C.—la

10

Table 5. —Principal Classes of Office-work done from 1st April, 1926, to 31st March, 1927.

APPENDIX I. HEAD OFFICE, DRAUGHTING BRANCH. Report by H. E. Walshe, Chief Draughtsman. Map-publication. —The total maps published during the year were 99, and the cost of printing £1,880. The maps comprised survey districts (f mile to 1 inch), 12 ; survey districts (1 mile to 1 inch) 39; counties (1 mile to 1 inch), 7 ; towns (8 chains and 10 chains to 1 inch), 23; territorial (4 miles to 1 inch), 5 ; small-scale general maps, 10; and miscellaneous, 3. The larger proportionate cost this year is due to the greater number of the more expensive town maps published, and consequently the standard 1-mile maps were allowed to fall into arrears. The cash sales of lithos from all districts amounted to £1,450, an increase of £340, or 30 per cent., on the previous year. This increase, while satisfactory, is in a large measure due to special town maps, for which there is a larger public demand, being published during the year. Other Government Departments were supplied with maps to the value of £750, a considerable increase on the normal year's demands. Three sheets of the 4-miles series territorial maps were published during the year, two more were in proof stage, and the drawing of six more partly completed. Town Schemes —The town schemes approved during the year numbered 316, a falling-off of 24 from the number the previous year. The North Auckland District contributes a little more than half of these, 56 per cent, being from that district, while Canterbury (18 per cent), Wellington (12 per cent.), and Auckland (5 per cent.) are responsible for bulk of the remainder. An analysis of the figures supplied shows that 4,539 acres was subdivided into residential lots outside of boroughs and town districts, and of this area new roads account for 346 acres; road and access reserves, 31 acres ; recreation and other public reserves, 305 acres ; and area of lots, 3,857 acres. Draughtsmen and Computer's Examination. —This examination was held early in December, 1926, when nineteen draughtsmen and eleven computers presented themselves. The results were as follows : Draughting : first grade (five) —Messrs. R. P. Fletcher, K. H. Melvin, P. B. Wright, F. L. Rossiter, and J. L. Martin ; second grade (nine) —Messrs. H. W. Rickard, A. J. Dry, W. A. Nicholson, A. E. Christian, H. J. Fletcher, B. E. Andrewes, N. A. Stevens, W. J. Barker, J. L. Climie. Computing : second grade (eight)— Messrs. N. A. Stevens, W. J. Barker, F. Rochfort, J. W. Beagley, W. G. Pratt, C. B-. Hodge, J. L. Climie, H. H. E. Knight. Officers are now recognizing that this examination is one which it is to their advantage to pass, and the number of entrants is rapidly increasing from year to year. Standard of Length. —During the year a testing-bench has been erected in one of the corridors in the basement of Parliament House, and consequently there is now no delay in waiting on the weather. Temperature-changes are also reduced to a minimum, and the general accuracy of the comparisons is largely increased. The total length of the bands compared with the standard was 283 chains, being double that of the previous year. Of 1-chain standards 3 invar and 7 steel were tested, and of workingbands 6 invar (of a total length of 30 chains) and 33 steel (of a total length of 234 chains) were tested ; 6 steel bands, each 100 ft., were also compared, and the ground standard in Bowen Street was tested and re-marked.

Maps drawn j Plans placed on Instruments of Title. Plans examined and passed. for Lithography. '■ j — Deeds and District. Crown. , . other t is - 8 » Lithographs, Instruments Q -g o o &c., sold. Native Land passed. • Land ® ~ Leases, Free- Land ' Transfer. | > Transfer. || go * Licenses, hold. g « g « £ s. d. North Auckland 478 336 222 10,642 4,981 62 41 794 165 6 124 211 18 0 Auckland .. 442 270 1,004 2,549 1,080 116 115 230 90 1 27 135 7 6 Gisborne .. 25 .. 666 1,619 .. 7 51 59 27 3 1 15 6 6 Hawke'sBay .. 90 38 330 3,543 1,885 20 33 181 27 2 7 57 5 6 Taranaki .. 216 96 198 1,508 1,779 31 23 150 35 3 17 48 16 0 Wellington .. 384 337 482 11,028 3,605 40 74 577 108 .. 25 57 19 0 Marlborough .. 50 12 18 1,033 477 19 8 59 24 1 43 18 11 Nelson .. 219 120 .. 187 538 19 .. 146 19 7 8 35 13 9 Westland | .. 359 .. 47 966 28 50 7 23 4 5 11 19 14 0 Canterbury .. 308 116 28 9,726 2,844 26 28 521 26 3 .. 248 0 3 Otago .. 462 164 88 3,114 566 77 5 121 11 11 35 75 17 10 Southland .. 89 66 26 2,162 1,316 26 2 99 15 15 4 79 8 0 Head Office .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 669 3 5 I Totals .. ,.i .. .. .. .. 1,698 8 8