C.—l

1904. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

OOXSTTEXSTTS.

Genbbal Report— Page Lands — Land opened for Selection during the Year .. i Table showing Manner in which Crown Lands were opened for Sale or Lease .. . ■ ii Lands disposed of .. ■. • • v Table showing Number of New Selectors, Area taken up, and Total Amount of Revenue received during the Year.. .. .. v Table showing Comparison of Operations under principal Headings .. .. .. vi Average Size of Holdings selected during the Year .. .. .. .. •• vii Table showing Summary of Lands selected .. vii Table showing Preference of Tenure .. viii Review of Year's Transactions under the Several Tenures.. .. .. .. viii Inspections and Rangers' Reports .. .. xiii Position and Progress of Settlement.. .. xiii Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act xvi Revenue .. .. .. .. ..xvi Arrears .. .. .. • • • • xvii Forfeitures and Surrenders .. .. xviii Reserves .. .. • • • • • • xviii Domains .. .. .. ■ • ■ • xviii Forests .. .. .. •• .. xix Milling-timber .. .. .. •• xx Nurseries and Plantations .. .. .. xxi Sand-dunes and Drifting Sand .. .. xxii Medical Assistance to Settlers .. .. xxii Cheviot Estate .. .. .. •. xxiii Land for Settlements .. .. .. xxiii Table showing Estates offered for Selection during the Year.. .. .. .. xxv Summary of Settlements established upon Estates acquired and dealt with .. .. xxv Surveys — Surveyors employed during Year .. .. xxvii Summary of Field-work executed .. .. xxviii Minor Triangulation and Topographical .. xxviii Topographical Survey .. • • .. xxviii Rural and Suburban Surveys .. .. xxix Town Surveys .. .. .. .. xxix Native Laud Court Surveys .. .. xxix Gold-mining Surveys .. .. .. xxix Magnetic Survey .. .. .. .. xxix Road and Railway Surveys .. .. .. xxx Other Work .. .. .. ■ • xxx Inspection of Surveys .. .. .. xxx Land Transfer Branch .. .. .. xxxi Miscellaneous .. .. .. ■. xxxii Proposed Operations 1904-5 .. .. xxx;i Standard of length .. .. .. xxxiii Office .. .. .. ■ • • • xxxiv The Surveyors' Board .. .. .. xxxv Conclusion .. .. .. .. xxxvi

i General Report— continued. Page Departmental Changes— Deaths .. .. .. .. .. xxxvi Retirements .. .. .. .. xxxvi Promotions .. .. .. .. .. xxxvii Head Office— Report of Chief Draughtsman .. .. xxxvii Chief Clerk .. ... .. xxxix Accountant .. .. .. xl „ Auditor of Land Revenue.. .. xiii Appendix I.— Land-settlement: Administration— Auckland— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 1 Inspection by Rangers .. .. .. 2 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 3 Reports of Rangers .. .. .. 6 Special Settlement Associations .. .. 9 Improved-farm Settlements .. .. 10 General Remarks .. .. .. 11 Clerical .. .. .. .. 11 Hawke's Bay— Lands opened for Selection .. .. 11 Lands disposed of .. .. .. 12 Review of each system of tenure .. 13 Inspections and Rangers Reports .. 13 Position and Progress of Settlement .. 13 Rebates of Rent .. . . .. 14 Number of Tenants and Arrears of Rent .. 14 Forfeitures and Surrenders .. .. 14 Lands to be opened .. .. .. 14 Improved-farm Settlements .. .. 14 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 14 Office-work .. .. .. .. 16 Taranaki — Summary of Land Transactions duririg the Year.. .. .. .. .. 17 Lands offered and disposed of during the Year .. .. .. .. 17 Review of each system of tenure .. 18 Inspections and Ranger's Report .. .. 22 Progress and Prospects of Settlement .. 23 Endowments .. .. .. .. 23 Revenue .. .. .. .. 23 Forfeitures and Surrenders .. .. 24 Reserves .. .. .. .. 24 Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act .. .. .. .. .. 24 Office-work .. .. .. .. 24 Wellington— Lands opened and disposed of .. .. 24 Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.'. .. .. .. .. 25 Inspections and Rangers' Reports .. 27