C—la.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX L—SURVEYS.

AUCKLAND.

Minor Trigonometrical and Topographical Survey. —During the year 87,687 acres of minor triangulation lying in Tauranga, Whareorino, and Patetere North Districts was executed, at a cost of l - 01d. per acre, being a breaking-down from major trigs for section survey check. Rural and Suburban. —This year a return of 194,701 acres, at a cost of I'24b. per acre, is probably a record for settlement-work completed during the period, while the cost is low, for a large proportion of this aroa lies in heavily timbered broken country, difficult of access and subject to continuous rains. A reference to the table will show the location of the various operations for the period. It should be noted that large areas, the surveys of which have extended over more than one period, having been delayed from the causes already mentioned, were completed and returned this year. These were principally in the Tutamoe, Whareorino and Rotoma Survey Districts, the surveys of which were executed by District Surveyor G. A. Martin, with Assistant Surveyors H. M. Kensington and L. Jackson; District Surveyor R. S. Galbraith, with Assistant Surveyors F. E. Byrne and McCabe ; and the last named block by District Surveyor D. I. Barron. There is also an area of 10,735 acres executed by licensed surveyor?, principally the subdivision of Crown leases under section 12 of " The Land Act Amendment Act, 1895," and paid for by private arrangemeent. In addition to this, an area of 135,777 acres of provisional topographical survey was prepared for the purpose of getting areas quickly into the market, the cost averaging Ts6d. per acre, the principal, blocks being in Patetere (Selwyn), Opotiki, Waioeka, Whareorino, and Maungamangero Districts, the surveys of which were done by Assistant Surveyors Edgecumbe, Allom, Mitchell, Thompson, Seaton, Mountfort, Kensington, and Byrne, thus making a total area of 330,478 acres prepared for settlement purposes. Town Section Survey. —Under this heading is returned an area of 1291 acres, consisting of 142 allotments. These comprised portions of Putaruru Village Extension (Selwyn), and Kakahi Village, Rotorua, and a small area in Matamata Village. Lands for Settlement. —Under this heading there has been considerable activity during the year, so as to get the land acquired opened and made profitable with the least possible delay, the offering of the southern portion of the Selwyn Block being within six months from date of starting the survey. In Piako County an area of 88,431 acres, Selwyn Settlement (formerly the Thames Valley Estate), was prepared and offered for selection this year. This is included in the settlement area surveyed. The subdivision was conducted by Assistant Surveyors Edgecumbe, Wilson, Mountfort, and Kensington, under the supervision of Assistant Surveyor J. B. Thompson. The bush portion, about 60,000 acres, of this estate was defined and excluded from settlement with a view to being dealt with later for milling purposes. Preliminary operations have also been started on the Mangawhero and Mangapouri Estates, in the Waikato, adjacent to Selwyn, which were purchased by the Government this year for close settlement; also the workers' dwellings settlements near Auckland —viz., Cadman, Carroll, Eccleston No. 2, Lawry, and Prescott Settlements, the periphery surveys of which were executed by contract surveyors P. Chambers, J. W. Harrison, and Kelly. Schemes for the subdivision of these settlements were prepared by Inspector J. Langmuir, and a portion of Lawry Settlement at Ellerslie pegged off to enable a start to be made in the erection of the proposed dwellings. Native Land Court Surveys. —15,150 acres, comprising 40 blocks, have been surveyed, at a cost of 19'55d. per acre, for which certificates of costs have been issued, and lying principally in Whareorino, Awakino, Maungaru, Whaingaroa, and Mangamuka Districts. In addition, 54 blocks, totalling 22,432 acres, were surveyed, of which I have no official knowledge of the cost, which gives a grand total of 94 blocks of 37,582 acres. These surveys were executed by licensed surveyors, with the exception of 4,213 acres by the staff. Gold-mining Surveys. —This year 734 acres, covering twelve claims and costing ss. per acre, have been surveyed Dy licensed surveyors, also 182 acres in five claims paid for by arrangement. The area returned is less than usual, as there was nothing to cause a demand for many fresh claims ; apart from this, the existing claims are in a prosperous condition. Roads. —Of this class of work 8654 miles were surveyed, at a cost of £16-21 per mile. With the exception of two contracts, these were all staff surveys. The greater portion of this is the survey of lines graded by the Roads Department, which required definition in order to establish a proper title. This occupied a large portion of time, which I often grudge, and which might be applied to settlement survey. The average cost is satisfactory, as many are in broken country, and in some cases includes the cost of redefining the old boundaries intersected as well as grading. Detention by Native Opposition. —The amount of £43 11s. Bd. represents cost of delay caused by opposition to the survey of scenic reserves at Ngatira, on Rotorua Railway, by contract surveyor G. A. Jackson. Other Work. —Under this heading a cost of £2,667 19s. 3d. is shown covering the usual various duties, all necessary in their way, but outside actual subdivision surveys, and includes inspections, surveys, flax and timber reports, trig, renewals, small surveys for Tourist, Education and other Departments, valuations, and numerous other duties in connection with the preparation of the Selwyn Settlement