8

C—l

Expeditionart Forces. In addition to those officers mentioned in last year's report, the following have volunteered and either joined the Expeditionary Forces during the past twelve months or are now waiting to go into camp : — Surveyors and B. Burrell (cadet. Auckland), J. M. Hemphill (assistant, Otago), C. Kenny (Auckland), A. T. Leeds (Auckland), G, H. McKenzie (Auckland), A. Morpeth (assistant, Thames), S. Parkinson (Nelson), W. Paora (Taranaki), H. L. Primrose (Hawke's Ray), C K. Robinson (Taranaki), T. S. Hoe (cadet, Hawke's Bay), 11. G. Shannon (Auckland), J. S. Straw-bridge (assistant, Thames), J. C. Thomson (cadet, Southland). Draughtsmen. —R. G. Applogarth (Auckland), C. C. Rest (Auckland), S. O. Esam (Auckland), R, C. Caiman (Wellington), H. D. Henderson (Christchurch), T. R. Jameson (Hawke's Hay), I!. E. L. Mitchell (Auckland), A. P. McConnell (Auckland), K. J. Miller (Auckland), J. C. O'Hara (Auckland), R, V. Parker (Dunedin), S. B. Smith (Dunedin), A. Turner (Thames), E, S. Wood (Invercargill). Clerks. —A. C. Turnbull (Inspector, Head Office), R. W. Gumming (Auckland), W. 1*:. A. Gibbs (Taranaki), G. H. Harvey (Invercargill), D. E. Gold Smith (Invercargill), G. J. Hawkesby (Auckland), 11. 0. llulme (Dunedin), A. D. McCartney (Blenheim), D. M. G. Mackay (Thames), F. W. E. Mitchell (Invercargill). 'P. H. Reid (Head Office), J. 11. Robertson (Auckland), It. Sine! (Dunedin). Forestry. —D. J. Lowry (Tapanui), H. J. Screen (Tapanui), 11. Smith (Auckland). Casualties. Killed, in Action. —E. Carr (employed on a Government survey party in Hawke's Bay), D. M. McDonald (Crown Lands Hanger, Canterbury), George Pirritt (surveyor in the Auckland District), Valentine Blake (surveyor in the Wellington District). Believed to lie Dead. —G. C. B. Cairnie (draughtsman in the Auckland office), E. A. Ingram (draughtsman in the Hokitika office), H. L. Wake (draughtsman in the Gisborne office). Wounded.- K. A. Bayne, If. J. Cornwell, W. M. Gray, W. H. Quennell, W. S. Thompson, F, W. Watson, E. H. Whiting. The loss of the above-mentioned officers who died whilst gallantly lighting for their King and country will be severely felt by the Department, and the sincerest sympathy for their relatives and friends is respectfully tendered by (he Department, more particularly by those officers who were privileged to be associated with them in the course- of their duties. Reports on Cognate Subjects. As in former years, separate reports are required to be laid before Parliament in connection with many of the operations carried out by the Department. They comprise— State Nurseries and Plantations. —Particulars of the tree-planting carried on in the Rotorua district in the North Island, and in the Otago, Southland, and Hannier districts in the South Island, are fully detailed in parliamentary paper C.-3. .Swamp-drainage. —The report required by the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, is contained in parliamentary paper C.-4. As the Act has only been in operation for a few months; little beyond preliminary work has been accomplished. Scenery-preservation. —Comparatively little reservation has been effected under the Scenery Preservation Act during the past year. Details arid statement of accounts are included in parliamentary paper C.-6. Advances for Reading of Crown Lands. —The necessary report submitted in accordance with section 63 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1913, appears in parliamentary paper C.-7. Drainage Operations in Hauraki Plains. —Tin- full and complete report of the Chief Drainage Engineer on this subject is included in parliamentary paper C.-8. It discloses a very satisfactory state of affairs in connection with the drainage-works undertaken. Discharged Soldiers Settlement. —A new report under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, is furnished by the Department in parliamentary paper C.--9. As the Act has not boon long in force the transactions thereunder are necessarily small, but there is no doubt that its provisions will be largely taken advantage of in the future. Public Domains. —The usual statement regarding the condition of the domains in New Zealand is oomprised in parliamentary paper C.-10. Rangitaihi Land Drainage. —The annual report on the operations in the Rangitaiki Plains shows that they have been uniformly successful. Parliament ary paper 0.-1 1 contains full particulars of the works in progress. Kauri-gum Industry. —The report of the Kauri-gum Superintendent on the works under his supervision and the condition of the industry appears in parliamentary paper C—l2. llhad Office. Coincident with the additional duties from time lo time devolving upon the Department, the work of this office shows a corresponding increase. Correspondence : During the year 28,205 letters, telegrams, &c, were received', and 28,799 despatched, being a gross filial of 57,004, showing an increase of 3,817 over the previous year's figures. Cemeteries: At the, beginning of the year there were 522 public cemeteries under the control of the Department. Eight new ones wen- added during the year, four were vested in local authorities, and the purpose of one was changed to recreation. There were therefore 525 on the books of the Department at the close of the year.