0.—.1

8

3. Advancing money on mortgage to enable discharged soldiers to erect houses on freehold land for residential purposes. 4. Advancing money on bills of sale to enable discharged soldiers who own or lease land to pinch.ise stock or implements. 5. Administration in connection with above, including the collection of interest and repayments, preparation and registration of mortgages, bills of sale, &o, ; apportionment of revenue ; dealing with transfers, forfeitures, surrenders, &c. (E.) Land-drainage. 1. Reclamation and drainage of land under the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908, and amendments. 2. Reclamation and drainage of land under the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, and amendments. 3. Reclamation and drainage of land under the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915, including swamps at Kaitaia (North Auckland), Waihi (near Tauranga), Hikurangi (near Whangarci), Poukawa Lake (Hawke's Bay), &c. 4. Reporting upon and advising local bodies and public departments as to the best method of draining lands under their control. 5. Prosecution of investigations regarding possibilities of reclaiming swamp and marsh Crown lands. 6. Reading and draining of soldiers' settlements, Auckland Land Districts. (F.) Scenery-preservation. 1. To report upon all proposals for the reservation of lands under the Scenery Preservation Act, 1908. 2. Consideration of same by the Scenery Preservation Board, and recommendation as to acquisition, reservation, or otherwise. 3. Administration of reserves, including inspection, supervision by local Scenic Hoards, honorary Inspectors, &c. 4. The control of the greater part, of Kapiti Island, set. aside as a, sanctuary for native fauna and flora. This is attended to by a resident caretaker. (0.) Domains. 1. Setting aside Crown land for public recreation pin poses. 2. Bringing the reserves under the Public Reserves and Domains Act, and vesting control in Domain Boards. Where not so vested the Commissioner of Crown Lands administers the domain. (II.) Public Cemeteries. 1. Appointing trustees to control public cemeteries and attending to administration of same. (J.) Aliens' Acquisition of Land. 1. Consideration of applications by persons of enemy origin to purchase land or acquire interests by way of lease, mortgage, &C 2. Preparation of licenses under section 5 of the War Legislation and Statute Law Amendment Act, 1918, authorizing such purchases, &c, in cases where applications approved. (K.) Kauri-gum Industry. A special branch of the Department under the Kauri-gum Superintendent, deals with the purchase and sale by the Government of kauri-gum from diggers, whilst the Commissioners of Crown Lands for the North Auckland and Auckland Districts issue licenses. &c, under the Kauri-gum Industry Act. (L.) Miscellaneous Duties. The duties devolving upon the principal officers of the Department, in addition to their functions under the Land Act, are fairly extensive. They include; the following :— By virtue of his position the Under-Secret ar\ is a. member of tin; Dominion Land Purchase Board, the Native Land Purchase Board, the Native Trust, Board, thi; Air Board, the State Advances Board, and tic National Endowment Trust Administration Board. The Surveyor-General is Chairman of the Surveyors Board, the Scenery Preservation Board, and the Representation Commission under the Legislature Act; whilst lie is also a member of the Dominion Land Purchase Board, the Government Insurance Investment Board, and the North Island Representation Commission. The Commissioners of Crown Lands are Chairmen of the Land Board and Land Purchase Board for their districts, and are members of Commissions appointed under the Town Boards Amendment, Act, 1912, the Scenery Preservation Board (when dealing with lands in their districts), and are occasionally appointed to special Commissions of inquiry on matters such as the kauri-gum industry, the Taupo Totara Timber Company's railway and lands, the. southern pastoral lands of New Zealand, &c. Under the Legislature Act, 1908, the Commissioners of Crown Lands for the Auckland, Taranaki, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago Districts are members of the Representation Commission. Under the Surveyors' Institute and Board of Examiners Act, 1908, a. Chief Surveyor has hitherto been a member of the Surveyors Board. In addition, other members of the Department have been from time to time selected to act as secretary to a Royal Commission dealing with matters coming within the scope of the Department.