C.—l

7

Staff Employment. At the Ist April, 1926, there were on the stall of the Department 613 permanent and 78 temporary officers, a total of 691. Some 47 new appointments to the permanent staff were made during the year, and 5 officers were transferred from other Departments. On the other hand, 14 officers resigned, 3 officers died, 9 retired, and 7 were transferred to other Departments. The staff at the 31st March, 1927, numbered 632 permanent and 75 temporary officers. Departmental Changes. Retirements. Mr. H. J. Lowe, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, North Auckland, retired from the Service as from the 31st March, 1927. He joined the Department as a Survey cadet in February, 1881, and during his long term of service, extending for over forty-six years, occupied many important positions with credit to himself and benefit to the Department. Prior to his appointment to North Auckland he had been Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for Marlborough and Taranaki. He combined in a singular and happy degree a sound knowledge of land-settlement conditions and requirements with an enthusiastic regard for the protection, wherever possible, of the beauties of our native forest. Other retirements during the year included those of Messrs. J. L. D. A. Irvine, J. G. Wilson, J. Y. Dixon, A. J. Morrison, F. J. Halse, G. W. Palmer, H. Stebbing, and E. O'Neill. Transfers to other Departments. These included the transfer of Mr. E. Peck to the Native Department, and that of Mr. A. F. Blackburn to the Valuation Department.

Senior Appointments and Promotions.

Reports on Cognate Subjects. As in former years, separate reports are required to be laid before Parliament in connection with many of the operations carried out by the Department. They comprise : — Surveys.—The report by the Surveyor-General on the work of the survey (or technical) branch of the Department is submitted in parliamentary paper C.-la. Swamp-drainage. —The report required by the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, is contained in parliamentary paper C.-4. Discharged Soldiers Settlement.—The annual report under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement A.ct, 1915, is furnished by the Department in parliamentary paper C.-9. Scenery-preservation.—The statutory report containing details of reservations and statement of accounts appears in parliamentary paper C.-6. Advances for Roading of Crown Lands.—The necessary report submitted in accordance with section 63 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 191-3, appears in parliamentary paper 0.-7. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains.—A report by the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject appears in parliamentary paper C.-8. Public Domains.—A brief summary of the year's operations is given in parliamentary p-iper C.-10. Rangitaiki Land Drainage.—The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains is given in parliamentary paper C.-11. Kauri-gum, Industry.—The annual report of the Kauri-gum Superintendent on the year's operations is given in parliamentary paper C.-12. National Endowments.—The annual report required by section 11 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1920, appears in parliamentary paper 0.-14.

Officer appointed. Previous Position. | Position to which appointed. Date. I I R. H. Bell .. Clerk, Blenheim .. .. Senior Clerk, Wellington .. 20/5/26 O.H.Burns .. Clerk, Christchurch .. .. Accountant, Dunedin .. .. 27/9/26 F. R. Burnley .. Land Transfer Draughtsman, Chief Draughtsman, North Auck- 1/1/27 Auckland land A. W. Craig .. Draughtsman, Auckland .. Chief Draughtsman and Land 1/9/26 Transfer Draughtsman, Nelson F. R. Jamieson Senior Clerk, Wellington .. Accountant, Wellington .. 25/1/27 H.A.Joyce .. Senior Clerk, North Auckland .. Chief Clerk and Collector of Rates, 1/5/26 Land Drainage Office L. J. Poff .. Surveyor, Auckland .. .. Land Transfer Draughtsman, Auckland H. R. Robinson. . Accountant, North Auckland .. Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land 28/1/27 Revenue, Christchurch