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bulk of which being settlement lands, has increased from 45,495 acres to 70,322 acres. So far the field staff, at the expense of other work, have been able to deal promptly with all surveys of settlement and development work. The following is a summary of the areas dealt with in the * various districts for land-settlement purposes. The table shows the actual areas dealt with by the field staff, the cost of portion of which has not been included in the return of field-work pending completion of the illustrating plans and maps:—-

Surveys for Land Settlement

The preliminary topographical surveys in most cases involve the preparation of a map illustrating all natural features, improvements, a general classification of the land concerned, and any other features that might have an ultimate bearing on the development of the area. Some land-title survey work is being held in abeyance until subdivisional proposals and development works are finalized. Settlement-survey work is fairly evenly distributed throughout the various districts, except in the Nelson and Westland districts, where practically no settlement work is in view. An analysis of the cost of field-work carried out by staff and contract surveyors in the various Chief Surveyors' offices is scheduled hereunder:—

Preliminary Final Land District. Topographical Title Number of Surveys. Surveys. Units. Acres. Acres. Auckland and North Auckland 36,467 15,401 119 Gisborne 3,400 5,072 14 Hawke's Bay 23,034 11,471 46 Taranaki 2,425 2,824 21 Wellington 23,400 7,546 35 Marlborough 6,755 2,060 9 Nelson 120 3 Westland Canterbury 17,762 30J52 50 Otago 19,605 8,142 26 Southland .. .. .. , 25,948 2,180 5 Te Kuiti (Development Branch) 22,570 1,468 15 Totals .. 181,366 86,436 343

District. By Staff Surveyors. By Contract Surveyors. Totals. Percentage. Number of Surveyors. Staff. | Contract. Auckland and North Auckland Gisborne Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Totals £ s. d. 16,940 10 5 189 9 4 2,191 9 10 661 5 5 3,562 16 1 1,066 4 4 2,149 0 0 363 5 5 5,817 5 8 2,366 10 8 5,769 8 8 £ s. d. 3,878 2 0 250 14 6 257 0 0 110 8 11 2,085 13 3 151 5 1 140 9 11 826 15 3 809 0 2 £ s. d. 20,818 12 5 440 3 10 2,448 9 10 771 14 4 5,648 9 4 1,066 4 4 2,300 5 1 503 15 4 6,644 0 11 3,175 10 10 5,769 8 8 42-0 0-9 4-9 1-6 11-4 2-2 4-6 1-0 13-4 6-4 11-6 6 1 3 2 4 1 1 1 4 2 3 31 1 2 2 12 1 2 4 5 41,077 5 10 8,509 9 1 49,586 14 11 (26,267 16 4) 100 28 (27) 60* (55) Last year's returns are shown in parentheses.