7

C.-2

Publication op Maps. This very important work, immediately under the direction of Mr. Barron, has been, as will be seen from his report, actively prosecuted during the year, 125 maps having been published for geographical and Crown lands purposes, and 321 plans and maps for other departments. The great economy and convenience to the Government and the public in having maps on the 1-inch scale, although referred to in former annual reports, is again adverted to for the purpose of pressing attention to the necessity which exists for better premises in which to conduct the lithographic work. The number of maps for publication will increase with the progress of the survey, and reprints will have to be made from time to time as a matter of course. At present there is too much hand-press work, and in this, as in all other manual operations, it is easy to produce a block of work. With more room and machinery a much greater quantity of work could be got through at a less proportionate expense of time and money. Extra Departmental Work. Under this heading may be enumerated the surveys executed and still in progress for the Native West Coast Commission, under Sir William Fox; and the subdivisional surveys for the Native Trustee, Mr. Thomas Mackay, also the sectional surveys of educational reserves for the Otago School Commissioners, and the supervision of the sectional survey of part of the Otago Boys' and Girls' High School Endowment, Strath-Taieri. As the Government guarantees the titles of all the dealings with these lands, it simplifies matters greatly to have all the surveys conducted in strict conformity with the system in vogue in the survey of the Crown lands. The Property-Tax Department having had to revalue the whole of the freehold lands of the colony during the year —having had, in fact, to compile a Doomsday Book—necessarily required a great deal of assistance from the department, which was rendered willingly, although often at considerable inconvenience and delay to the proper work of the district survey offices. By the time the next three-yearly valuation has to be made, it is to be hoped that the work for both departments will be greatly lessened by the publication meanwhile of many more sheets on the 1-inch scale. Future Operations. For the ensuing survey season about twelve parties will be solely devoted to the extension of trigonometrical and topographical survey. Applications for survey of Native blocks, aggregating an area of 700,000 acres, await disposal, and fully 200,000 acres of sectional surveys of Crown lands. The survey and roading of other blocks of Crown lands will also proceed in anticipation of future land sales and settlement. There is still a great deal of work to do in the taking and legalizing of roads in the North Island. This is a most troublesome and expensive work, and one which the department would gladly see completed. In the offices the usual reductions of survey plans, compilation of records, and preparation of description of titles will be kept up, and as many maps prepared for publication as the existing plant can turn out. I have, &c, James McKerrow, Surveyor- General. The Hon. W. Bolleston, Minister of Lands.