7

C—4a,

Carrington was authorised to select 750 acres, and which was taken in a position that absorbed a number of the small lots. Small Sections. It is necessary to mention this as accounting for part of the expense of survey. Experience has proved that owing to the physical peculiarities of the district, and the fact that settlers will for a long time to come confine their operations almost exclusively to grazing land, not only will not be occupied in small lots, but is liable to fetch a less price as such, possible buyers being deterred from bidding by the fear that they may not secure a sufficient number of contiguous sections at the price they are prepared to give. A base of verification was measured between stations 28 and 29, situate in the Whenuakura block, the result proved that a very small amount of error had accumulated in extending from the Waitotara triangulation for a distance of twenty miles, and covering an area of about 100 square miles. Hawke's Bay Settlers Block. _ _ A number of alterations and additions to the block set apart for the Hawke's Bay and other military settlers in the Okotuku district, which had been found necessary just before the selection took place, had now to be defined upon the ground, besides various isolated sections for reserves, special applications, &c, &c, &c. Reduction of Staff. Last December the survey staff was reduced to one field party, which was retained to perform work in connection with Native awards and reserves. Native Reserves. In January, the necessary steps were taken to give effect to arrangements just made by the Hon. the Minister for Native affairs towards the settlement of Maori reserves. Those for the Pakakohi and Pukokokoro tribes first defined, are situate on the Patea and Whenuakura rivers, respectively, besides several smaller ones between those streams. Egmont Road. Between the Tangahoe and Waingongoro rivers a considerable amount of work has been done in cutting boundaries of reserves, under the immediate direction of Captain Blake, as also the cutting of the Egmont road behind that mountain. Owing to the urgent nature of this last undertaking, particulars of these operations have not yet been furnished to this office, but it may be stated that the important work of tracing the western boundary of the Whareroa reserve to its junction with the back boundary of the confiscated lands is nearly completed, and that the real lines of the Egmont road have been cut through to the northern terminus. Survey of Railway Reserve Sfc. Instructions have been received for the immediate subdivision and sale of the Railway Reserve and other waste lands from Waitotara to Patea, the temporary employment of an assistant surveyor, whose services had just been dispensed with, was recommended and agreed to. This work was commenced early in March, and shortly afterwards a plan and schedule of about 9,400 acres was submitted to Government for approval. The whole of this land, with the exception of the few hundred acres which were withdrawn, was sold on the 26th ultimo at higher prices than have been realized at any former sale. Surveys in Progress. The subdivision of the Railway Reserve from Patea to Waingongoro, a scheme of which has just been forwarded for approval, is now being pushed forward with vigour, and should the weather prove tolerably fine, it is anticipated that this and other waste lands will be ready for sale within three months. Office Work, Sfc. Working plans of the surveys in progress have been prepared and added to as information is received, and copies of these have been forwarded to the Crown Lands Office. A sketch map of the whole district was compiled to show Native awards and reserves, Government reserves, boundaries of military settlements, the approximate position of the back confiscated boundary, and the amount of land still at disposal of Government. This map has also been added to from time to time, and copies of it have been supplied to the Hon. Mr. McLean, the General Orown Lands Office, Mr. Worgan, and others. A number of Crown Grants have been prepared, including those of the Hawke's Bay settlers. Draughtsman. The services of Mr. Wray, who was appointed as draughtsman last year, were available for checking traverses, and attending to the clerical part of the work, but it was found that his other duties prevented him from undertaking much actual drawing; and as record maps are urgently