The Land and Survey Department for the Westland Land District has its offices in Fitzherbert Street, Hokitika. The building is of wood and iron, and contains fifteen rooms, including two strong rooms. Mr. G. J. Roberts is Commissioner and Chief Surveyor; Mr. T. M. Grant, Chief Draughtsman; and Mr. A. D. A. Macfarlane, Receiver of Land Revenue. The general office and field staff includes four draughtsmen, two accountants, a land clerk, five cadets, nine surveyors, and a messenger. The Land and Survey Department also takes charge of the Westland roads on behalf of the Roads Department, Wellington.

Mr. George John Roberts was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor for the Westland Land District in 1902. He is further referred to us chairman of the Westland Land Board.

Mr. Alexander Meharry , Crown Lands Ranger, resides in Hokitika. He was for many years a resident at Kokatahi, where he holds a farm of 271 acres. Mr. Meharry was born in the year 1854, at Belfast, Ireland, where he was educated, and brought up on a farm. In 1871, he went to Australia, and landed in Melbourne. Shortly after, Mr. Meharry came to New Zealand, and went to Hokitika, where for about seven years he engaged in mining in various parts of the district. He subsequently spent some time as a contractor in the Ashburton district. About 1883 Mr. Meharry returned to the West Coast, and started farming in the Kokatahi district, where he was for some time treasurer, and for five years chairman of directors, of the Kokatahi Dairy Factory. In March, 1904, Mr. Meharry was appointed Crown Lands Ranger. He is married, and has three sons and three daughters.

Mr. James Webster is Government Valuator for the countries of Westland and Grey, and for the five boroughs included within their boundaries. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1838, and became a colonist in 1860, when he landed in Port Chalmers, by the ship “Storm Cloud.” After serving in the Waikato Militia, Mr. Webster settled on the West Coast in 1866. He was appointed Government Valuator in 1897.