C—lA.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX No. 1. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF CHIEF SURVEYORS IN CHARGE OF SETTLEMENT SURVEYS IN DISTRICTS.

AUCKLAND. I may preface my remarks with the statement that there are no features of particular interest which have characterized the operations of the Survey Department in this Province during the past year. The work has gone on steadily and efficiently without hitch. The reduction of the staff just previously to the date of last report has naturally resulted in a smaller output of work ; but, on the whole, the wants of the public and other departments have been fairly met. Major Triangulation. —We do not this year show nearly so large an amount of work; one reason being that a considerable portion of Mr. Cussen's operations in the extreme south of the King Country are incomplete, and although a considerable amount of country has been covered by this process the results will not appear till next year. Mr Cussen reports having 600 square miles of country covered by major sides, but in which some few angles are yet required to complete the series; when this has been done a junction will have been effected with the work of the Wellington Province in the neighborhood of Ruapehu and Waimarino. I beg to append an interesting report by that gentleman on the hydrographical survey he has made of Lake Taupo, and also remarks on Ruapehu Mountain, which have an especial interest at this time, in connection with the recent eruption at Tarawera Mountain. The character of his work is as usual very good. In twenty Ray Trace closures the mean ratio of difference per mile is 052 links, whilst the mean difierence in bearing is 10". Mr. Jas. Baber has completed his major triangulation between the Waiapu River and the East Cape, during the course of which he had serious trouble to contend against in the opposition offered by the Maoris, but he has satisfactorily completed it, and effected a very good closure on to the OpotiM north-east coastal series of triangles. Minor Triangulation. —Under this heading an area of 139,500 acres has been completed. It consists of small triangulations carried on from time to time to connect other surveys in progress. Topographical and Trigonometrical Surveys. —Mr. Cussen's past year's work appears under this head, although the average length of his sides are much longer than the minor work, properly so called. The one and a third million acres returned by him covers the country south-west of Lake Taupo. It has been unkertaken in the interest of the Native Land Court surveys, which are shortly to follow, to give titles to the Maori owners. Mr. Baber's East Coast surveys also appear here, as they fulfil the conditions of a topographical survey. Rural and Suburban Section Surveys. —The area of sections prepared for settlement, or for the issue of Crown titles this year, is much less than for several previous years, the causes being the smaller number of surveyors at work, and the decreased demand for land. Included in the 51,759 acres in the return are 4703 acres surveyed in order that Crown grants might issue; and 10,388 acres, the boundaries of which had never been marked on the ground, though the lands had been sold and granted many years ago. The cost of surveying these two areas, scattered as they are over the whole province, was <£2,4i1l 10s. od., which sum represents an old Provincial liability, and is not fairly chargeable to the current expenses of the Survey Department as at present constituted. The price per acre for the whole area surveyed amounts to very nearly three shillings, showing a gradual increase for the past four years. A slight consideration of the conditions surrounding the applications as at present made, will convince anyone that such an increase of cost is quite natural, and follows from the scattered and isolated nature of the lands applied for, encumbered as they generally are by surveys, the ground marks of which have generally disappeared, this, together with the fact of our not having had any considerable area to sub-divide into contiguous sections, fully explains the reason, and points to what will probably be the cost in the future of section surveys of the same character. Although the department with its present force is not able to keep pace with the applications for land so well as could be wished in the interests of settlement it is more forward than it has been for some years past; but this is owing in a great measure to the decreased demand for Government lands, whilst so much private property is in the market, frequently offered on terms lower than the land laws allow of. One special settlement has been surveyed during the year at the cost of the applicants, and another is just about finished, the survey of which is being undertaken for the Government by contract. The united areas amount to about 6,000 acres. Under the Homestead Clauses of the Act, 42 sections, containing 8,542 acres, have been laid out by surveyors paid by fees deposited by the selectors. Town Section Survey. —lo3 acres have been divided into 146 sections, principally in the towns of Rotorua, Kohukohu, and Uawa. Native Land Court Surveys. —The area of 30,267 acres (principally in carrying out orders of the Court) has been surveyed by the staff", and twenty-eight other blocks, containing 18,761 acres, have been surveyed by authorised surveyors, the cost being advanced by Government. In addition, the Maori owners have had surveyed, at their own cost, 101 blocks containing 127,431 acres, most of which are