SURVEYORS' INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1331, 8 January 1912, Page 3

SURVEYORS' INSTITUTE.

AXXI'AL GKXERAL SIFKTIXG. The annual general meeting of the New i Zealand Institute of Surveyors was held at: Chrislchiireh in (he Provincial Chambers la-l week, there being present: -Messrs. Tho*. Humphreys (president), .1. \V. Mavis (Wellington). S. S. Springall, Y. I. Ledger (Nelson). Geo. Sinclair (We-t----port), T. Learnionl (Grevmoiith), F. .1. Williams (Uunedin), (!. MMnlvie, L. A. Slater, G. Slater. W. K. Robinson, F. W. Freeman, 'I'. Slnben. F. 11. Davie. A. 11. Bridge. A.J). Dobson, and T. X. MiwlI'iek (Christehureh). and W. G. Morpeth (acting-secretary). Apologies were received from .1. K. Fulton (Wcllinglun), and 11. A. Wylde (Palmersloii North). The annual report, which was adopted, .-fated thnl during the year seven members were lost—three' bv death (Messrs. G. W. Ilurslhouso, A; O'N. O'Dunohoo, and I'l. 1. Lord), three by,resignation, and one by removal. During, the year eight applications for admis.-ioiK to membership, and one as a student, were approved, the total membership• being. 2-11 members, 2 associates, and II students* The council (concluded the report) communicated its views on the questions of city biiihling v and toivji-plaiining to- the 1 nder-'j'ecrelary for Crown' Lauds, and a reply was received that the matter, was referred to the Acting-Minister, for Lands. A Bill was.introduced in Parliament on the subject, but it did not reach the statute book. The Surveyor;' Board, reported the council, did not see its wav to give effect to the council's resolution asking tha I ■ the regulations l>c amended regarding the inadequacy of .the link per mile error allowance for town survey in certain cases, but the board expressed the opinion (hat ni minor towns, if the land is of a rough character, the chief surveyor should exercise his discretion. A snb-committre of the council, it was reported, dealt with the questions of the preservation of survey marks, and the matter of the.qualified road*engineering super vision, more particularly with reference to. the large Minis expended under grants to local bodies on., roads . and bridges. The' Mib-conlMittce" had. several interviews with Mr. Holme*, chief engineer Public Works'' Depart incut, who was .sympathetic, and proposes to draw up. a scheme for the:examination and certification of inspectors••.■:; for various classes of-work of the character described. The sub-committee's report, -when submitted, is to be circulatod-amongsl the local committees' for consideration ami suggestions. ■ '.'%'".' New local committeos.'hhd. been formed in Taranaki ami Napier, .but in the lastmentioned case application' for approval had not been, made ye.t._..';. In reply to roprescn'ta'tioiis from the council; the Surveyor-General advised (1) that he had caused a circular to be issued to, the Chief Surveyors,-directing them •to assist ( ns far as possible private surveyors living at a distance in obtaining tracings and other survey data through his Departments,' and-(2). that in respect to the matter of the alleged practice of ,eortaiu licensed surveyors signing plans of work done by their authorised assistants, without themselves having" made a personal inspection of the field work, he had taken such' .slops as bo considered necessary to put a stop to, or at any rate, minimise- as far as possible such a reprehensible practice. The Auckland Committee (stated the report) suggested that iti'wonld tend greatly to facilitate the subdivision of Native lands if the number of .Native Land Court judges were largely increased, and that those officials or the Lands (and Survey Department, or members,oßhc institute who evinced capacity arid .ability for this work should be selectedWjiidgos as their expert knowledge wolild; be of great assistance in the work. A petition embodying these views :was forwarded to the Prime Minister, and if. was hoped that it would receive 1 favourable consideration. A very long discussion took place regarding the scale of charges. In view of the large increase in (he cost of labour and charges, etc., which have 'taken place since the.'present .charge's were arranged, it was. Ihe unanimous feeliii" amongst the members that the. scale should bo revised. It w as, resolved: "That a circular bo-sent to the various local committees asking them to submit to tho council .a suggested scale of charges suitable to their respective districts, such scale to be on the lines of the'l!)o3-scale"' Ihe matter of the' conference oil the question of reciprocity throughout the tfn ish Lmpire in the examination and authorisation of surveyors, held in London on July 12, lilii, at which New Zealand was represented bv Sir. A. A. Spawn's, Surveyor-General of Queensland, was fully discussed.

Iho death of Mr. A. O'N. O'Bonohno was referred to, and it was resolved la Place on the records of the institute the high appreciation in which the 'deceased gentleman was held by members of the institute. .

J he election of officers resulted as fol-lows:—Vice-presidents, Messrs. J. W. Davis, J. W. Harrison; councillors, J'. A. Rich, C. 11. Davis; meiubers, Me« rs r. ol V{ # lic ,\. tt ; y - Vr ?< L - °- lf - I'""!. C. M. Hoult, .1. I'. Larkin, ({. :\. Marlin, R..11. M'lver, and'll..H. Young; auditors, Messrs. J. S. Welch, and W. S. Wheeler.