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1908. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS: SURVEYS

(ANNUAL UEPOHT ON). Presented to both lloust* of tin General Aucmbly by Command <if Hit Excellency.

The Sukvkyoh-Gknkrai, to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellingt Ist June, I DOS. 1 have the honour to submit herewith the annual report on the survey operations of the Department for the twelve months ended the -ilst March, 1908. I have, 4c., Thos. Humphries, The Hon. li. McNab, Minister of Lands. Surveyor-General.

Thb Field Staff. The demands on the Department have been particularly heavy this year. An average number of seventy-three staff surveyors have been employed, and it was found necessary to increase the etrength by the addition of eight authorised assistants in charge of parties under the direct supervision and control of a similar number of the staff surveyors. Besides the foregoing, a number of licensed surveyors were from time to time employed on contract in soctionising Crown lands; fortyfive undertook surveys at schedule rates of Native Jand and Court orders and mining claims, anil many were engaged privately on Land Transfer surveys ; all of these classes of survey come under the scrutiny of the Department, and must receive its approval before the plans become authoritative. Work Compt.f.ted during the Year By far the greater part of the work has been sectional survey, necessitated by the unceasing demand for land, though surveys of Native lands have been considerable, for, in addition to the usual amount of Native Land Court orders, extensive surveys and reports have been made for the Maori Land Hoards, preliminary to the disposal of the land. The following is a summary of the principal work completed during the past year: —

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CI tss of Work. Area. Os , per Acre. Total Cost. Minor triangulation Topographical Topographical, for selection as unsurveyed land Rural and suburban, by staff Rural and suburban, by licensed surveyors ... Town Native Land Court, by staff... Native Land Court, by licensed surveyors Maori Land Board... Gold-mining, by staff Gold-mining, by licensed surveyors ...' Roads and railways Miscellaneous work and other duties ... Acres. 224,663 -98d. 120,273 316d 69, its.-, 4O7d. . 263,612 ) „ ]4 16,936 i 2 14s - 1,630 28-86e. 22,098 610-570 por section l<18.830 4,688 4-84.1. 81 1281s, 4,234 318 miles £1988 per mile £ s. d. 915 4 8 1,582 0 10 1,186 17 s 29,956 18 0 1,825 9 8 '.IT-'! IT II 98 8 10 19 17 0 6,818 17 7 9,672 8 II