C.-!a

2

REPORT.

The demands on the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1923, have again been heavy, although the acreage surveyed shows a slight shrinkage as compared with last year's returns. Of the fifty-four surveyors employed, thirty-eight were staff and sixteen contract; while apart from these a number of cadets and assistants were employed. The attached tables give a concise summary of the amount of work completed. Full details are contained in the reports supplied by the Chief Surveyors, which are filed as departmental records. Under the heading of " Rural Surveys," in Table B, an area of 344,635 acres is shown as completed work, as compared with 370,082 acres for last year ; and under the heading of " Native-land Surveys " the area shows a decrease from 258,067 acres to 244,043 acres. The average cost per acre of rural surveys has decreased from Is. lOd. to Is. 6d., and the average cost per acre of Native-land surveys shows a similar decrease from 2s. Id. to Is. Bd. as compared with the prices ruling last year. These figures show that the work is being done at a reasonable price.

Table A.

Class of Work. Area, &e. Average Cost. Total Cost. Triangulation, by staff surveyors Acres. 31,546 2-615d. £ s. d. 343 16 0 Rural surveys, by staff surveyors 335,566 l-54s. 25,898 17 7 Rural surveys, by licensed surveyors 9,069 2-50s. 1,132 19 2 Village and suburban, by staff surveyors 1,401-21 14-00s. 980 14 10 Village and suburban, by licensed surveyors 0-21 Special 12 12 0 Town, by staff surveyors 355-88 G4-03s. 1,139 6 10 Town, by licensed surveyors 1-456 Special 44 11 0 Native Land Court, by staff surveyors 29,462-37 l-375s. 2,025 13 7 Native Land Court, by licensed surveyors 214,580-80 l-73s. 18,530 10 9 Coal- and gold-mining areas, paid by applicants .. 560-0 t Sawmill areas, &c, paid by applicants Roads, by staff surveyors Miles. 291-24 Per Mile. £49-52 14,421 4 10 Roads, by licensed surveyors 7-03 £28-37 199 8 8