25th instant.
With reference to a return of lands sold during the past ten years I have already explained on a former occasion that although the lands have been sold by this Department the records in my Office will not supply this information, owing to the frequent changes that have taken place in the appointment of Land Surveyor and other causes (a chief cause probably being the incompetency of some of the officials who have filled that post) the records are far from complete. The only complete record can be obtained, I believe, from the Land Office. There can, I think, be no doubt as to the importance of the Government being supplied with this information. It was required by a minute of His Excellency the Governor some months ago, and as I could not supply it the question was referred to the Land Office.
In my minute of 18th March 1890 (CAO29889) I further requested that I might be supplied with a summary of any information that can be obtained from official records of the value of property mortgaged by private individuals. To this the Registrar of the Supreme Court states that owing to the vagueness of the terms used he does not understand what is required. In explanation I may say it is a matter of vital importance affecting Land sales that the Government (and the Surveyor General especially) should be in possession of all available information respecting the value of land in the Colony. I introduced the subject some months...