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1883. NEW ZEALAND.

SURVEYS OF NEW ZEALAND. (REPORT FOR 1882-83.)

Presented to both Souses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

The Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — General Survey Office, Wellington, Bth August, 1883. I have the honour to report the survey operations for the twelve months ended the 30th June, 1883. The New Zealand system of survey is now so well established and understood throughout the colony by the staff and authorized surveyors that the numerous public and private surveys, whether of Crown or Native lands, or for purposes of land transfer, are executed and recorded within such narrow limits of error as to leave very little apprehension of any loss or inconvenience arising from imperfect description of title. The out-turn of work for the twelve months is considerably in excess of some of the preceding years, and is set forth in detail, as formerly, in the reports of the supervising officers in the Appendix. Before touching on the various classes of survey, the following general statement will show the areas and mileage disposed of, and the cost thereof:— Area. Rate per Acre. Cost. £ s. d. £ s. cl. Major triangulation ... ... 1,348,490 acres 0 6 0-38 2,139 8 5 Minor triangulation ... ... 417,537 „ 0 0 0-89 1,552 7 0 Minor triangulation and topography ... ... 3,348,246 „ 0 0 0-88 12,257 17 10 Sural and suburban (settlement) ... ... 671,937 „ 0 1 3-2 42,554 5 6 Town survey j 1'768 allots }1 ° 2*Perlot 1,786 12 11 Native Land Court surveys ... ... ... 486'573 acres 0 0 4-76 9,651 1 2 Native land purchase ... ... ... ' 32,718 0 0 3-87 528 4 8 Gold-mining surveys ... ... 8,987 ~ 014 1-3 6,339 7 3 Eoads, railways, and water-races, 591-J- miles, £11 18s. 9d. per mile ... ... 8,255 0 6 Miscellaneous work and detention by Native opposition, &c. ... ... 12,506 15 10 Triangulation. About six thousand square miles of country have been brought under triangulation and topographical survey during the year. This comprises some of the most rugged and mountainous districts in both Islands. In the North Island Mr. Baber had a most difficult task in the survey of the Urewera Bush country, aggravated by the opposition of the Natives. The same cause has hitherto prevented the surveys from proceeding over some of the King country west of Lake Taupo. In the Middle Island Mr. A. D. Wilson extended a series of major and minor triangles, in continuation of his last year's work, from Awatere down the East Coast, from Flags Biver to a close on the Amuri triangulation; and from the same triangulation Mr. F. S. Smith triangulated west to the watershed of the dividing range between the two coasts. By extending a chain of triangles from the West Coast up the Ahaura along the standard line of bearings of the Grey circuit to I—C. 2.