INSPECTOR OP SURVEYS.

5

D.—No. 20.

Enclosure in No. 3. List of Maps of Native Land Court Claims remaining in the custody of this Office.

Inspector of Surveys' Office, Auckland, 17th February, 1869.

No. 4 Memorandum by Mr. T. Heale. Osr the 9th October, 1867,1 was informed by letter from Mr. Eolleston, that a sum of £1,200 had been advanced to the Province of Hawke's Bay, on account of the triangulation of the country and other expenses connected with surveys under the Native Lands Act, and I was directed to place myself in communication with Mr. Weber for information respecting it. In answer to my application Mr. "Weber wrote, on 18th December, " I shall have much pleasure in complying with your request, to furnish you with the triangulation work executed in this Province, as soon as the late extension has been properly compiled and checked, which I trust will be likewise done within the next six months. At the same time I bring to your notice that the triangulation has not yet been extended to the block to the north and east of Napier, where by far the larger quantity of Native land is situated," &c, &c. I have never yet seen any triangulation work from the Province of Hawke's Bay, and Mr. Weber's remarks above, with other facts, lead me to suppose that very little, if any, has been executed there for the furtherance of the Native Lands Act. The advance of £1,200 appears, therefore, to be still unaccounted for, and while that is so it is impossible for me to certify for any further sum. It appears to me immediately necessary that the past work in relation to Native Lands Court surveys at Hawke's Bay and Wellington should be investigated, and that the results should be compiled together after such completion or check as may be found necessary and practicable, so as to render them available for connection with the Taupo triangulation, and for the construction of general maps and records, as has been done in this Province ; and that steps should be taken to secure the entry of all Native Land Court surveys on those record maps, and for carrying out the functions of the Inspector of Surveys more regularly and efficiently than has been hitherto done. It seems probable that this can only be effected by establishing in each place a branch of this Department acting independently of the Provincial authorities. I append copy of a letter lately received from the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, expressing the same views. . It is impossible for me to give detailed information of what is required, nor how it can be done, until after investigation of the state of the surveys at Wellington and Napier. I propose, therefore, subject to the sanction of the Hon. the Native Minister, to proceed to the South for this purpose at the earliest possible date. The unsatisfactory state of the surveys at Hawke's Bay, and of the payments on account of them, was pointed out in my report of 26th November, 1868. Bth April, 1869. Theoph. Heale.

Enclosure in No. 4. Copy of a Letter from Mr. F. D. Eentoh" to Mr. T. Heale. Native Lands Court Office, Sic,— Auckland, 17th February, 1869. I have the honor to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter addressed to me by Mr. B. C. Robinson, a licensed surveyor. I beg to request your serious consideration of the arrangements made with regard to inspecting surveys in the Provinces of Hawke's Bay and Wellington. Ido not know whether the statements in the before-named letter are all correct, but there is a strong impression on my mind that the duties of Deputy Inspector are not discharged by the officers of Hawke's Bay and Wellington in a punctual and satisfactory manner. I have, &c, The Inspector of Surveys, Auckland. F. D. Fentcot, Chief Judge.

2

Name. Where situate. Surveyor. Area. Mangaheia „ No. 1 ... Te Kopuni Paremata ... Te Arai Katuri Pakawhai ... Maraetaha... Whakatari... Kohanga Kariaria ... Euahineatu Tolago Bay East Cape Tolago Bay Poverty Bay j, W. McDouall 1) )' 0. B Bousfield ,, Acres. 10,000 18,442 454 9,462 10,366 2,690 4,950 14,622 39 152 8 145 5» ,, 5J 5, 5, 5, J, J, East Cape ,7 G-. Winter Terewa