delineation by map, and reference to Sections by numbers. My individual opinion is in favour of the utmost possible shortness of description, consistent with exactness and security from error and fraud. Delineation by map, (especially where, as in the vast bulk of eases, the description will merely consist of lines, angles, and measurements,) is so vastly superior to description by words, that I recommend strongly the discontinuance of the latter practice. Where ' the two modes agree, the latter is surplusage; where they differ, (as they sometimes will,) the map, and not the verbal description, will and ought,to bo the guide. Economy of Clerk's labour is, besides, a great object. If the Rules be adopted which I propose, for insuring accurate plans as accompaniments of all dealings with Land for Registration, every transaction will refer by specific number to.a

D—No. 1

Corrected Sections te be fresh numbered.

F Measures taken for I obtaining Registration :■ Maps.

Charge of Registration Maps.

Commencement of Registration.

Buildings.

Record Offices.

Departmental arrangement*.

Course of Procedure, Books.

Register of Proprietora.

Form of Register.

Description of parcels.