C.—l

Statement showing the Blocks of Land which have been proclaimed under "The Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, 1891," &c. — continued.

Departmental and General. During the year some changes have taken place in the stations of officers. Mr.H. G. Clark, the Commissioner and Chief Surveyor of Marlborough, retired after thirty-two years of faithful service, and was succeeded by Mr. S. Weetman, whose place as Commissioner and Chief Surveyor at Taranaki was taken by Mr. J. Strauchon, of Westland. Mr. David Barron, senior District Surveyor of the colony, was promoted to fill Mr. Strauchon's place as Commissioner and Chief Surveyor of Westland. The department lost through death the able services of Mr. J. Williams, the Beceiver at Christchurch, after a service of forty-one years. Bangers Hill and Mussen also died during the year, after many years of faithful service, whilst several other officers have retired. Details of the various operations carried on by the department will be found in the appended extracts from the reports of the local officers, and in the tables accompanying them. From them some idea may be gathered of the multifarious duties peformed by the department; but, at the same time, little idea is conveyed of the constant strain that is felt, more especially by the senior officers and those in whose guiding hands the several branches of the department are placed. Notwithstanding the constant call on the time of the officers, their services are rendered cheerfully and ungrudgingly, and constantly at the expense of hours that should be devoted to rest and recuperation.

HEAD OFFICE. Maps. Mr. F. W. Flanagan, Chief Draughtsman, reports : — In addition to the regular departmental duties performed during the year ended the 31st March, 1894, a large proportion of the time of draughtsmen and printers was, as usual, engaged in work of an urgent nature for other departments. This extra demand on the services of the staff

XIII

Name of Block. Ga Area of Block. No. Page. Gai letted. Sur 'eyor-General's Report. Works Estimated required to Cost A open up such V^P^i Block - bonwed. Ex] April 1, 1893, to March 81, 1804. tenditure, Total to Mar. 31. 1894. Date. Valuation of Block. To March 81 1803. Brought forward Acres. 541,653 & •122,910 112,203 £ 37,833 27,309 £ 65,142 1893-94. .. 1487 83 1383 30 520 34 571 35 573 40 656 13 245 246 8 152 74 1297 90 1521 71 1372 28 539 68 1324 71 1377 68 1324 „ 1327 21 393 78 1481 19 339 74 1419 4 26 49 939 1892 Road-works Back Greek Lepperton .. Mangaore .. Opuawbanga-Whangarei No. 1 Tauhoa-Komokoriki Svvinburn Tahaukupu Catlin's Omahine, Block I. .. Mangoira-Coal Greek Pohui Kaimarama Stirling Tauwharetoi Paterson, Block I. (No. 2 Loan) Nuhaka No. 2 Aongatete Autawa Mata-Hikurangi Tararua Waipoua Opaku-Kapara Woodville Umutaoroa Taupiri Oteramika Wellington Fruit-growing Association Ngarara West Mangaokalm Blocks XV., XIV., XI., Hautapu Block IV., Sutton .. Glenkenicli Glenomaru, Block VI. Waikoikoi Town Ngairo 5,000 2,775 7,432 4,600 2,050 1,790 2,817 196 455 6,500 4,306 3,182 4,770 9,40d 1,573 777 14,300 4,725 6,498 3,993 58,200 18,620 254 1,461 9,200 6,253 2,625 20 Oct., 27 April, 1893 1 May, 4 May, 18 May, 23 Feb., 2 Feb., 1893 22 Sept., „ 11 Nov., 1892 21 Sept., 1893 31 Mar., 1892 7 Sept., 1893 21 Sept., „ 7 Sept., „ 4,375 2,998 12,845 2,300 1,000 1,610 2,256 196 341 8,204 3,655 1,580 0,678 4,975 787 485 5,362 4,276 2,458 4,592 29,100 10,455 286 956 3,910 2,631 8,565 Road-works 800 966 4,144 500 325 288 675 50 lid 2,031 538 318 1,193 1,175 393 58 1,430 1,153 437 998 5,800 2,793 25 100 920 625 1,313 - 503 128 '524 203 72 - 503 'l28 524 '263 "72 23 Mar., „ 19 Oct., 16 Mar., „ 5 Oct., 12 Jan., 22 June, li067 l^067 45 860 71 1377 72 1274 8 Juno, „ 21 Sept., „ 15 Sept., 1892 134 'l34 3,892 2,325 6,293 54 1047 92 1567 6 Aug., 1893 24 Nov., 1892 3,425 1,163 5,469 973 233 1,573 211 489 25 28 7,500 62 1211 10 Aug., 1893 8S6 931 80 87 15,000 124 244 25 29 6,000 19 368 6 Mar., 1894 Drainage .. Totals 740,802 576,827 150,566 37,833 30,000 67,833