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Mr. F. W. Flanagan, Chief Draughtsman, reports :— The routine duties appertaining to this office have been carried out satisfactorily and expeditiousiy, notwithstanding the extra-departmental work of preparing maps and data for the census enumerators imposed on several of the draughtsmen off and on for some months. Mile-to-the-inch Maps.—The compilation of these maps now devolves on the District Office staff, and consequently the new publications are decreasing year by year. The preliminary county maps have practically taken the place of the mile-to-the-inch maps, and as the former show all the available data relative to sections, roads, and reserves, they are of more utility to the Department and the public than the mile-to-the-inch maps, and they arc produced at a fraction of the cost. The following are the maps printed and published during the year—viz., Turanganui, in the Hawke's Bay Land District; Owen Gordon and Waitapu, in the Nelson Land District; Glenorchy, Castlemount, Dart, Martin s Bay, Clinton, Skipper's Creek, Earnslaw, Mid-Wakatipu, Upper Wakatipu, South Wakatipu, Forbeside, Humboldtside, Caples, Clintonside, Yon, Benmore, Domet, Coneburn, Ohau Eiver, Otamatakau, Shotover, Mount Burster, all in Otago Land District (several of these district maps contain very little information beyond topographical features) ; Glaisnock, Mavora, and Eyre North, in Southland Land District. New editions of mile-to-the-inch maps of the following districts have been printed and published —viz., Corwar, Hawkins, and Wakanui, in the Canterbury Land District; Glenomaru, Waitahuna East Waitahuna West, Greenvale, Mount Hyde, Lee's Stream, and Otepopo, in Otago Land District; Oteramika Hundred, Lindhurst Hundred, Lothian Hundred, and Mataura Hundred, Otama Survey District, and Chatton Survey District, in Southland Land District. The following maps of towns have been printed and published—viz., Waharoa, Taumarunui, and Te Kuiti (Auckland) ; Patea (Taranaki) ; Blackball and Waitaha Village (Westland). Amongst the miscellaneous maps published during the year the following may be mentioned—viz., Reprints of Sheets Nos. 2, 3, and 4, Auckland, on a scale of four miles to an inch ; maps showing the single electorates of Auckland West, Auckland Central, Auckland East; Wellington North, Wellington Central, and Wellington East: Christchurch North, Christchurch East, and Christchurch South ; Dunedin North, Dunedin Central, and Dunedin South ; map of New Zealand on sixteen-mile scale showing localities of sawmills ; map showing British and German line of demarcation in the western Pacific ; and map showing sea routes to New Zealand. The map of the City of Dunedin and Suburban Boroughs, drawn to scale of 5 chains to an inch, has been completed, and will be published at an early date. The map covers six sheets, each measuring 34 in. by 46 in. The index county maps of the colony on the mile-to-the-inch scale have been kept well up to date. Old maps have been replaced by new maps containing the most recent sectional and topographical data, and showing the land tenure, in colours. Maps of the following counties have been printed and published during the year—viz.. West Taupo (one mile to an inch) ; parts of Waipawa and Patangata (completed), one sheet; Cook County ; Wairoa County ; parts of Clifton County (completed), two sheets ; parts of Marlborough County (two sheets) ; Grey County ; parts of Waimate County (two sheets). The following county maps have not yet been received from the Chief Surveyors—viz., Buller, Inangahua (Westland), and Amuri. The map of Mackenzie County is now in course of publication. The following old county maps have been renewed —viz., Waipawa, Patangata, Masterton, Castlepoint, Lake, Mangonui, Waitomo, Featherston, Rotorua, Akitio, Wanganui, Waitotara, Waimarino, Kawhia, Mauriceville, Eketahuna, Awakino, Waimea, Collingwood, and Takaka. Sixty plans of private townships have been examined, reported on, and recommended for approval of His Excellency the Governor under section 18 of " The Land Act, 1892 "—viz., Dursley Extension, Eadesville, Aberfeldy Extension, Kowhanga, Beresford, Worota Extension No. 1, Worota Extension No. 2, Sandford, Waikino Extension No. 2, Clandelands Subdivision No. 1, Brightside, Pakaraka, Tira, Morrinsville No. 1, Kakahi Village, Clovernook, Grand Park, North Crew, and St. George, in Auckland Land District; Waipura, Hauiti, Te Karaka Extensions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, Kirktown, and Havelock Extension No. 3, in Hawke's Bay Land District; Tironga, Crownville, and Abrahamstown, in Taranaki Land District; Rautawhiri," Carlton North Extension, Carlton North, Jolmsonville Subdivisions Nos. 3 and 4, Ferryside Extensions Nos. 1 and 2, Matipo, Millshaven, Smithfield Extension. Virginia, Gower, Bexley, Reayville, Taihape Extension, Kawa, and Okiwi Extension No. 3, all in Wellington Land District; Wroxton, Brucefield, Cashmere Extension No. 3, Opawa Extension No. 2, Craig Neuk, Benvenue, Lower Fendalton, and Kowena, in Canterbury Land District; Maitlands and Robertson, in Southland Land District. The preparation of data for the census enumerators was an important feature of the year's work, The colony was divided by the Registrar-General into fifty-six enumerators' districts. Maps of each district in duplicate weTe furnished by the Head Office. On each map were shown the names, and in different colours the boundaries, of counties, ridings, road districts, with subdivisions, boroughs, town districts, mining districts, electoral districts, &c. These enumerators' districts were_ subdivided into subenumerators' districts, necessitating the preparation of 1,050 maps by the District Omce_ staff. The final checking of all the maps and marking thereon with precision certain blocks the population of which will be required by the Representation Commissioners for the readjustment of the representation of the people in the House of Representatives devolved on this office. The Registrar-General has acknowledged the excellence of the maps. In this connection I have to state that to Mr. McCardell and the draughtsmen who assisted him much credit is due. Eight hundred and twenty-two maps and tracings have been mounted, also 400 lithographs of land-sales for the portfolios in the Head Office.

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