18

C—U

Changes of Staff. —During the year Mr. A. D. Macfarlane, Receiver of Land Revenue, was transferred to Invercargill, after an efficient service of twenty-three years on the local staff. Mr. H. G. Bateman, draughtsman and computer, resigned from the service to take up mission work in China. Mr. J. R. Clements, draughtsman, was transferred to the Wellington District Office. Mr. J. Fitzsimmons was appointed draughting cadet, and Mr. R. E. E. McLeod clerical cadet. Mr. S. Emmett resigned from the service. In conclusion, I beg to thank the officers of both the field and office staff for their hearty co-operation and assistance in the work of the Department. H. D. M. Haszard, Chief Surveyor.

CANTERBURY. Rural. —Under this heading 77,339 acres are returned as completed, which comprise the following settlements : Sherwood Downs, Four Peaks, Bourndale, Avenel and Timaunga Extensions, Claremont, Waimate, Aylesbury, Strathmore, and part of Ashwick; also Mount Peel Exchange and Hanmer Plantation Extension and Exchange. Topographical. —34,180 acres are returned under this heading, being portion, of Sherwood Downs. Roads. —The 4 miles returned under this heading form the road surveyed by Mr. C. H. Morison at Oxford. Town and Gold-mining Surveys. —l have nothing to report under this heading. Land Transfer. —In this branch 396 plans were examined and approved, 2,720 deeds and other instruments passed, and 4,495 certificates of titles were indorsed. Other Work. —This comprises miscellaneous surveys. Survey Inspections. —During the year 11 field inspections have been made, and in most cases the work has proved to be satisfactory. Proposed Operations for the Year 1918-11/. —This work will comprise the subdivision of Runs 145 and 145 a (30,300 acres) in the Ashley and Oxford Survey Districts, the completion of inspection of roads and bridges in the Ashley, Oxford, Waikari, and Kowai Survey Districts, the survey of the road to give access to Crown lands in the Lees Valley, the survey of the Rangitata River Conservation Reserves (2,900 acres), the extension of the standard survey in the suburbs of Christchurch and Kaiapoi, the survey of any estates that may be acquired, as well as a number of miscellaneous surveys. There are also the surveys of Ashwick and Mount Nessing Settlements, Crown lands in the Oxford Survey District, and Greta Peak Runs, comprising 74,385 acres, which, though finished in the field, await the completion of plans. Office-work. —The office staff has had a busy year preparing all the necessary data for the survey and notification of the respective settlements. Twenty-nine Public Works plans, 32 roaddeviation plans, 28 land-for-settlement plans, and 7 other plans have been examined and approved, besides the usual tracing and descriptions. The tracings of Amuri County -are in hand. Transfers and Resignations. —Mr. T. N. Brodrick, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, was transferred to Wellington in June, and I succeeded him. Mr. A. G. Allom, District Surveyor, resigned in October last. Messrs. C. H. Morison and A. N. Harrop, District Surveyors, who were here temporarily, returned to Westland in June. Messrs. R. R. Richmond and Leslie Hunt were transferred here in October and November respectively, the former permanently and the latter temporarily, to assist at settlement and other surveys. Mr. G. A. Hathaway, unlicensed assistant, has also been assisting. Mr. E. Taylor, draughtsman, was transferred to Napier. In conclusion, I beg to thank the staff for their co-operation and assistance. C. R. Pollen, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Minor Triangulation. —No work has been done under this heading, but as mentioned in previous reports, there are several districts that should be revised when opportunity offers. Rural and Suburban. —Two staff surveyors, Mr. D. I. Barron and Mr. S. T. Burton, have been engaged on this class of work, the first up to November, 1912, when he was transferred to the Auckland District, and the latter continuously for the past year. The services of Mr. N. Paterson, contract surveyor, were obtained in connection with the subdivision of the Otanomomo Settlement, recently acquired for selection. The total area returned for the year is 11,948 acres, particularized as follows: 8,350 acres surveyed and subdivided into 4 small grazing-runs; 1,818 acres divided into 23 allotments and forming the Otanomomo Settlement; 1,780 acres divided into 59 sections, and consisting of scenic reserves in heavy bush land, and ordinary application and settlement surveys very scattered and extending from Lake Hawea down to Roxburgh. The average cost per acre was l'92s. Standard Survey. —Mr. W. T. Neill, Inspecting Surveyor, continues to make good progress with the standard survey of the City of Dunedin, but has to report that the weather for the past year has been very unfavourable for his operations. Twenty-eight miles of streets were traversed and marked, and the work of offsetting for the final determination by the City Council of the permanent alignments will shortly be commenced.