C.—lA.

12

Native Land Court Surveys. —During the year 15,097 acres were surveyed by contract surveyors, and 5,804 acres by staff surveyors, comprising 171 subdivisions, at a cost of £2-65 per acre. Field Inspections. —One field inspection was made during the year, and I hope to have further inspections made during the current year. Work in Progress.—Several road-deviations in the Motu and Tuahu districts are at present under survey. The subdivision of the Poroporo Block, defining the Crown and Native interests, is well in hand, and will be completed during the current year. The survey of the balance of the Crown's interests in the Ngamoe, Mataroa, and Matarau Blocks will also be completed during the year. Office-work. —Land Transfer Branch : During the year 52 new plans were received for examination, and 47 were approved, containing 120 lots, of an area 14,979 acres ; 56 traverse sheets were examined ; 566 diagrams were endorsed on certificates of title ; 69 certificates of title were amended, due to Proclamations and Orders in Council; and 59 lease diagrams were examined. Townships for approval under the Town-planning Act: 2 plans were received and approved. Native Land Court plans : During the year 40 plans were approved, comprising 209 subdivisions, of a total area of 31,118 acres ; 13 plans were compiled in office ; 116 traverse sheets were examined ; 632 diagrams were endorsed on Court orders ; 25 authorities were issued ; and 34 certificates of cost were made out, for an amount of £3,969. Statutory plans: Under this heading 30 plans were examined and approved, representing 44 miles of road ; 66 traverse sheets were examined ; 2 plans were compiled in office. Crown plans : Under this heading 11 plans were examined and approved, comprising an area of 8,973 acres, containing 116 lots ; 16 traverse sheets were examined. Other Work.—Under this heading 214 tracings were prepared for the Valuation Department, field surveyors, reports, gazetting purposes, and Native Land Court. Hawke's Bay Land Distkict (J. D. Thomson, Chief Surveyor). Minor Triangulation.—No work under this heading was undertaken during the year. Standard Surveys.—lt was hoped that during the year it might have been possible to carry out additional standard work in the Boroughs of Dannevirke and Hastings. Great care has been exercised in watching the operations of local bodies in raising street-levels, and the consequent effect on standard blocks. A number of blocks have been raised and adjustments made to ensure the permanency, and to eliminate interference by traffic, &c. Topographical Survey for Schemes of Subdivision. —Nothing under this heading was undertaken during the year. Rural.—Under this heading an area of 11,560 acres was dealt with, at a cost of 1-355. per acre, the principal item being an area of about 6,000 acres of Native land purchased for settlement and known as Waimarama. The block is divided into 6 sections, varying from about 500 to 700 acres. The lands were ballotted for on the 13th February last. Native Land Court Surveys.—Under this heading there is an area of 35,693 acres surveyed, at a cost of 0-81s. per acre, the principal block being the partition survey of Tutira for the definition of the Crown and Native awards. This is a considerable advance on last year's operations, when 3,911 acres were surveyed, at a cost of 2-ls. per acre. Roads.—Under this heading there is only 2 miles, at a cost of £36 per mile. Village and Suburban. —Nothing was done under this heading. Town-section Survey.—Under this heading there is an area of 39 acres divided into 34 sections, at a total cost of £78, or £2 per section. The work comprises redefinition work in the Tarawera Township and a new township at Putorino. Field Inspections.—Nothing was done under this heading during the year. Work in Progress.—There is only one small item on hand, comprising the redefinition of boundaries of an education reserve of 95 acres. Office Work. —Land Transfer Branch : During the year 130 plans, comprising 516 lots and containing an area of 20,600 acres, were-examined and approved ; 208 traverse sheets were examined ; 4,912 diagrams were placed on instruments of title ; 2,560 deeds and other instruments were examined and passed ; 150 plans were recorded, and 6 new plans for recording purposes were made. Seven township plans were approved during the year. Native Land Court surveys : During the year 42 plans, comprising 144 lots, containing an area of 35,693 acres, at a cost of £1,477, or 0-81s. per acre, were examined and approved ; 73 traverse sheets were examined ; 13 plans were compiled ; 41 tracings were made for the Valuer-General; 286 diagrams were endorsed on Court orders ; 43 authorities for survey were issued ; 42 certificates of costs were made out, for an amount of £1,477. Amount of survey liens paid, £1,547 10s. 9d. Statutory plans : 19 plans, having 27 lots, consisting of 6 miles railway and road, an area of 238 acres, were approved ; 22 traverse sheets were examined. For the examination of plans and for tracings, &c., local bodies have paid £6 9s. 6d. Crown plans : 30 plans, containing 82 lots and comprising 24,450 acres, were approved (includes number of compiled plans); 19 traverse sheets were examined ; 50 diagrams have been endorsed for recording on settlers' files ; tracings for Valuer-General, gazetting purposes, settlers, Field Inspectors, and general, 1,788 ; reductions, 1,462 (for district and other map) ; sun-prints, 66 ; tracings for sale posters, 12 ; diagrams on certificates of title and warrants, 239. Fees collected for sale of lithos £58 2s. 3d. Future Operations.—There are several areas of land in this district purchased from the funds of the Native Land Settlement Account but which cannot be dealt with at present owing to being clothed with leases of varying periods. However, it is possible that within the next year the Mangatoro