7

a—4 a.

fern-pence an acre, would of course have been considerably less if allowance had been made for value of traverses on survey ot adjoining blocks, (all traverse angles, I would here observe, are marked with well-driven 3 inches x 3 inches heart of totara pegs.) The cost of survey would also have been reduced at least one-third if the survey had been performed at a more favorable time of the year. I have, &c, "W. A. Marchant, Esq., Donald Hugh Monro, Deputy-Inspector ot Surveys, Wellington. District Surveyor.

No. 4. Mr. Monro to Mr. March ant. Sir, — Wanganui, July 14th, 1875. I ht.ve tbe honor of enclosing1 a report of Mr. Alzdorf s on his survey of the Retaruke block, and en the completion of the survey of the Kirikau block, commenced by myself during the preceding1 winter. As you will observe, his estimate of the cost of the Retaruke block shews that the field work on this survey was performed for a very reasonable sum per acre. This is chiefly due to his having- been enabled, by consent of the Native claimants, to triangulate a considerable portion of the boundaries ; it is also in part due to his having been employed on this survey during the best portion of the year. Time spent in plotting and computing, on return to Wanganui, has not been included in his estimate. I would here observe the great difficulty of in all cases exactly apportioning the cost of the survey. lam of opinion that a larger portion of a surveyor's salary might be fairly charged during the best months of the year, and a smaller during' the worst, in making these estimates. 1 would in all cases suggest the advisability of estimating the value of the work performed in future surveys of adjoining blocks. If the work is properly executed, and well pegged, this would be considerable in the case of a comparatively isolated block, As the maps cf this and adjoining blocks are not yet complete, it would be impossible to include the cost of plotting with any degree of exactness. The above noticed value of survey in the case of adjoining blocks would to a great extent cover this. I estimate the cost of the Kirikau block somewhat higher as you will see from the following figures. Cost of Kirikau Survey. (Field work only.) My own and Mr. H. A. Field's salaries whilst employed at Kirikau, £ s. d. from April 2!) to August 29, 1874 ... ... 153 G 8 "Wages subsequently claimed by men for survey work performed during this period ... ... ... 49 5 0 Mr. Field's salary from November 20, 1874, to February 25, 1875... 26 11 3 Mr. E. McDonnell's salary from November 20,1874, to January 2, 1875 ... ... ..." ... 17 13 5 "Wages paid to Mr. Field's party, Kirikau, to Te Iringa-o-te-Whiu, (November 20, 1874, to December 20, 1874) ... 22 15 0 One-1 alf of wages paid to Mr. Field's party, on boundary, from Te Iringa-o-te-Whiu to Te Patere, November 20, 1874, to February 25, 1875, the other half being charged against the adjoining Kawautahi block ... ... 9 5 0 Cost of surveying portion of the Wang'anui River Bdy, south of Kokakoriki Stream to Te Rauwhare, and hall cost of surveying boundary thence to Te Patete, the other half being charged against the adjoining Retaruke block ... 50 0 0 Total cost of Field Work ... ... 328 10 4 This will make the cost ot the field work of the Kirikau block, a fraction under 4|d. per acre. The difference of cost of survey in the case of these adjoining blocks is fully accounted for when the following facts are taken into consideration. The first portion ot the Kirikau survey was undertaken during the worst portion of the year. The Natives pretended (although they afterwards claimed payment as shown above) to find all labor, and I had practically but little control over volunteer workers, who would at times desert me (especially when any hcavv clearing required doing) for a week together. When not altogether

Enclosed Report, lletaruko Survey. Cost of Retaruke Survey.

Difficulty in Apportioning Cost.

Difficulty in Including; Cost of Office Work. Cost of Kirikau Block.

Cost per Aero, Rpnsons for Diiirrcmce of Cost of Tuliua Surveys.