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Annexe K.
REPORT ON LAND SURVEY WORK
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH, 1914.
Four plans, numbered 1-4, accompany this report.
1. Organization.-The Land Survey Office, which at present includes a staff of 11 surveyors and one native apprentice surveyor, is a branch of the Public Works Department and is under the control of the Director of Public Works.
All matters relating to the sale and occupation of Crown Lands, which are under the charge of the Director of Public Works, are dealt with in this office, such as applications for land, sales of all areas to be let on long leases, preparation of permits for temporary occupation of land, licences for temporary piers, plans for leased areas, quarries, permanent piers, etc., etc.
The taking out of co-ordinates of traverses, the calculation of areas, etc., are done by the two computers engaged in 1911, the results being finally checked by the surveyors, after each set of figures has been worked out independently by each of the computers. This system has proved very satisfactory and a great saving of time has been effected. When all co-ordinates have been taken out and proved, the surveyors then plot their own traverses and fill in the details.
Two Land Bailiffs, whose time is wholly occupied in preventing illegal squatting and encroachment upon Crown Land, very common offences amongst the Chinese, are attached to the office.
Three Chinese clerks and five tracers are employed on the ordinary office routine and 57 survey coolies receiving wages at rates varying from $9.00 to $12.00 per month.