18

C. —IA.

these 111 were Land Transfer. Diagrams were put on instruments of title as follows: Land transfer certificates of title, 2,982 ; warrant certificates of title, 152; leases, 436; miscellaneous, 50. The printer reports 807 maps mounted, 6,000 forms printed, and 163 books bound. Proposed Operations for 1926 27. —Mr. Phillipps will proceed with the alterations to the Bannockburn Settlement area, and complete the various applications and road-deviations which are awaiting survey in Central Otago. Mr. Greig has now practically completed all the outstanding Native work, and after doing some small education reserves will proceed with the alterations oil Clifton and Wairuna Settlements. When these are completed the subdivision of the Tuapeka Commonage will be put in hand. Southland Land District (N. C. Kensington, Chief Surveyor). Rural. —Mr. T. W. Preston has completed the field-work and put in the plans of 12,480 acres of the Lillburn Block, a detailed report on which is forwarded on separate sheets. Apart from Lillburn Block, 1,724-16 acres were surveyed in ten sections at a total cost of £146 12s. Id., or a total cost of l-7s. per acre. Native Land Court Surveys— Two Native Land Court surveys, having four allotments in all and containing 248 acres, were carried out, one by private surveyor, and one by staff surveyor at a cost of 5-455. per acre. Village and, Suburban. —148-17 acres were subdivided and surveyed in eight sections, at total cost of 10-625. per acre. Town Section Surveys.—Two sections, one of J acre in Clinton, and one of J acres, Tuturau Hall site, were laid off. Roads and' Railways. —One mile road deviation, at a cost of £3,491. Inspection Surveys.—One, details of which have been .forwarded to Surveyor-General. Traverse Closures. —A summary of some of the staff surveys carried out by Mr. Preston shows that 29-4 miles, controlled by 313 stations, closed on an average to 0-25 and 0-2 links per mile. The plans sent in by private surveyors also show closures well within the limit of error. Proposed Operations in Field. —Mr. Preston to complete work scheduled as in hand. Office-work. —During the year 115 I/and Transfer plans, of a total area of 10,233 acres, and 41 Survey Office plans, of various descriptions, totalling 2,927 acres, were examined and approved ; 341 diagrams were placed on Crown leases and other various documents ; 1,908 diagrams were placed on certificates of title for Land Transfer purposes, and 1,556 Land Transfer instruments of title were examined, 291 working, 129 ordinary, 3 poster, and 134 valuation tracings, were made, being a total of 557 tracings ; 17 Survey Office plans were compiled, 67 plans mounted, 201 lithographs coloured, and 191 lithographs mounted ; 27 Land Transfer record maps were drawn, and 7 standard publications revised ; 6 maps were drawn for publication, 9 application maps were drawn and checked, and 730 plans were recorded on various maps. The lithos, &c., mounted and coloured for the Census Enumerator are included in above totals. A large wall map, 9 ft. by 9 ft., of the Southland Land District, on 80chain scale, was mounted. Five town-planning schemes were received for the Governor's approval. Stock was taken of lithographs, stationery, &c., and entered in the ledgers.

APPENDIX 111.

SURVEYOR'S BOARD. The personnel of this Board remained unchanged at the expiry of the Board's year on the 31st December, 1925, the members being nominated again. Two examinations were held, as required by law ; at that for September, 1925, for which the papers were set by the Adelaide Board, thirty-four candidates sat, thirteen of whom were new candidates, and of whom five, not passing Part I, were not allowed to proceed with their examination. At this examination the following candidates passed : G. A. Farrelly, P. A. Gainsford, R. E. Gilmour, A. K. B. Hounsell, P. A. Judd, R. H. Lewins, C. E. Nurse, H. G. Rand. At the examination in March, 1926, set by Western Australia, fifteen candidates sat, none of whom was under the rules a new candidate, and of these only Mr. F. M. Hanson passed. At this examination the papers were dealt with by the Recess Committees only, in order to save expense, the candidates for March examination being those completing only. The new regulations for the conduct of surveys having been subjected to reconsideration and amendment, certain amendments were finally confirmed and gazetted for practice. Articles indenturing twenty-three apprentices were registered during the year ending 31st December, 1925. W. T. Neill, Chairman, M. Crompton-Smith, Secretary.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (900 copies), £27.

Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 926.

Price 9d.~]