o.^l

6

Statement of Capital.

Land-drainage Operations. For the year ended 31st March, 1925. some 1,885,690 cubic yards of spoil were excavated, compared with 1,700,298 yards during the previous year. Full particulars of the various activities of the branch are given in Appendix 111. Staff Employment. On the Ist April, .1924, there were 609 officers permanently employed in the Department, and 51 temporary employees, a total altogether of 660. During the year 64 new appointments were made to the permanent staff, while 6 officers were transferred from other Departments. Four officers died during the year, 8 were transferred to other Departments, and 40 resigned or retired on superannuation, leaving a staff at the Ist April last of 627 permanent officers. In addition, 69 temporary officers were employed, making a total of 696. Departmental Changes. Retirements. Mr. W. R. Jourdain, who retired on the 31st December last, entered the Department in May, 1887, and was stationed in Napier till 1900, when he was transferred to Head Office. He was appointed Chief Clerk, Head Office, in 1912, which position he held up to the date of his retirement. He was appointed Secretary to the Scenery Preservation Board in 1906, Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Timber Industry in 1909, and Secretary to the Tongariro National Park, Board from 1909 to 1913 and during 1922-24. He was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1911, and was the author of the " Digest of the Land Laws," published in 1920, and " Land Legislation and Settlement in New Zealand," published this year. He also compiled " Forestry in New Zealand, 1909." During his period of service he proved himself a zealous, willing, and reliable officer. Mr. J. G. Bendely was appointed a cadet in the Survey Department at Christchurch on the 11th January, 1886, and was transferred to the Lands Branch on the Ist July, 1890. He at various periods held the positions of Record Clerk, Correspondence Clerk, Secretary to the Land Board, and Chief Clerk in the Christchurch Office. In 191.1 he was transferred to Auckland as Chief Clerk, and till the date of his retirement held the dual position of Chief Clerk and Receiver of Land Revenue. For some time prior to his retirement his health was not of the best, and chiefly for this reason he deemed it necessary to sever his connection with the Department, in which for a period of thirty-nine years he had served with unselfish and untiring devotion to his duty. Mr. F. C. Ewen joined the Department as Crown Lands Ranger in 1901, having previously had service on survey parties. He was a conscientious, reliable, and willing officer. Mr. J. Collins was appointed Crown Lands Ranger at Southland in 1904, and retired in June,. 1924. He was an expert in timber matters, and had considerable experience of the milling industry. His knowledge of timber and the milling industry was of much assistance to the Department.

* , Capital, 31st Accrued Revenue 0 ' March, 1925. Revenue. Charges. I £ . £ £ Lands andlSurvey Department—General .. .. 7,330,130 i 369,500 341,900 Land for Settlements .. .. .. .. 10,888,400 j 517,150 477,250 Land for Settlements (Discharged Soldiers Settlement) .. 3,222,050 129,300 161,500 Cheviot Estate .. .. .. .. .. 373,480 27,800 11,000 National Endowment .. .. .. .. 4,750,000 158,420 163,100 Native Land Settlement .. . . .. .. 2,520,000 73,000 31,000 Hunter Soldiers'Assistance Trust .. .. .. 20,150 800 170 Primary Education Endowment .. .. .. 2,294,300 113,000 114,000 Secondary Education Endowment .. .. .. 199,120 9,300 9.400 Scenery-preservation .. .. .. .. 101,650 2,500 500 National Endowment Trust .. .. .. .. 27,370 1,160 Totals .. .. .. .. 31,726,650 1,401,930 1,309,820 Rangitaiki Land Drainage .. .. .. .. 510,000 30,750 30,400 Swamp Land Drainage .. .. .. .. 421,000 .. ! Kauri-gum Industry .. .. .. .. 75,000 22,500 i 13,500 Hauraki Plains Settlement .. .. .. .. 630,000 22,250 j 36,000 General Purposes Relief .. .. .. .. 32,000 1,560 1,360 Totals .. .. .. .. 1,668,000 77,060 81,260 Discharged Soldiers Settlement .. .. .. 20,087,836 922,700 1,032,800 Grand Totals .. .. .. .. j 53,482,486 2,401,690 2,423,880 I I