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Abstract of lithographs printed during the twelve months : — Head Office ... ... ... - ..; ... 1,098,503 Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,350 Otago ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,500 Total ... ... ... ... 1,102,353 Maps and tracings mounted at Head Office, 1,257. Correspondence, etc. Mr. W. S. Short, the Chief Clerk, reports : — The volume of work for the past year is quite up to that of any previous period. There were 16,800 letters and telegrams received, and 13,500 written and despatched, and 2,264 new subjects were recorded. A new and revised edition of the regulations and instructions of the department was prepared and issued. This is very complete, as it includes a digest of all the principal circulars on official subjects that have been issued to officers of the department for many years past. It also includes copies of regulations under many Acts that are commonly dealt with by the department. New regulations under the Land for Settlements Act were also prepared and published; and both these regulations have been issued in pamphlet form. Under the head of naval and military land-claims there were 506 letters received and replied to. A Bill was drafted dealing with the outstanding claims, and powers were taken thereunder for the appointment of a Commissioner to settle the same. An Act was passed last session somewhat on the lines of this Bill, and, a Commissioner having been appointed, the voluminous papers relating to the subject were forwarded to him. The Proclamations, Orders in Council, warrants, and notices dealing with land that were prepared during the year were as under : — Land Acts : Warrants opening land under Part 111., 60; warrants of sales of land by auction, 39 ; Proclamations setting apart village-homestead lands, 7 ; Proclamations withdrawing the settingapart of village-homestead lands, 3 ; Orders in Council fixing terms and conditions for setting apart village-homestead lands, 7 ; Orders in Council modifying original terms and conditions for setting apart village-homestead lands, 11; Proclamations setting apart village lands, 2 ; Orders in Council fixing terms and conditions of village lands, 2 ; Orders in Council altering terms and conditions of same, 2; Proclamations setting apart small grazing-runs, 6; warrants temporarily reserving lands, 14 ; warrants amending descriptions of reserves, 2; warrants permanently reserving lands, 4; Proclamation reserving educational endowments, 1; Orders in Council making regulations for special settlements, 3, and amending regulations for improved-farm settlements, 1; miscellaneous Proclamations, 7 ; miscellaneous warrants, 11. Land for Settlements Acts : Proclamations of land for sale as small grazing-runs, 2; warrants of land for sale on lease in perpetuity, 6 ; new forms under Act printed, 6. Cemeteries Act : Warrants appointing trustees, 28; Orders in Council delegating Governor's powers under, 2. Publio Domains Act: Orders in Council bringing reserves under, 11; Orders in Council delegating powers under Act, 34. Public Beserves Act : Order in Council changing purpose of reserve, 1; warrants changing purpose of reserve, 2 ; Orders in Council vesting reserves in local bodies, 21. Native Land Court Act: Application for exchange of land, 1. The following is a summary of the Proclamations and other instruments prepared and gazetted during the year that relate principally to roads, bridges, and ferries : — Proclamations— Public Works Act : Taking and laying off roads ... ... 48 Land Acts : Opening and closing roads, &c. ... ... ... 51 Government Loans to Local Bodies Act: Proclaiming loan areas... 9 Land for Settlements Act: Closing roads, &c. ... ... ... 3 11l Orders in Council — Public Works Act: Declaring road county road, taking Native land for road, &c. ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Warrant under Public Works Act: Authorising construction of bridge .. ] Notices — Public Works Act: Intention to take land for roads ... ... 5 Governor's warrants: Authorising laying off of roads ... ... 23 Surveyor-General's warrant: Authorising laying off of roads ... 1 — 29 By-laws (various) ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 151 In addition to the above a Commission was issued to Mr. H. W. Bishop, Stipendiary Magistrate, Christchurch, to hold an inquiry relative to the control and maintenance of the Selwyn Bridge. The Chief Surveyor, Auckland, was authorised to inquire into an objection under the Public Works Act to the taking of land at Hukatere for a road; and a warrant was issued to myself, authorising the holding of an inquiry at Eketahuna on the subject of a heavy traffic by-law passed by the Eketahuna Boad Board. These inquiries were duly held. iii—C. 1.

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