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Office Work Staff. —Due to the absence of officers on military service in the earlier part of the year, much of the office work had to be held in abeyance. Towards the close of the year the position improved when Messrs. E. McPadden and E. Wickes returned from military service and Mr. A. C. Adamson was transferred from Blenheim. General.—Plans examined and approved during the year numbered 51, comprising 21 land transfer, 20 Crown lands, and 10 for other Departments. Most of the departmental plans are now prepared by the draughting staff. Five hundred and eighty general tracings were prepared and 109 mining applications reported on; 534 searches were made, 792 diagrams drawn, 107 sunprints taken, 74 maps mounted, 43 maps prepared for census, regionalplanning, and land-sales purposes. The staff has had a very busy year, and I desire to record my appreciation of the loyal-co-operation and attention to duties of all officers.

CANTERBURY LAND DISTRICT (T. S. McMillan, Chief Surveyor) Field-work Settlement Surveys for Rehabilitation.—These surveys occupied the major portion of the year for all the staff surveyors, 14 blocks being 1 surveyed, providing 50 sections and totalling 30,152 acres, but the plans have not yet been completed of 6 of the blocks. Triangulation Surveys.—No surveys under this heading were carried out during the year. Topographical Surveys.—Seven topographical surveys were made of the blocks acquired for rehabilitation purposes, and these surveys covered 17,762 acres. A 10 ft. contour survey was also made of 900 acres adjoining Hanmer Township for town-planning purposes in connection with the future extension of the township. Form N. 18 shows 243 square miles of contoured topographical survey which is contained in the 1 : 25000 series, Sumner, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Halswell, Styx, West Melton, and Lincoln Sheets, the field-work of which has been completed for some time and has been carried forward from year to year. Standard Surveys.—No standard surveys were carried out. Precise Levelling.—No surveys were made under this heading. Rural Surveys.—Three thousand four hundred and sixty-nine acres of rural land were surveyed, and comprised resubdi visions of the Doyleston (4 sections), Mead (2 sections), and Lyndhurst (7 sections). Settlements, linen-flax-factory sites at Methven (1 section), and Leeston (2 sections) and severances caused by the Rangitata diversion race (8 sections). Village and Suburban. —Some 77-65 acres, subdivided into 23 sections, comprised the work under this heading, and, included a recreation reserve and a wool-shed site at Motunau, five racemen's cottage-sites in Mid-Canterbury, Housing Department purchases at Rangiora. and Ashburton, plant and stores depots for the Public Works Department, a homestead-site at Medina, a sub-station-site at Temuka, and an area for defence purposes (Mead Settlement). Town Surveys.—The only surveys of this nature were for the Housing Department as shown below. Housing Section Surveys.—One hundred and eight sections, with a total area of 25-26 acres, were surveyed for the Housing Department, and these were located at Christchurch, Bryndwr, Lyttelton, Rangiora, Ashburton, and Timaru.

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