€.—IA

This summary does not include surveys carried out by private practising surveyors under the direct instruction of other Departments of State. A large area of Native iand has been surveyed by contract surveyors, the returns of which are not included in the summary. Under the heading " Other Work " is included such miscellaneous surveys as boundary location surveys, inspection and investigation surveys, and special surveys for the Armed Services, which latter comprised 50 per cent, of the total.

The total expenditure is distributed among the various districts as follows:—

In the Marlborough District the large expenditure is due to the completion of extensive railway surveys commenced prior to the outbreak of war. Field-work in Hand As already indicated, a considerable amount of land boundary survey work has accumulated in the various districts, which will necessitate the employment of contract surveyors to a much greater extent than in past years. This accumulation does not include rehabilitation settlement surveys and housing surveys which will be required during the year. Any resumption of public works will also have a relative effect on these accumulations. Until these surveys are reduced to reasonable limits it would appear that there will be little opportunity of putting in hand such specialized surveys as second and third order triangulation, standard traversing, and precise levelling, which have been held in abeyance during the war period. The following summary sets out the total amount of land boundary survey work at present awaiting survey in the various districts:— Rural surveys .. . . . . .. . . 25,209 acres Native surveys .. . . .. .. .. 58,844 acres Road and railway surveys . . .. .. .. 120 miles Town section surveys . . .. .. . . 1,000 sections Town Scheme Subdivisions The number of town scheme subdivisions dealt with under section 16 of the Land Act, _ 1924, during the year has shown the remarkable increase of 90 per cent, on the previous year, exceeding even the number dealt with in some pre-war years. This would indicate that rural areas on the outskirts of cities and boroughs are being absorbed as residential areas. Over 90 per cent, of the area dealt with comprises freehold property for private sale.

The following table sets out the areas dealt with in the various districts for the vear ending 31st March, 1944:—

It will be noted that approximately 70 per cent, of the number of saleable lots and areas dealt with is located in the Auckland and North Auckland Land Districts. Of the total area dealt with, approximately 11 per cent., or 82 acres, were set aside m accordance with the provisions of the Act as areas for recreation reserves plantation reserves, foreshore or esplanade reserves, and road reserves.

2

District. Total Cost. I Percentage. District. Total Cost. Percentage. £ s. d. £ s . d. Auckland .. .. 5,511 9 5 <3-5 Nelson .. .. 340 15 3 2-7 Gisborne .. .. 81 8 3 0-6 Westland .. .. 407 7 10 3-2 Hawke's Bay .. 1,359 8 0 10-7 Canterbury.. .. 1,059 6 6 8-4 Taranaki .. .. 238 4 11 1-9 Otago .. .. 521 4 6 4-1 Wellington .. .. 1,560 11 10 12-3 Southland .. .. 82 13 7 0-7 Marlborough .. .. 1,504 19 10 11-9 . Totals .. 12,667 9 11 100-0

District. 0 f Sale- Total 0fPlanS " able Lots. Area ' A. R. p. Auckland and North Auckland 95 1,343 507 0 22 Gisborne .. .. .. 2 4 5 1 08 Hawke'sBay .. .. 3 22 11 0 30 Taranaki .. .. .. 1 \ 4 0 21 Wellington .. .. .. 31 115 72 o 23 Marlborough .. .. 3 46 11 0 28 Nelson .. .. .. $ 97 28 3 11 Westland .. . . . . 2 14 3 0 33 Canterbury .. .. .. 30 221 70 0 16 Otago .. .. .. 6 53 13 0 23 Southland .. .. .. 3 13 4 0 22 Totals .. .. 184 I 1,929 730 1 37