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tion the questions were prepared by the Queensland Board, and distributed to each of the other Boards ; while for the March, 1903, examination the New Zealand Board set the papers, and supplied them to all the other Boards. As a result of negotiations with South Africa, the Orange River Colony has decided to recognise the licenses issued by the Board ; consequently, licenses from the Board are now available in all the Australian States and in the Orange River Colony. During the year the Board has been engaged in drawing up new regulations for conducting the survey of land. These regulations have occupied a large part of the time of the Board, and after final revision and approval they will be issued to the profession. House of Representatives Electoral Districts. Under the provisions of the Representation Acts, and following upon the census of the 31st March, 1901, it was necessary to readjust the electoral districts of the colony. This was effected by the North and Middle Island Representation Commissions between the 12th and 25th June, 1902, and, after giving the prescribed month's interval to allow of suggestions and objections with reference thereto being made, the Commissions resumed their sittings on the Bth August, and completed their duties on the 11th, and furnished the usual report to His Excellency the Governor (vide Appendix 1902 of the Journals of the House of Representatives, H.—29, H.—29b., and H—29c). To enable the Commissioners to fulfil their functions, the Chief Draughtsman of this Department and his staff undertook the task, involving arduous duties, of completing the various maps and plans upon which were delineated all the counties, ridings, road districts, boroughs, and town districts; and, in addition, allotted the whole population of the colony in the most minute manner. This information, of course, was based upon the results of the labours of the officers of the Census Department. The Commissioners were also furnished with the services of capable officers to assist in the readjustment and re-enumera-tion of the population. The whole of the descriptions of the boundaries of the electorates as finally determined, and their delineation, was intrusted to and carried out by the Chief Draughtsman and his assistants; and this duty was done in a thorough and efficient manner, and in a wonderfully short space of time, reflecting the greatest credit upon the officers engaged. Proposed Field Operations, 1902—3. The following tabulated summary of survey-work on hand will afford some conception of the class and volume of work to be done :—

Summary of Work on Hand on the 30th April, 1903.

Exclusive of triangulation, which is practically all in abeyance, but including Native Land Court surveys, the field staff have 1,993,119 acres of country to subdivide and prepare for settlement on the lines previously specified, and upon this duty they will be almost exclusively engaged. The surveyor employed upon this duty realises that, though he may not achieve such showy and monumental works as the civil engineer or architect, his work is not less important or arduous, and that, as regards the manner of its conception and execution, the interests of the people are even more vitally involved. Office. The round of duties in the Head Office and district offices is clearly defined, and involves the issue of instructions to the field staff to enter upon and undertake the surveys which

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Land District. Ol Rural, Crown, and Land for Settlement. Unsurveyed Settlemem Major Minor Triangula- Triangulation. tion. Native. Land foi Landless Natives. Reserves. Unallotted. S$ Acres. 415,307 201,478 42,515 281,653 22,111 46,900 65,409 12,584 58,969 10,200 Acres. Acres. Acres. Acres. 322,989 130 9,483 74,520 Acres. Acres. *238 t72J Acres. Miles 156 27 2 164 Auckland Taranaki Hawke's Bay Wellington Nelson .. Marlborough Canterbury Westland Otago .. Southland 63 12 9 18 12 4 2 6 3 3 125400 141 ', 800 200 ', 000 2,150i000 30 ] 000 259 {129 ', 826 23 70|000 1,343 *50 183 30,000 Totals 132 1,157,126 266,900 2,350,000 100,000 407,122 30,000 2,145* 129,826 372 * Township. t Standard. } And roads and railways, 53 miles.