9

o.—l

Legislative Authority for Departmental Functions. The statutes under which the above functions are carried out comprise : Land Act, 1908 ; Land for Settlements Act, 1908; Land Laws Amendment Acts, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1920; Land for Settlements Administration Act, 1909; War Legislation Acts, 1916 (Part II), 1917 (i'arf, I), 1918 (Part I); Discharged Soldiers Settlement, Act, 1915, and Amendment Acts of 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1920; Education Reserves Act, 1908, and Amendment Acts, 1910, 1911, 1913, 1914, and 1915 ; Kauri-gum Industry Act, 1908, and amendments ; Swamp Drainage Act, 1915 ; Hauraki Plains Act, 1908, and amendments of 191.1, 1912, 1913, 1914, &c. ; Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910, and amendments, 1913, 1914, &c.; Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908, and Amendment, Acts of 1911, 1912, 19.14; Scenery Preservation Act, 1908, and amendments of 1910, 1915; Surveyors' Institute and Board of Examiners Act, 1908; Timber-floating Act, 1908; Cemeteries Act, 1908; Sand-drift Act, 1908; Reserves Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Act (annual) ; Legislature Act, 1908 ; and numerous sections in other Acts, such as the Native Land Act, Land Transfer Act, Mining Act, Public Works Act, &c.

Appointments, Promotions, and Transfers.

Transfers to other Departments. These include Messrs. A. D. MacGavock (Relieving Officer), to be Conservator of Forests, Westland ; I). MacPherson (District Surveyor), Conservator of Forests, Southland ; R. D. Campbell (Supervisor D.S. Settlements), Conservator of Forests, Auckland ; A. B. Jordan (Supervisor), District Valuer, Waikato ; T. Sheehy (Ranger), District Valuer, Taranaki; A. T. Leeds (Surveyor), Public Works Department; W. Stavely, P. Keenan, A. If. Messenger, C. Biggs. W. Boardman. R. Mac Donald, and Mrs. J. M. Oollan to Forestry Department; L. B. Freeman, Public Trust, Ollice ; W. Taylor, Treasury Department ; and 11. V.' Mounticr to Post and Telegraph Department. Departmental Cm woes. The following are the respective changes in the personnel of the Department that took place during the year : — Deaths. John Ross Macdonald joined the Department on the 13th April, 1893, as a clerk in the Nelson Office, and was subsequently promoted to be Receiver of Land Revenue. He was transferred to the Auckland Office, but on account of ill health was temporarily retired on superannuation in 1914. Owing to an apparent improvement in his health he rejoined the Service as a clerk in the Wellington Ollice of this Department on the Ist August, 1918, but later on in the year was transferred to Invercargill, where he died on the 18th April, 1920. Mr. Macdonald was an officer who had varied experience in connection with land matters, and was the author of the " New Zealand Sheep-farmer." He worked to the best of his ability, and it is regretted that ill health cut short his career. \~2 Edward Charles Walter Burnaby was a clerical cadet in the Nelson Office. He joined the Service on the 20th May, 1919, and died on the 24th December. 1920. Mr. Burnaby was a willing and zealous worker during his short time of service. Ij3 The sympatliv and condolences of the Department are extended to the relatives of the above officers.

2—C. 1.

Officer appointed, and Previous Position. Position to which appointed. W. T. Neill, Chief Inspector of Surveys G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Taranaki 11. J. Lowe, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Child' Surveyor, Marlborough John Cook, Chief Draughtsman, Auckland Surveyor-General. Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Canterbury. Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Taranaki. Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, Marlborough. Chief Draughtsman, Auckland. Chief Draughtsman, North Auckland. Chief Draughtsman, Napier. Chief Draughtsman, Invercargill. J, D. Thomson, Chief Draughtsman, Napier A. II. Vickerman, Chief Draughtsman, Invercargill V. I. Blake, Chief Draughtsman, North Auckland (). G. Goldsmith, Land Transfer Draughtsman, Invercargill K It. Burnley, Surveyor, Auckland 0. E. Archibald, Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue, North Auckland D. Smith, Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue* Invercargill .1. MacDonald, Senior Clerk, Dunedin .. Land Transfer Draughtsman. Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue, Dunedin. Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue, North Auckland. Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue) Invercargill. Child' Clerk and Receive, of Land Revenue, Nelson. Accountant, New Plymouth. Assistant to Chief Accountant, Wellington. Senior Clerk, Dunedin. Senior Clerk, Wellington. Record Clerk, Head Office. W. S. Hardy/ Senior Clerk, Wellington.. J. H. Robertson, Clerk, Wellington J. Quinn, Accountant, Wellington J. Torrance. Clerk, North Auckland .1. I). Watt, Clerk, Wellington W. Bye, Agricultural Department. Wellington ..