13

C—lA

Roads. —There is only one item., of 62 chains, costing £25 Bs. per mile. Several deviations are in hand and will be completed during the coming year. Rural and Suburban. —During the year 2,289 acres of rural binds were surveyed, comprising 20 lots in the Waiapu and Waioeka districts. Native Land Court Surveys. —Under the above heading 15,942 acres were surveyed by contract surveyors, and 8,032 by stafi surveyors, comprising 179 subdivisions, at a cost of l-9s. per acre. Work in Progress. —The subdivision of the Te Wera Estate, comprising 10,000 acres, has been completed ; also Small Grazing-run 94, comprising an area of 2,987 acres. Several road-deviations in the Tuahu Survey District are at present under survey. The subdivision of Tapuaeroa 2a 1 has also been completed, comprising, 2,402 acres. The Tuparoa and Waiapu consolidation schemes are nearing completion, and should be disposed of daring the coming year. Office-work. —Land Transfer Branch : During the year 65 plans were received for examination, and 61 were approved, containing 144 lots, of an area of 9,570 acres ; 89 traverse sheets were examined ; 630 diagrams endorsed on certificates of title ; and 39 leases and Proclamations were examined. Townships for approval under the Land Act: 5 plans were received and approved. Native Land Court plans : During the year 49 plans were approved, comprising 233 subdivisions of a total area of 20,089 acres ; 21 plans were compiled in. office ; 84 traverse sheets were examined ; 817 diagrams endorsed on Court orders ; 24 authorities were issued, 20 to contract surveyors and 4 to staff surveyors ; and 46 certificates of costs were issued. Statutory plans : During the year 24 plans were approved, representing 7J miles of road ; 26 traverse sheets were examined. Three of the above plans were compiled in the office. Crown plans : Under this heading 7 plans were examined and approved ; 3 plans were also compiled in this office, containing 10 lots, with, an area of 12,756 acres ; 15 traverse sheets were examined. Record maps : During the year 23 maps were prepared on a 20-chain scale ; 20 sheets on the Opotiki District were forwarded to the Government Printer to be lithographed. Miscellaneous tracings : During the year 250 tracings were prepared for the Valuation Department, gazetting purposes, reports, field surveyors, and Native Land Court; 41 sun-prints and 16 lithos were mounted ; also 22 tracings and 74 plans were remounted. Lithographic plans : Lithographic plans have been prepared of the Waimata and Matakaoa Survey Districts. Three sale-plan tracings were drawn and published during the year. Transfers. —Mr. E. Thompson, of the draughting stall, exchanged positions with Mr. K. A. Bell, of the New Plymouth, office. In conclusion, I desire to thank the staff, both field and office, for their able assistance, willingly rendered, in carrying out the work of the Department during the year. Hawke's Bay Land District (J. D. Thomson, Chief Surveyor.) Standard Surveys. —It was hoped that during the past year it might have been possible to carry out this class of work in Dannevirke and Hastings, more especially in the latter town. A certain amount of adjusting has been necessary on account of blocks being slightly disturbed on account of the operations of local bodies in tar-sealing and reconditioning of streets, &c. If possible, the Hastings worlc should be undertaken as soon as funds are available. Topographical Survey for Scheme Purposes. —About 5,800 acres was brought under this heading during the year, and constitutes the Taratara-o-te-Rauhina Block, which was purchased by the Crown some years ago, the Maori Land Board lease of which expires shortly. The reason for the topographical survey was to ascertain the nature of the block and its possibilities as a cutting-up proposition. The costs of same is 3-Id. per acre. Rural. —Under this heading there is an area of 1,051 acres, surveyed at a cost of 2-2s. per acre, the principal item being an area of 858 acres at Waimarama, the other areas being more or less scattered and small. This fact accounts for the cost per acre. There is 10,780 acres under this heading the field-work of which is almost complete. Native Land Court Surveys. —Under this heading there is an area of 3,911 acres, at a cost of 2-ls. per acre, as against 4-2s. per acre last year. This is accounted for by the fact that the subdivisions were much larger, on an average, than last year. Roads.- -There is nothing returned as completed under this heading during the year, but there is 7| miles of which the field-work is completed. Village and Suburban. —Under this heading there is an area of 58 acres, surveyed at a cost of 24-4s. per acre, and comprises 4 sections under 50 acres. Town-section Survey. —Under this heading there is an area, of 8 acres, consisting of 45 sections, at a cost of 45-ls. per section. The principal contributing items are the subdivision of seaside buildinglots at Westsliore, near Napier, and Pourerere, in southern Hawke's Bay, on the coast. Field Inspections. —There was only one instance of this class of work during the year, and more will require to be done in the future. Other Work. —Under this heading there is a miscellaneous assortment, at a total cost of £204 6s. Work in Progress. —At the present time, the staff surveyor has the subdivision of the Waimarama Crown lands in hand,-consisting of about 3,900 acres handy to Napier. The balance of rural lands to be dealt with is the resubdivision of two small grazing-runs about 20 miles north of Napier. There is also 7f miles of road, of which only the plans are to be made. Contract surveyors have 375 acres in hand. Office-work.- -During the year 133 plans, comprising 516 lots and containing 3,539 acres, were approved ; 230 traverse sheets were examined ; 4,422 diagrams have been placed on instruments of title ; 2,427 diagrams have been examined and passed ; 161 plans were recorded, and 12 new plans for recording purposes were made.