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necessary for me to make any further allusion to them beyond observing that they necessarily considerably increase the expense of the Surveys, though I think they will add in a still larger degree to their value.

The laying off practicable Roads through the surveyed Blocks, and the rectification of the minor errors referred to, have necessarily occupied a considerable portion of the time of the limited Staff we have had in the Field.

The accompanying Table will show generally the nature and amount of the work which has been performed.

The two Blocks, 15 and 16, Invercargill Hundred, surveyed by Mr Aitken, were somewhat more expensive than the others, in consequence of their consisting chiefly of a single row of Sections along a line of Road which had to be explored for by levelling through very swampy country. Many of the Sections, too, had been previously sold, and partly improved, and it was necessary to alter their boundaries several times in accordance with resolutions of the Waste Land Board.

With the efficiency and general conduct of the members of the Staff, I have every reason to express my satisfaction. The quality of the work performed by them, will, I am convinced, compare favourably with that executed in any part of the Colony, while its cost will not be considered excessive when the nature of the work is considered. Several members of the Staff had little prior experience, and some allowance must be made for their first Blocks; but these have manifestly improved since their commencement in the Province, and promise to form a department which will leave nothing to be desired in respect of competency and respectability.

The present numbers and disposition of the Staff are as follows:—

1. Mr H. H. Fawcett, Assistant Surveyor,—re-surveying Jacob’s River Blocks.

2. Mr J. Aitken, Assistant Surveyor,—laying off Campbelltown Road.

3. Mr J. A. M’Arthur, Sub-assistant,—laying off Great North Road to Dome Pass.

4. Mr H. Mitchell, Sub-assistant,—surveying Block in Jacob’s River.

5. Mr J. Baker, Sub-assistant,—surveying Block Mabel district.

The first gentleman is about to come to Invercargill to conduct the Engineer’s department, and it will then be necessary to provide an efficient substitute for the important work he is now engaged in.

Mr Aitken will continue to be employed on his present task, and on matters connected with it, for at least some months longer.

Thus we have only three officers available for Block and Section Surveying, and it is absolutely necessary that the Triangulation should be immediately proceeded with by at least one Assistant Surveyor. There are also a considerable number of sections of land which have been sold previous to Survey, and justice to the buyers demands that these should as early as possible be surveyed, in order to perfect their titles. They are generally in detached situations, where there is little other land to be surveyed, and where, accordingly, surveying will be tedious and expensive.

It has been frequently urged upon me to countenance a system of Surveying by Contract. To do this on any extended scale, would, in my opinion, involve the breaking-up of the regular Survey Staff. If Surveys by Contract were attempted to be carried on concurrently with those by the members of the Staff, it would inevitably happen that the best Surveyors would leave the Government service in order to take contracts. Looking at the tendency of Contract Surveyors to hurry over their work—(though I must observe that an honourable exception to this has occurred in this Province)—I cannot but think that the public interest will be best served by having the Surveys executed by permanent officers of the department, and that no steps should be taken which would be calculated to impair their efficiency. Still, as there are very capable Surveyors practising their profession in this Province, I should be very happy if the services of these gentlemen could be made available to clear off the arrears referred to of the Survey of lands sold in scattered positions. But considerations of economy and of fairness to the officers of the Staff, demand that contracts for these should only be entered into at prices which will afford an emolument to the Surveyor bearing some proportion to the salary of equally competent officials.

A large contract, which will amount to upwards of 40,000 acres, was set to Messrs Mueller & Geisow in December last. More than half of this has been completed in a manner with which I have every reason to be satisfied. Another contract, amounting to 6234 acres, was set in January to Mr S. Kempthorne, in the New River Hundred, which was fairly executed.

At a later period some small detached pieces of land intervening between private surveys, were surveyed by Messrs Mueller & Geisow, the cost being, in consequence of their smallness, 1s 7½d per acre. Two other Blocks, amounting to 3000 acres, have been recently offered, but the tenders having been beyond the maximum fixed by me, were not accepted.

I propose from time to time to offer some of these minor Surveys for contract, but always with a maximum price previously fixed.

By these means I trust before long to have cleared off all arrears, and, with the increased Staff I have proposed, speedily to push the Surveys ahead of the demand which now presses far too close upon the capabilities of the department.

The office work has been carried on by Mr Stevens alone until the last month. He has made himself completely master of the business of the department in all its details. He is now assisted by Mr M’Gowan as Second Draughtsman. There is the increasing business of recording Crown Grants, and a complete general Map of the Province is very much needed. These works can only be carried on at intervals of the current business of the Surveys, and there is ample work to try the energies of the office establishment.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Honor’s most obedient Servant,

THOMAS HEALE,

Chief Surveyor.

To His Honor the Superintendent,

Province of Southland.