SETTLEMENT ON STEWART'S ISLAND.

D.—No 7a

19

Under these circumstances each selection, or rather the surveys in each little bay or inlet will have to be made complete in themselves, leaving tho collating of these into one general connected survey of the whole to some future period. The most important points of the Island, extending from Rugged Island, the extreme north-east point of Stewart Island to Breaksea Island, the easternmost point, have already been trigonometrically connected with the meridianal circuit survey of this part of Otago. This will render it comparatively easy to extend the meridian on which these surveys must be based, into the numerous bays and inlets with which this Island abounds. Thus, taking into consideration the detached nature of the surveys which will probably have to be executed, I have, after giving the question mature deliberation, concluded that to insure accurate and effective surveys, the woru; must be entrusted to a surveyor in whom implicit confidence can be placed, as no complete check can be kept over surveys so scattered as those will at first be, and which, from the nature of the country, cannot be based on minor triangulation previously executed. I think, therefore, a district surveyor ought to be appointed, having an officer at the principal settlements, whose first duty it will be to act as land officer, to receive and record the applications of the intending settlers, and forward them to whoever may have the control of the lands in question. Immediately upon the application being decided, the selector should receive a license to occupy the land selected, and the survey of the same could be undertaken when he was fairly established on his location, and in a position to give his time to cut the lines of his allotment. As it is intended to charge the cost of survey to the settler, this officer must receive a small salary from the Government, as it is impossible for him to wait for payment of his work until these settlers are in a position to pay for the survey of their land; but, receiving a small salary and a monopoly of the Government work, such as laying out village allotments —some of which, I apprehend, the Government will sell by auction, as town lands, to anybody who may wish to settle or invest in them —or the laying out of any land (at a fixed rate per acre) that may be purchased on the Island, he might be in a position to wait for payment by the immigrants for the survey of their selections, the cost of which might become a charge on the land (just like the Crown Grant fees), bearing interest payable two or three years after occupation. Settlers to act as their own line cutters. The settlers might be allowed, under certain restrictions, to cut their own lines, thus considerably decreasing the cost of survey to them. Permanent chainman required, ?vhich will enable surveyor to connect the surveys. In this case the district surveyor should be allowed one permanent chainman, it being impossible that each settler could perform that part of the work. He would then be in a position, when not otherwise engaged, to extend the true meridian into the various inlets and bays, and connect, by bearings from point to point, or by chained line across the narrow necks of land which so often divide these bays, the various surveys; thus, without 1 much cost, completing the survey, so that a reliable recordmap could be made of the whole. The manifest advantage to the Government would be, that the surveys being done by an officer appointed by and responsible to itself, it would have effective and reliable surveys, thus preventing those disputes which are certain to arise hereafter from a defective system, and it would have an officer on the spot who could act as its agent in all matters connected with the settling of these immigrants. He might also act as Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, and similar offices, for the General Government. Advantages of proposed method of survey to the settlers. The advantages to the settlers would be, that being allowed to cut their own lines, the surveys would be done much cheaper, and the surveyor permanently residing there, the survey could be undertaken whenever the settler could himself afford the time to perform his part of tho work—a great boon to a man just settling on his land. Another great advantage would be, having an officer on the spot, with whom he could lodge his application and otherwise refer to in connection therewith, he would be saved both time and money in visiting the main land. First outlay. I think the outlay to the Provincial Government would not, in the first instance exceed, say — Cost of erection of survey office ... ... ... ... ... £100 0 0 ~ Boat for surveyor ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 0 0 „ Office furniture, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 25 0 0 £150 0 0