D.—No. 7a

at a salary of £150 per annum. AYe understand that the only other remuneration which ho received was in some inferior clerical capacity under the Auckland Provincial Government. We learn that there arc four independent and disconnected surveys in progress:—lst, Native Reserve Surveys ; 2nd, Land Court Surveys ; 3rd, Provincial Government Surveys; and 4th, Military Settlers' Surveys. We think this cosily aud dangerous. The absence of any uniform system of survey throughout New Zealand increases the liability te error in Crown Granfs" and aggravates the evils now felt from the want of regulations for licensing Surveyors and for ascertaining their qualifications by professional examination. A general system of survey, and the enactment of regulations on this subject would obviate these evils. We are so impressed with the necessity for the attainment of greater security in the accuracy of Crown Grants, that we recommend that a professional inquiry should be made into the nature and efficiency of the several Provincial, fho Native Lands Court, and other surveys, with the view of adopting some uniform and safe system for effectively securing the object in view. At present tho General Government undertakes the preparation of Deeds of Grant ordered by the Native Lands Court. We think that the Provincial authorities should undertake the responsibility and cost of ascertaining the accuracy of the surveys of lands dealt with by this Court, and of preparing the Crown Grants, which should be transmitted to the General Government, as are other similar documents, by the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province. The surveys in each Province should be made under the direction and control of the Central Provincial Office, where the maps and field notes of the surveys should bo deposited, and if necessary certified copies should bo furnished for record in the Judge's Court, if tho Court is one of record; or if not, the original survey might be produced in evidence, and returned to the Central Provincial Office to be filed. Nothing, in our opinion, can be devised more unsatisfactory than a system which requires the first surveys of a country to be made in such an unconnected manner, and scatters the maps and field notes in several offices. No Crown Grants should, in our opinion, bo signed by the Governor unless prepared by the officer who prepares the ordinary grants for Crown Lands. We may add that the adoption of one efficient system of survey will considerably facilitate the labours of the Geological Survey Department. RECEIVERS OF LAND REVENUE. Auckland—No salary ; Sub-Treasurer, and also a Provincial Officer. Taranaki—No salary ; Commissioner of Crown Lands, paid from Provincial funds. Hawke's Bay —£75 per annum ; also Resident Magistrate, £250, and Registration Officer, £50. Wellington—£7s per annum ; also Chief Clerk in Provincial Land Office. Nelson—£lso per annum ; Provincial Officer, Clerk to Commissioner Crown Lands, £150. Marlborough—£loo per annum ; also Resident Magistrate, &c. Canterbury —£200 per annum : also Sub-Treasurer. Otago—£so per annum ; also Collector of Customs. &c. Southland—£so per annum ; also Collector of Customs,"&c. These officers are under the control of the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. All proceeds of Land sales, or other Land revenue, are paid to them. They pay the same into a Bank to the credit of tho " Receiver of Land Revenue" at such times as they think fit. They make refunds, or other repayments authorized by tho local Commissioners of Crown Lands, from the revenue received; pay over the proportion due to the General Government to the General Treasury, and the balance to the Provincial Government. Payments are all made by the Receiver's cheque on the Bank-. The Receiver gives a receipt for the amount paid, specifying for what land, and obtains "the signature of the purchaser to a copy of the receipt to send with his accounts of receipt and disposal of revenue to the Auditor. We think the Receiver's receipt should be given upon a document of the proper Provincial Officer, notifying to the Receiver the sum to be received, and for what. At present the check upon the receipt of money is insufficient. The custody of Land Revenue should be secured by placing it to the credit of the Public Account, like other revenue, and the payments to the Provinces should be made at stated intervals. Provision should be made for the inspection of the books and accounts of the Receiver by the officers of the Provincial Government, to ascertain that the proper sums had been received, and for the right portions of land, and that no sales were outstanding for which iiftyment had not been made. Ay c further recommend that no Receiver of Land Revenue should be a Provincial officer. Security by bond should be required to an amount proportioned to the revenue dealt with. REGISTRATION. This Department is under the direction of the Honourable the Colonial Secretary. Wellington. One officer holds the following offices, with the salaries stated : District Registrar of Land Titles, £150; Registrar of Deeds for the Province, £350 ; Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for the District, £100; Registrar of Marriages under Marriage Acts, and Secretary to Registrar-General for Lands and Deeds, no salary; Registrar Joint Stock Companies, no salary, retains fees, which last year amounted to 10s. There are three clerks attached to this office at £175, £150, and £60. There is very little business under the Land Titles Registration Act. The Registration of Deeds and Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages aro the chief duties of this office. The Registrar examines the registrations and signs them, and grants certificates of

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REPORT OF THE CIVIL