23

C.—2

Table of Closures, Nelson Provincial District, 1882-83.

Note.—The above shows a fair average of closures.

MARLBOROUGH. Major Triangulation, Topographical and Trigonometrical. —Since my report of the 30th June» 1882, operations of this nature have been vigorously carried on by Mr. Wilson. The completed triangulations, amounting to 320,700 acres of major and 347,300 acres topographical and trigomometrical. These triangulations were reported last year as finished, with the exception of the mapping, and the results of the closings given. The major and minor triangulations were carried on concurrently at a total cost of £1,332 125., at the rate of 0-20d. for the major and 0-73d, for the minor. These triangulations commenced on the Ist May, 1881, completed on the 20th October, 1882, embracing an area of 347,300 acres; are carried over parts of Cloudy Bayj Taylor Bass, Blue Mountain, Clifford Bay, Cape Campbell, and Hodder Survey Districts, extending southwards along the East Coast to the Flags Biver. During the remaining eight months of the year Mr. Wilson has been engaged on similar triangulations, continued from the neighbourhood of the Flags Biver (where the above triangulations left off) and joined with Mr. Marchant's Amuri Survey, the area being 363,905 acres of major, and 142,078 acres of minor; the cost from the commencement of the work on the 21st October to the 30th June, 1883, being £806 13s. 9d. The fieldwork is completed, the calculations are still in hand, and the plans have not yet been commenced. The country over which this work extends is generally of a rough and broken character, with bush in some parts, and covers parts of Whernside, Bui-Bui, Kaitarau, Mount Fyffe, Greenburn, and Hundalee Survey Districts, and parts of the Terako, Waiau, and Hawkswood Survey Districts, in the Nelson Land District. A base of verification was measured at Kaikoura, which showed a difference of 0-408 links in a mile less than Spring Creek base, the distance between the bases being about sixty-two miles, and 2-78 and 2-68 links in a mile greater than Amuri on sides, HighfieldCookson and Highfield-Percival respectively. Taking the data for heights from mean high-water at Picton Harbour and the sea-coast near Kaikoura, and closed near the Clarence Biver, the difference shown by results obtained from Picton was 9 feet greater than those got from Kaikoura; the initial points being about eighty miles apart, the Kaikoura heights being about 10 feet less than Mr. Marchant's. There was no cadet assisting Mr. Wilson. Section Surveys. —Of these, 3,496 acres of section survey, in fifty-seven sections, have been surveyed, forty-two of which are classed as revision surveys. Fifteen sections of the above have been laid off on application to go to auction and for selection under the deferred-payment system. The scattered positions of these sections in the bays of the Pelorus Sound, or in inaccessible localities adjoining old magnetic surveys requiring revision, necessitate a considerable amount of extra work in determining the boundaries of the adjacent surveys ; and the revision surveys have been in connection principally with re-establishing these abuttal surveys. Town Section Surveys. —No town section surveys have been made during the year; but, in the return of other work, it will be seen that thirty-two allotments as business sites under the Mines Acts have been set out at the request of Mr. Warden Allen in conformity with your instructions,

Surveyor. District. Number of Length in Miles. Mean ratio of error of Closures per Mile. Average Length of Lines, Closures. J. B. Sinclair L P. Eawson .A. Montgomerie ". H. Jennings h H. Bullard Sullard and Foy Bullard and Jennings ... ennings, Little, and Montgomerie ilontgomerie and Jennings ilontgomerie and Watkins ilontgomerie and Little Smith and Thompson ... I. T. Sadd Jontract Surveyors — J. B. Saxon H. Little C. E. Watkins ~jand Transfer Surveys — J. Bochfort J. B. Saxon T. J. Thompson E. T. Sadd Wai-iti Wai-iti Eeefton Eeefton Waitahu Waitahu ... Eeefton Eeefton Eeefton Eeefton Eeefton Culverden and Mandamus Wai-iti Wai-iti Eeefton Eeefton Motueka and Waimea ... Motueka and Wai-iti Waimea Wakapuaka 7 18 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 17 5 23 54 * 21 2* 2£ 4 i£ si 7* 2f 51 99 22J Links. 2-6 3 2-2 3-6 2-1 1-9 2-2 2-6 2 2-8 0-5 0-85 1-7 Chains. 4-7 8 13-4 6 10-6 9-7 6-7 8-9 10-4 9-7 17-2 57 6 2 1 1 2-7 4-2 5-6 61 8 4 5 2 1 6i 6ir Si 2i 1-9 0-5 2-1 2-2 8 8 35 6i Totals 80 279| 247-3 Means 80 3* 1-84 10-9