a—s

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CANTERBURY. Minor Triangulation and Topography. —But one District Surveyor, Mr. T. N. Brodrick, has been employed on this work during the year. Starting from the triangulation of the Pukaki district, completed by Mr. Maitland in 1884, and connecting with the stations near the foot of Lake Ohau, which were erected by Mr. J. A. Connell in 1873, Mr. Brodrick extended the work to the head of the lake, and thence up the valleys of the Dobson and Hopkins Eivers as far as the triangulation could be carried, completing the topography of the sources of both these rivers and their main tributaries by traverse lines run up the river-beds, the intervening country being carefully filled in by cross bearings taken to the principal peaks on the adjoining mountains. Whilst up the Pluxley Eiver Mr. Brodrick found a saddle in the Southern Alps at an elevation of 5,308ft., which he crossed, and thence descended to the Landsborough Eiver. This is marked on Mr. Mueller's topographical survey of this river, but it is now found not to lead over to the headwaters of the Hunter River, Avhich must rise somewhat further south : it is a connecting saddle between the Huxley and Landsborough Rivers. Mr. Brodrick has written a detailed and interesting account of his climb over this and Sealey's Pass at the head of Godley River, w 7hich, with sketch-plan illustrating his route, I enclose.* So far as lam aware, he is the only person who has actually crossed the main range betAveen Whitcombe's and Haast's Passes, though Mr. Sealey, from the Canterbury side, ascended to the top of the pass named after him. Mr. Brodrick has completed about 90,000 acres of triangulation at under fd. per acre, and 189,000 acres of topography at 0.37d. per acre. Sectional Surveys. —Mr. Welch has been engaged nearly the whole season in subdividing the various Native reserves on Banks Peninsula, iu connection with the divisions made by the Native Land Courts, to enable the Natives to obtain titles to their holdings. Mr. Mathias has been engaged on similar work in the south part of Canterbury. In both cases the work has proved very costly, owing to delays in the survey caused by disagreements amongst the Natives, their nearly interminable meetings anent the position of the land allotted to them by the Courts, and consequent references to the Native Land Court Judge before the rights of the rival claimants could be settled. Mr. McClure subdivided one reserve of 1,805 acres on the south side of the Rakaia, but, as the subdivisions were considerably larger than in the other reserves, and as he was not delayed in any way by Native disputes—the subdiA'isions having been previously settled by the Natives at my office —the work was done at a very moderate cost. In all, fifteen reserves, containing 5,258 acres, have been laid off and pegged on the ground into 271 holdings, at a cost of 2s. 9f d. per acre. Mr. Welsh also completed the survey of one of the blocks selected by the Midland Railway Company, containing 7,146 acres. Messrs. L. O. Mathias and G. H. M. McClure were both engaged in marking the boundaries, laying out roads, and making topographical surveys of blocks of pastoral lands, to be opened under " The Land Act Amendment Act, 1887." 66,567 acres have been so completed, at a cost of under 2d. an acre. Mr. Mathias also made a complete survey of the Station Peak Block, containing nearly 14,000 acres, at an average of 4-37d. per acre, which includes the cost of the topographical survey, which he had first to make in order to open the land under the Amendment Act of 1887. Mr. Hay Avas occupied the wffiole season in laying out various blocks of the Lake Ellesmere Trust land into suitable-sized sections for sale. In all, he has divided 9,250 acres into seventy-two sections, at a cost of Is. 0-1-d. per acre. Mr. Hay was, at his OA-vn request, transferred to HaAvke's Bay in May, after a service of twelve years and a half on the Canterbury staff, during which time he has executed a large area of trigonometrical and sectional surveys of various kinds, including some intricate and troublesome revision surveys on Banks Peninsula. His surveys have always been systematically and accurately done, and his plans clear and exceedingly well drawn. General Surveys. —-Owing to the demand for pastoral lands to be opened for settlement, very little general survey has been completed this season, and consequently a great deal of work has accumulated, which must be overtaken during the ensuing summer. Land Transfer Surveys. — Mr. Monro, the officer in charge of this work, reports as follows : " The amount of work which has been passed through this office during the year ended the 30th June, 1890, has been approximately the same as that during each of three previous years, there being an increase in the number of plans deposited, and a further decrease in the number of certificates in lieu of Crown grants issuing. The amount of work passing through this office is perhaps best indicated by stating the proportion which the total amount of work passing through the Christchurch office of the Laud Transfer Department bears to the total amount of Avork passing through that department in the whole of the colony. From a tabulated statement extending over several years compiled by the District Land Registrar from gazetted monthly returns, the amount of Avork performed by the Christchurch office of the Land Transfer Department is about two-fifths of that passing through the whole of the Land Transfer Department of the colony, both as to value and as to number of documents. During the year three new subdivision plans have been compiled—viz., Town District of Geraldine and adjacent rural sections, and Town Districts of Temuka and Arowhenua and adjacent rural sections, by Mr. Cane; and subdivision, of rural sections at New Brighton by Mr. W. C. Leversedge. Forty-six plans have been deposited and checked, containing 534 allotments, being the largest number of plans received since the year 1883. Eight hundred and ninety-eight ordinary certificates of title and 277 certificates in heu of Crown grants have been issued, the former requiring one and the latter two copies before they could issue. Out of 1,689 transfers received by the Land Transfer Department, 337 had to be checked as to area, &c~ and out of 129 leases received thirty-five required checking. Two hundred and ten applications to bring land-under the Land Transfer Act have also

* See Appendix No. 4, page 53. _-