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APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I.—SURVEYS. AUCKLAND. Minor Triangulation. —3o,992 acres by staff in Opotiki and East Taupo Counties, costing l-79d. per acre ; and 10,800 acres in Bay of Islands County, by private surveyor, costing 0-33 d. per acre : a total of 41,792 acres, costing T4ld. per acre. Topographical Survey far Selection. —Under this heading is a total of 49,651 acres, costing 10-07 d. per acre. Of this area, 29,127 acres is Crown land open for selection, the final surveys now being in hand, and 6,418 acres of Native land for the Maori Land Board, and 14,106 acres compass survey for the Native Land Court. Rural. —The total area of rural surveys amounts to 142,089 acres: 108,185 acres, costing l-425. per acre, by the staff ; and 25,507 acres, costing 2-295., by private surveyors : and 8,397 acres, also by private surveyors, the cost of which is not available. Village and Suburban. —1,376 acres in 178 sections, surveyed by staff, costing 10-965. per acre; and 1 acre in 1 section, costing £10, by private surveyor ; and 82 acres in 33 sections, by private surveyors, the cost of which is not available. Town Section. —The staff surveyed 70 acres in 281 sections, costing 39-50s. per section ; and a private surveyor I acre in 12 sections, the cost of which is not available. Native-land Surveys. —The total area of Native land surveyed was 256,680 acres, into 1,196 subdivisions. The staff surveyed 33,478 acres (209 subdivisions), costing 18-13 d. per acre, for the Native Land Court, and 18,980 acres (71 subdivisions), costing 28-52 d. per acre, for the Maori Land Boards. Private surveyors completed 139,279 acres (738 subdivisions), costing 18-45 d. per acre, for the Native Land Court, and 25,993 acres (52 subdivisions), costing 14-7 d. per acre, for the Maori Land Boards ; and also 38,950 acres (126 subdivisions) for the Native Land Court, the cost of which is not available. In connection with these surveys no delay takes place when once the authorities are to hand and the requisition of Maori Land Boards and Judges of Native Land Courts are submitted. Gold-mining Surveys. —s96 acres in seven claims was surveyed by private surveyors, costing 4-645. per acre. Roads, &c. —The staff surveyed 111 miles, at £26-37 per mile, and private surveyors f mile, at £39-37 per mile ; and 4J miles, the cost of which is not available. The continual application of lessees of land from Native owners for roads of access through the adjoining Native lands is a matter that may require consideration. Other Work. — Miscellaneous surveys, side-pegging roads, reports explorations, reports inspections, &c. Inspections-. —Sixty-seven inspections of surveys have been made—sixty by Mr. Wheeler and seven by Mr. Galbraith —and all prove generally that the different surveys have been faithfully carried out. Traverse Closures. —The staff surveyors' traverse closures, taking seventy-five average closures of 224 miles in length, show a mean close of 0-45 of a link on meridian, and the same error on perpendicular. Considering the class of country operated over, this is very satisfactory. Contract Surveys. —Private surveyors have on hand 10,799 acres of Crown land, the cost of which has been deposited ; also 3954 acres for settlement selection under authority from this office, and 482,167 acres of Native lands, requisitioned from time to time. Office-work. —Plans examined : 209 plans of 1,578 Crown sections, total area 156,398 acres ; 12 mining plans, totalling 936 acres; 11 residence-sites (for Warden), 16 sections; 405 Native Land Court plans of 1,200 subdivisions, totalling 365,890 acres ; 620 Land Transfer plans, area 196,322 acres in 5,210 allotments ; 275 plans taking and closing roads, totalling 545 miles ; 24 plans taking 231 acres of land for railway purposes ; and 49 plans proclaiming 40,383 acres reserves for various purposes : the total number of plans of all classes checked being 1,605. There were 1,880 tracings, &c, made for posters, surveyors, selectors, and others. Six Native Land Courts were attended, and £220 9s. Id. on 24 blocks collected at the Courts. The total amount for survey liens collected during the year, £6,896 15s. lid. Forty-six charging orders were obtained for £1,175 7s. 3d. 130 applications for financial authority were forwarded to Head Office, and 349 authorities issued, 219 being upon guarantees from the interested parties, the total area covered by the authorities being 500,800 acres in 963 subdivisions, 388,161 acres of Native lands being intrusted to contract surveyors, and 62,634 to staff surveyors. Maori Land Board surveys comprising 2,540 acres were given to contract surveyors, and 47,465 to staff surveyors. Three candidates were examined for surveyors' unlicensed assistants. 333 chain lengths of surveyors' steel tapes were tested and certificates issued. There were applications to Head Office for Government loans of a total amount of £37,757 over 94.931 acres. 4,784 plans were indorsed on certificates of titles, leases, and Native Land Court orders. &c. 3,072 plans were indorsed by Mr. A. B. Harding, of the Land Transfer Office. Fees collected, £291 19s. The Land Transfer Branch is gradually reducing the arrears, and, with an increase of staff, hope to have all plans checked to date, and record maps started this year. With regard to the general records of the office, I hope. with the assistance of further officers, to shortly bring them to a more complete state. Proposed Operations, 1912-13.— Twenty surveyors (fourteen staff and six temporary), have on hand 169,880 acres of Crown land, 146,445 acres of Native land (64,524 acres of which is for Maori Land

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