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Inspection and Investigation Surveys.—An increasing number of these surveys is required as time goes on, as more defects in the early surveys are brought to light. The work done during the past year was necessitated in investigating old work near Brightwater, when discrepancies in early landtransfer surveys were found. Other Work. —This covered nine surveys and reports, the biggest item being a survey for the Public Works Department of a river-diversion channel at Takaka, some 1 mile in length, and which involved quite an amount of investigating and straightening out old titles. Office-work Under this heading 202 survey plans have been received, of which 195 were examined and approved—ls4 land transfer, 22 for local bodies, and 19 for the Crown. Eleven plans were drawn in the office from the surveyors' notes and 13 plans were compiled. One thousand two hundred and fifty-eight diagrams were endorsed on certificates of title for the Land Transfer Office, 302 diagrams placed on Crown leases, and 20 diagrams on warrant titles. Four hundred and ninety-eight tracings were made for survey data for other Departments and for office requirements. Two hundred and fifty-nine mountings were made and 71 sun-prints taken. Four drawings were revised for publication, and a considerable number of plans were recorded on block sheets. I have to record my appreciation of the work done by the staff of this office and of the happy relations existing amongst the members.

WESTLAND LAND DISTRICT (J. W. Mclntyre, Chief Surveyor) Field-work Field Staff. —This year there were no staff surveyors engaged on fieldwork. As time permitted, the more urgent departmental surveys were carried out by myself, leaving the remainder of the work to private surveyors. Town Section Survey.—This work covers 12-47 acres, subdivided into 33 sections, mostly for residential sites. Road Survey.—This item covers 1-25 miles of road deviations required mainly by the Public Works Department. In addition, 0-75 of a mile of road deviation was carried out by a private surveyor. Twenty-eight miles of road surveys are in hand, but, due to the importance of this work, it has been considered advisable to wait until a staff surveyor is available. Maintenance of Survey Marks. —This item covers the alteration of the position of a trig, station, which was close to the edge of a large drain and was becoming undermined. Inspection and Investigation.—Eight surveys were carried out covering inspections to -ascertain if a reasonable standard of work was being maintained by private surveyors and dealing with differences of origin of bearings and, .disturbance of survey marks. Other Work.—Under this heading 28 surveys were completed, and cover chiefly compass surveys, plans, and reports of agricultural or pastoral lands damaged by dredging operations, locations of boundary marks, &c. Proposed Operations.—For the coming year there are 400 acres of rural land, 28 miles of roads, and a number of small surveys in hand, sufficient to engage a staff surveyor for the next three years.

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