A.—2

12

Watherston, R.E., the Director of the Survey, five army officers, and ten non* commissioned officers and sappers of the Royal Engineers, left this country in September last for the Gold Coast, where-they have since been employed, and will continue working until about the end of May, when the wet season, which lasts for about four months, sets in, rendering work of the nature of surveying practically impossible. 3. It has been found during the present dry season that more surveyors would be required if the work was to be completed with sufficient rapidity to prevent delays arising in the Concessions Court from the want of surveys ; and the attempt was therefore made to secure eight additional survey parties, each consisting of a surveyor and two subordinates. Owing, however, to the continued drain of Royal Engineer officers to South Africa no additional army officers could be obtained, nor, on application being made elsewhere than at the Wslv Office, could any competent surveyors be found whose services were immediately available for employment on the Gold Coast. It was therefore decided not to send out any additional parties during the present dry season, but to allow matters to stand over until after the rains. 4. It is anticipated that in the month of October next the services of a considerable number of survey parties —at any rate, not less than eight, each composed of a surveyor and two subordinates —will be required. The probable requirements will be discussed in detail with the Governor of the Gold Coast on his return to this country this summer on leave of absence; but lam bringing the information contained in this despatch to your notice at once, in order that, if it should be decided definitely to apply to you for a certain number of surveyors, it may be possible for me to do so by a short telegram, which, when read in the light of this despatch, will be sufficient to make the nature of the requirement quite clear; and that you may be able, by having already considered the matter, to inform me at once on the receipt of such a telegram whether you would be able to meet the request, and, if so, whether the surveyors could leave New Zealand in time to reach the Gold Coast not later than the beginning of October. 5. The nature of the qualifications which the surveyors will be required to possess will be seen from the Governor's despatch of the 22nd January, 1901, already referred to in the second paragraph, and from the further papers which are noted in the margin [Government of the Gold Coast to the Director of Surveys, 11th January, 1902. Enclosures to above : (1) Regulations for guidance of licensed surveyors ; (2) Notice with regard to the survey of properties], and of which copies are also enclosed. You will observe from these papers that distinction is to be drawn between the surveyors of the Government parties, who are appointed by the Government, and surveyors employed by private companies, who are merely licensed by the Government, and whose work is required to be tested by the Government surveyors for the purpose of the Concessions Court. The present despatch refers, of course, exclusively to Government surveyors appointed by the Government; but I enclose a paper showing the qualifications insisted upon for the licensed surveyors, as these particulars may be of use in explaining what will, a fortiori, be required in the case of Government surveyors. 6. The skilled surveyor in each party would be offered a salary of £60 a month while actually employed on the Gold Coast, and salary at half that rate during the period of the voyage from New Zealand to the Gold Coast. The tour of service on the Gold Coast would be for eight months of residential service, and would be followed by leave of absence on half-pay for a period of four months, on the surveyor undertaking to return to the colony for a further tour of eight months' service, or for two months in the event of his not wishing to return. The work of the survey is expected to last for at least three years from the commencement of this year, and the above arrangement of eight months' service with full pay, to be followed by leave with half-pay for four or two months, as the case might be, would be followed throughout the period of the duration of the survey. Eree first-class passages would also be provided from New Zealand to the Gold Coast, and back again at the expiration of the surveyor's engagement; also from