C.—lA.

NELSON LAND DISTRICT. (A. W. Craig, Chief Surveyor.) The survey work completed in this district for the year ending 31st March last has been mostly in connection with the requirements of other Departments, and the surveyors employed, two staff and two contract, have been kept well occupied in the completion of the work required. The surveys made for this Department are mostly those described generally under the heading of " Other Work." They have entailed a fair amount of investigation and work for their completion. The completed work is as under : — Field-work. Topographical Surveys.—Some 316 acres were completed with contours at 5 ft. intervals, for the special purpose of a town subdivision scheme. The ground was broken in places and a good deal of scrub-cutting was necessary in other places, and these facts contributed materially to the cost of the survey. A further area of 500 acres with a similar contour was completed for the Iron and Steel Department. Standard Surveys. —The development of close subdivision at Riwaka, adjoining Motueka, necessitated the establishment of a standard survey of some 7\ miles to cover the area dealt with, and a satisfactory basis for further surveys in this locality has now been established. Rural Surveys. —Only four surveys of this class were made during the year. Each was separate from the other, and all were scattered over the district, so that the cost of the work was fairly high. Town and Suburban. —One survey was made under this heading, a suburban section of some 38 acres being cut out. Housing Surveys.—Areas of 9J acres in three separate surveys were subdivided into fifty-seven lots for housing purposes. About half this work was done by contract survey. The price runs out at about £1 per lot for the staff surveyor's work and about £1 4s. per lot for the work done on contract. Field Inspection. —Very little of this work could be undertaken during the year, only two inspections of the private surveyors' work were made, and in each case the standard of work disclosed was found quite satisfactory. Office Work. The year's work in the office covers the examination of 184 plans, of which 118 were for the Land Transfer Department, 51 were for local bodies and other Departments, and 15 were for this Department ; 1,046 diagrams were endorsed on instruments of title, of which 821 were land transfer and 225 were leases and Warrant titles ; 30 plans were compiled, and 13 surveyors' plans were drawn ; 1,074 tracings were made for survey data for other Departments and for office use ; 122 mountings were made, and 80 sun-prints taken ; 98 reports on mining applications were supplied to the Warden's Court; 17 index maps were drawn, 2 survey-district maps were drawn for lithographic reproduction, and 1 map was published ; 1 survey-district drawing was revised and printed. I have again to record my appreciation of the efficient service and hearty co-operation in the work of the Department that has been evident among the draughting staff of this office, and without which the work put through could not have been completed.

WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT. (J. W. Mclntyre, Chief Surveyor.) Field Operations. For the first ten months of the year field-work was hindered due to excessive rainfall, the second highest yet recorded in this district; accordingly, the cost of rural work is lightly in excess of that of the past few years. As regards triangulation, topographical, standard, and Native surveys, there are no returns to send forward. Rural Work. —The rural surveys comprised 1,684 acres of hilly to undulating bush-covered land, partly for scenic and partly for settlement purposes, chiefly the former. Most of the scenic areas are close to and in full view of main highways, and mostly comprise magnificient stands of dense virgin forest. Town and Suburban Surveys. —This work, comprising 218 acres, covers chiefly subdivisions of Crown lands to meet the demand for building-sites in boroughs and the more closely settled areas in various parts of the district, together with areas under 50 acres required for aerodrome and settlement purposes. Housing Surveys.—Three surveys covering fourteen building-sites were carried out by the staff during the year, all in the Town of Hokitika. On these sites houses are under construction, and a number will shortly be ready for occupation. To supply the demand in Greymouth a subdivision of about 30 acres at Cobden is being carried out by a private surveyor for the Department of Housing Construction. In the Town of Hokitika the Director of Housing has under consideration further areas for building-sites. At a small cost for draining, these will all make excellent sites, and in some cases will require surveys to redefine boundaries.

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