17

C.—1a.

The photo-lithographic tracing of the Town of Greymouth, which has been under preparation for the last two years, is still unfinished, and its early completion is an urgent requirement. Other work on hand requiring early, attention is the revision of the country litho sheets and tracings, and the preparation of the 20-chain record sheets, which system of recording in this office has not yet been commenced, and which will require the sole attention of at least one of the staff for' the next twelve months. It is doubtful, however, if this work can be put in hand during the coming year without increasing the staff, for which application was made during the year, and which is again recommended for favourable consideration. Without this extra assistance it is also doubtful if the litho of the Town 01 Greymouth can be completed under six months ; and, as orders have already been booked in advance for this important litho, its urgent completion is a pressing requirement. Our present stock is exhausted. Special efforts have been made to meet the demands for diagrams on titles under the Land Transfer (Compulsory Registration of Titles) Act, and up to the present about three-quarters of the estimated number of titles required have been dealt with ; the remainder will probably be completed during the current year. - Canterbury Land District (W. Stewart, Chief Surveyor). Surveying and Draughting Branches.—Two surveyors have been employed on the staff during the year—viz., H. A. Adams, who took up his duties early in April, 1925, and W. Paora, who has been engaged mostly on outside duties and pa.rtly in the office. Mr. Adams's surveys consist of subdivision of township lots (part of railway reserve) at Arthur's Pass; road deviations, Summit Road; compass surveys of alteration to run boundaries ; several resubdivisions of soldiers' holdings ; and a revision and extension of old standard surveys in the suburbs of Christchurch. Mr. Paora has carried out several surveys for the Native Land Court, also of town, village, and rural sections and inspection surveys for protecting permanent marks in connection with the new drainage-works in Christchurch. The reconstruction of roads with bitumen surfaces has brought up the question of preservation and safeguarding of survey marks. In connection with this the local bodies have been written to and asked to confer with this Department, and notify me of any proposed reconstruction work, so that steps may be taken for the protection of marks. I will keep this well in view, and, in the event of any comprehensive scheme of road-reconstruction being undertaken, will inform you, so that steps may be taken to lay down a permanent standard connecting with the present survey marks. In the Land Transfer Branch there has been an increase of thirty-four in the number of plans examined and deposited, also a large increase in new certificates of title prepared, caused principally through the coming into force of the Compulsory Registration of Titles Act. This Act has'also devolved upon the staff considerable extra work in connection with the searching of titles, &c. The current work in this bra.nch is well up to date. The usual office routine work has been carried out. Being census year, the maps necessary for this purpose took up a considerable time of the staff ; owing to this and other work, progress on the 20-chain record maps has only been fair, but during the coming year, with the better experience of the junior officers, I hope to see more headway made on these. I have much pleasure in recording my appreciation of the cordial co-operation of the local staff. Otago Land District (R. S. Galbraith, Chief Surveyor). Native Surveys.—A total of 584 acres, being subdivisions under Native Land Court partition orders, were dealt with. These were situated Punaomaru, Waikouaiti, and Moeraki Native Reserves. Settlement Surveys. —77,242 acres, consisting of the subdivision of the Wilden Run, and the survey of Runs 245f and 238e, were completed, in addition to a number of small spotting surveys, located principally in the vicinity of Roxburgh and Cromwell. The alterations required by the Public Works Department in the subdivision of the Manuherikia irrigation area were also put through. The Wilden Run (52,000 acres) was completed by Mr. Hay at the beginning of the year. Mr. Phillipps has been engaged upon Runs 238e (of 21,600 acres) and 245f (1,950 acres) in Cromwell Survey District, and other smaller work in the vicinity. Mr. Greig, since coming to this district in October, has cleaned up the accumulated Native work and the various scattered surveys about Roxburgh. Mining.—During the year 21 mining plans were received from private surveyors, being surveys of various gold-mining claims and paid for by applicants' fees lodged with the Mining Registrars. Office-work. —The quantity of office-work put through during the last year has been well up to the average, and the members of the staff have been steadily occupied with their various duties. The preparation of maps for publication is being proceeded with, the Towns of Waihola, Moeraki, Outram, and Tapanui being drawn for photo-lithography, in addition to a map of the Otago Heads N.R. and Mount Buster Survey District, The Survey Districts of Dunedin and East Taieri, North Harbour and Blueskin, Hawksbury, and Waikouaiti were also revised. The work of bringing the Land Transfer record maps up to date is being proceeded with as opportunity offers, dealt with during the year. The plans of the Dunedin standard survey are being traced and mounted for counter use, 9 being traced since my last report. The work of repairing and rcbinding the traverse sheets is now completed, the new volumes being more compact than the old guardbooks, and a considerable saving in space has been effected in the safe. Surveyors' working-plans and compiled plans to the number of 26 were made, and 16 statutory plans of different kinds with schedules and tracings were also made. Tracings numbered 1,084 ; 108 Land Transfer plans were traced for the Valuation Department, and 317 diagrams of land transactions were also made for the same Department. The total number of survey plans examined and approved was 225 ; of