13

α-i

Promotions.

Owing to the vacancies caused by the retirements mentioned both in last year's report and in the preceding paragraph, the following principal officers have been promoted : To the position of Surveyor-General (rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. Thomas Humphries), Mr. John Strauchon, Mr. Eric Gold Smith being transferred from Canterbury to Auckland as Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor iti Mr. Strauchon's stead. Owing to Mr. David Barren's retirement, Mr. E. H. Wilmot was transferred from Southland to Otago ; Mr. F. W. Flanagan was transferred from Nelson to Canterbury ; Mr. T. N. Brodrick was promoted from being Inspecting Surveyor and Land Officer at Qiebome to the position of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Hawke's Bay District; Mr. R. T. Sadd was promoted from being Chief Draughtsman and Surveyor. Nelson, to be Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for thai district; Mr. 11. M. Skeel was promoted from the position of Chief Draughtsman and Surveyor. Westland, to Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Southland ; whilst Mr. G. H. M. McClure, Chief Draughtsman and Surveyor, Christchurch, was promoted to the position of Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Westland, in place of Mr. G. J. Roberts. Expenditure of the Department. The following in a summary of the expenditure of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1910 :—

Conclusion.

Before bringing this report to a close. I would like to place on record my warm appreciation of the manner in which the several Commissioners of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyors, and the officers working under them, have carried out their duties. Again I can say that the discipline of the whole Department has been good, and that the survey staff, from the Surveyor-General downwards, have used their utmost efforts to assist the several Commissioners in opening the lands for selection. Most of our Crown lands in the North Island —and for the most part also in the South Island —are in broken forest country difficult of access, and where progress musi necessarily be slow. Experience has also proved that to throw the land open for before survey only leads to endless trouble and irritation. In the Head Office I have been assisted by a willing staff, who, under the direction of the Chief Clerk, have carried out their duties in a manner worthy of all praise. Much of Ihe lime of Mr. R. A. Paterson, the Chief Accountant, has been occupied with the purchase of Maori lands, and his assistant, Mr. Sinel, has displayed a promptitude and an aptitude for work which is greatly to his credit.

/ote No. N«m« of Vote or Account. Amount voted (Net). Expenditure (Gross). Recoveries. Expenditure (Net). 7:-! 71 06 .18 .14 Iβ L6 .17 .19 Lands and Survey ... ... 170,887 Lands and Survey, Miscellaneous 84,887 Immigration ... ... j 10,000 Improved-farm Settlements ... 22,800 Lands, Miscellaneous ... 4,944 Irrigation and Water.. ... 5,000 Purchase of Native Lands ... 30,000 State Forests ... ... 23,335 Scenery Preservation... ... j 10,425 £ 170,887 84,887 10,000 22,800 4,944 5,000 30,000 23,335 10,425 £ s. d. 177,125 11 1 52,865 11 II 1 30,702 19 3! 1,935 18 6! 3,569 19 9 224 14 6 31,454 9 8 22,266 17 7 5,828 17 1 £ s. d. 17,027 0 9i 7,426 1 9 13,700 10 5 1,030 15 2 t e. d. 160,098 10 4 45,439 10 2 17,002 8 10 905 3 4 3,569 19 9 223 13 2 30,566 10 11 22,187 0 6 5,775 13 6 114 887 18 9 79 17 1 53 3 7 Totals 362,278 362,278 325,974 19 4 40,206 8 10 285,768 10 6 Consolidated Fund, Unauthorised Account Special Acts Deposit Accounts, &c. Land for Settlements Account (including Votes Nos. 120 and 121) Cheviot Estate Account Maori Land Settlement Act Account (including Vote No. 122) 6,527 5 47,398 6 514,046 2 0 ( 0 6,157 19 5 0 0 0 370 0 47,379 6 514,046 2 0 7 0 8,951 9 437 11 8 8 8,951 9 437 11 8 8 Totals 577,360 14 11 6,176 5 0 571,184 9 11 Grand totals 903,335 14 46,382 13 10 856,953 0 5