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Changes. Upon the amalgamation of the surveys of the colony in 1876, under the late Mr. J. T. Thomson, F.8.G.5., Surveyor-General, the services of Mr. Alexander Barron were sought for and secured by Mr. Thomson in the important work of organization which necessarily devolved upon the Head Office in consequence of the change. Mr. Barron entered the Head Office as Office Surveyor, and rose to the ranks of Superintending Surveyor, Under-Secretary for Crown Lands (1891), and Assistant Surveyor-General (1896). Upon the retirement of Mr. S. Percy Smith, Surveyor-General, in June, 1901, Mr. Barron assumed complete control of the Lands and Survey Department as Acting Surveyor-General, and held that office till the end of the year, when, consequent on the retirement of Mr. James McKerrow, F.8.A.5., he was promoted to the position of Land Purchase Inspector and Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners. During Mr. Barron's connection of over thirty-five years with the Department he gave capable and efficient aid to the able men who presided over it in organizing, developing, and administering this important branch of the public service, which during a great portion of the time embraced, in addition to lands and survey administration, the greater part of the work now devolving upon the Boads, Lithographic, and Tourist Departments. Very important changes and transfers occurred in the Department on or about the Ist January this year. These are defined as under : — J. W. A. Marchant, from Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, was promoted to be Surveyor-General and Secretary for Crown Lands. G. J. Mueller, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, was promoted to be also Assistant Surveyor-General. J. Strauchon, from Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Taranaki, was promoted to Wellington as Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands. Thomas Humphries, from Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson, was promoted to Canterbury as Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands. W. G. Murray, from Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Westland, was promoted to be Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson. W. C. Kensington was promoted from the position of Chief Draughtsman, Auckland, to be Under-Secretary for Lands, Head Office. James Mackenzie was promoted from the position of Chief Draughtsman, Wellington, to be Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Taranaki. G. J. Boberts was promoted from the position of Chief Draughtsman, Hokitika, to the position of Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Westland. C. B. Pollen, Chief Draughtsman, New Plymouth, was promoted to Auckland as Chief Draughtsman. Llewellyn Smith, District Surveyor, Gisborne, was transferred to Wellington as Chief Draughtsman. F. Stephenson Smith, District Surveyor, Kaikoura, was promoted to Gisborne as District Surveyor and Land Officer. J. Langmuir, District Surveyor, Naseby, was promoted to New Plymouth as Chief Draughtsman. T. M. Grant, Assistant Draughtsman, Head Office, was promoted to the position of Chief Draughtsman, Hokitika. South African Contingents. The loyalty and ardour of the staff was emphasized during the year by four additional officers volunteering for service in the New Zealand contingents sent by the colony to aid the Imperial forces in the South African war. Their names are :— Cyril J. McGowan (draughting cadet in the Head Office), who joined the Eighth Contingent, North Island Battalion. F. M. B. Fisher (clerk in the Christchurch Office), who was appointed Captain of the E Squadron of the Tenth Contingent, South Island Battalion. B. G. M. Park (clerical cadet in the Head Office), who was a member of the North Island Battalion of the Tenth Contingent. B. S. Mitchell (draughting cadet in the New Plymouth Office), who was also a member of the North Island Battalion of the Tenth Contingent. In all, eleven officers of the Department have taken part in the war as members of the New Zealand contingents.

HEAD OFFICE. Mr. E. W. Flanagan, Chief Draughtsman, reports :— The average out-turn of regular work for the year has been about the same as last year, although the draughtsmen have been frequently employed in miscellaneous departmental duties. Every effort has been made, however, to push on the publication of mile-to-the-inch standard maps, and to that end one draughtsman has been continuously employed. The services of another first-class draughtsman are necessary if map-publication is to proceed at a reasonable rate. The usual current routine work relating to index county maps and other office maps and records has been discharged with regularity and efficiency. The examination of plans and schedules of lands dealt with by Proclamation under the Public Works Acts, Land for Settlements Act, and Loans to Local Bodies Act have taken up the time of more than one draughtsman. Due regard has been

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