C—l

1903. NEW ZB A L AND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

OOISTTEHsTTS.

General Report— Page ! Lands— Land opened for Selection during the Year .. i Table showing Manner in which Crown Lands were opened for Sale and Lease .. .. ii Lands disposed of .. .. .. iv Table showing Number of New Selectors, Area taken up, and Total Amount of Money received during the Year.. .. .. iv Table showing Comparison of Operations under principal Headings .. .. .. v Average Size of Holdings selected during the Year .. .. .. .. .. v Table showing Summary of Lands selected .. v Table showing Choice of Tenure .. .. vi Review of Year's Transactions under the Several Tenures.. .. .. .. vi Inspections and Ranger's Reports .. .. x Position and Progress of Settlement.. .. xi Cheviot Estate .. .. .. .. xvi Land for Settlements .. .. .. xvi Table showing Estates offered for Selection during the Year.. .. .. .. xvii Table showing Selectors, Residences, and Condition of Estates acquired and dealt with .. xviii Endowments .. .. .. .. xix Native Townships.. .. .. .. xx Revenue .. .. .. .. .. xx Rebates of Rent .. .. .. .. xx " Thirds " and " Fourths ".. .. .. xxi Arrears .. .. .. .. .. xxi Forfeitures and Surrenders .. .. xxii Hauraki Goldfields .. .. .. xxiii Reserves .. .. .. .. .. xxiii Forests .. .. .. .. .. xxiii Milling-timber .. .. .. .. xxiv Nurseries and Plantations .. .. .. xxiv Medical Men in Outlying Districts .. .. xxv Surveys— Surveyors employed during Year .. .. xxv Summary of Field-work executed .. .. xxvi Minor Triangulation and Topographical .. xxvi Topographical Survey .. .. .. xxvii Rural and Subdivisional Section Surveys .. xxviii Town Surveys .. .. .. .. xxviii Native Land Court .. .. .. xxviii Surveys under Maori Lands Administration Act .. .. .. .. .. xxix Roads and Railways .. .. .. xxix Other Work .. .. .. .. xxix Gold-mining Surveys .. .. .. xxix Land Transfer .. .. .. .. xxix Extension of Existing Cities and Towns and New Towns .. , .. .. .. xxx Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. xxxi Inspection of Surveys .. .. .. xxxi Magnetic Survey of the Colony .. .. xxxii Admiralty Charts and Coast-line of Colony .. xxxii New Zealand Surveyors for Gold Coast .. xxxiii New Zealand Surveyor for Malay States .. xxxiii The Surveyors' Board .. .. .. xxxiii House of Representatives Electoral Districts xxxiv Proposed Field-operations 1903-4 .. .. xxxiv Office .. .. .. .. .. xxxiv Conclusion .. .. .. .. xxxv Departmental Changes— Death .. .. .. .. .. xxxv Retirements .. .. .. .. xxxv Promotion .. .. • .. .. .. xxxv

1 General Report— continued. Page Head Office— Report of Chief Draughtsman .. .. xxxv Chief Clerk .. .. ..xxxviii „ Accountant .. .. .. xxxix Auditor of Land Revenue.. .. xl Appendix I.— Land-settlement: Administration — Auckland— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 1 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 4 Special Settlement Associations .. .. 6 Improved-farm Settlements .. .. 7 Reports of Rangers .. .. .. 8 General Remarks .. .. .. 11 Clerical .. .. .. .. 11 Hawke's Bay— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 12 Progress and Condition of Settlers .. 13 Improved-farm Settlements .. .. 14 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 15 Office-work .. .. .. .. 17 Taranaki — Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 17 Improved-farm Settlements .. .. 19 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 21 Farm Homestead Associations .. .. 21 Present and Future Settlement .. .. 22 Office-work .. .. .. .. 23 Wellington— Lands opened and disposed of .. .. 23 Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 24 Village Settlements .. .. .. 26, 30 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 26, 31 Farm Homestead Associations .. .. 27 Improved Farms .. .. .. 29, 32 Clerical Work .. .. .. .. 34 Nelson— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 34 Progress and Condition of Settlers .. 35 Marlborough— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year .. .. .. .. .. 36 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 36 Progress and Condition of Settlers .. 38 Clerical Work .. .. .. .. 39 Westland — Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 39 Condition and Prospects of Settlements .. 40 Land for Settlements .. .. .. 41 Clerical .. .. .. .. 41 Canterbury— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year.. .. .. .. .. 42 Lands open for Selection .. .. 45 Village Settlements .. .. .. 46 Cheviot Estate .. .. .. .. 47 Land for Settlements .. .. . 48 Otago— Summary of Land Transactions during the Year .. .. .. .. .. 54 Arrears.. .. .. .. <-r- 55