H.—27

13

granted under the Native Land Act have doubled the area through which roads are now required. Up to the present little more has been attempted than to meet present requirements and secure the roads through those blocks over which the rights were about to expire—except in those districts where surveyors have been working. The expenditure on road surveys must be met, and will yet cost the department a large sum. Whilst on the subject of roads, there is one point which demands attention; the present state of the laws relating to roads through Native lands and through lands held under certificate of title or memorial of ownership in not satisfactory. The only solution of the question would seem to be in special legislation; for the mode of procedure for taking roads under the Public Works Act is both cumbersome and expensive. Land Transfer Surveys. The area surveyed and examined by this office is 18,336 acres, in 40 plans. In tho Town of Napier 12 bench-marks have been laid down ; from these points all new surveys can be recorded in their true positions on the record maps. The operations of the Land Transfer Department are much retarded on account of the unreliableness <j£ the original surveys, more particularly so in the Town of Napier, where tho work of checking the Land Transfer surveys is a most tedious business. The progress made in the recording of field surveys completed since the formation of the General Survey Department may be briefly summarized thus : Maps prepared —19 triangulation sheets, 20 Crown-grant record maps, and 73 block sheets, on which surveys have been recorded. Horace Baker, Chief Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. Bural Sectional. Bural sectional surveys, all under forest, include 93,638 acres, at a cost of Is. 6Jd. per acre. Of the above, G 1,536 acres were arrears of survey, or comprised areas which had to be defined in fulfilment of engagements entered into by the Government. Only one new survejr of Crown lands was commenced, and that was undertaken under direct orders from the Government. Native Land Court. Native Land Court surveys comprise 19,074 acres, at a cost of sd. per acre. The various surveys under this and the following head have materially reduced the number of incomplete titles under the Native Lands Acts, which were formerly so numerous in this provincial district. Boads. Outside actual sectional surveys roads have been laid off oi' defined in order that the rights of the public should be preserved. It would be well if this could be more generally attended to in this district. The total for last year is 9Si- miles, at £13 per mile. Miscellaneous Surveys. Under this head the most important are the Land Transfer, railway, and Native Land Court surveys, paid for by private persons. Of the last, maps were received comprising over 60,000 acres. The field inspection and examination of these surveys have involved a considerable amount of labour. Office. Good progress has been made with the Crown-grant arrears, 1,067 draft grants having been passed out of this office. These are recorded on seventy different record-maps of survey districts or towns, nearly all of which maps had to be constructed during the past year. Under Mr. James Mackenzie's constant«.and zealous supervision great progress has been made with the compilations of the former settlement and Native surveys. J. W. A. Marciiant, Chief Surveyor and Deputy Inspector of Surveys.

NELSON. Minor Triangulation. Tlie only triangulation completed by the staff during the year has been necessary extension for sectional surveys, amounting to 78,167 acres, at a cost of l'7d. per acre. This has been executed by Messrs. Sinclair, Thompson, and Lewis, in the Kaiteriteri, Takaka, Pakawau, Aorere, Wairau, Alma Severn, Tekoa, and Lyndon Districts. Messrs. Carkeek have finished the triangulation and topography of 250,000 acres in the Motueka, Wai-iti, and Wangapeka Districts. The closes on the bases of verification in the Wangapeka and Waimea Districts were 00 and l'S.links respectively. Thirty thousand acres in the Grey District, executed by Mr. F. Sewell (who left the service), was found to require revision, which was done by Messrs. G-alwey and Smith, at a cost of fd. per acre. A contract for about 60 miles in length of Bay-trace triangulation, to connect Nelson and Canterbury surveys, is in progress by Mr. 11. Ellison, and will give starting-points for extension on to large lease surveys during next year in the Nelson and Amuri Districts. About 208,000 acres is in progress on the West Coast by the staff, necessary to command miniuoand agricultural-lease surveys there.