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I recommend that the important duties of Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys be entrusted to Mr. L. GIBBS, Assistant Engineer, and that his salary be increased from $2,328 per annum to $3,000 per annum, the latter salary being available in the Estimates owing to the retirement of Mr. MALSCH. The duties of Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys are of the highest importance and cannot be neglected; briefly they are as follows:-
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1. To keep records of all land sales, analysis of cost per foot, Crown
Rent per acre, &c., &c.
2. To inspect, survey and value all applications for lots, with the assistance
in the field work of the Land Surveyor.
3. To prepare sale plans and conditions of sale.
4. To arrange for and conduct all land sales, see to the due advertising of the same and pass all accounts in connection therewith, sending returns of sales to the Treasury, Land Office and Local Auditor.
5. To supervise the preparation of all lease plans for the Land Office. Mr. GIBBS has nine years' service, during which time he has received no promotion. He is an extremely hardworking and energetic officer, fully deserving of promotion.
I recommend the promotion of Mr. E. M. HAZELAND to a salary of $2,328
per annum.
Mr. HAZELAND has ten years' service, and as an Assistant Engineer has received no promotion since 1893, his present substantive salary of $1,440 per annum is less than that drawn by Overseers working under his orders. He is debarred from receiving compensation for the depreciation of silver, as, though an Englishman, he was born and has his domicile in Hongkong.
He is an energetic and active officer in charge of important duties, and his thorough knowledge of colloquial Chinese makes his services peculiarly valuable.
I recommend the transfer of Mr. GALE, Chief Draughtsman, to the Engineer- ing staff as an Assistant Engineer on his present salary of $2,328 per annum. Mr. GALE is a qualified Engineer and an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. He has been latterly entrusted with the supervision of works, in which duty he has shewn himself efficient. His transfer would place him in the line of promotion from which he is at present debarred. Mr. GALE has nine years' service, during which time he has received no promotion.
I recommend the appointment of a Chief Draughtman to succeed Mr. GALE on a salary of $1,200 per annum, rising to $1,500 per annum by annual increments of $100, for which salary it is believed a qualified man can be obtained from India or Ceylon.
I recommend that the salary of an additional Assistant Engineer on $2,328 per annum be placed on the Estimates for 1900, as such an appointment will probably become necessary in connection with the extensive works being under- taken in the New Territory.
I annex a tabular statement shewing the present staff of the Department and that proposed for 1900, shewing that the proposed changes cause less increase in the Estimates than would the appointment of one additional Assistant Engineer.