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printing of lithographs has been continued to the number of 3,854 copies of 43 originals for the past year. We daily reap the benefit of the 80-chain lithographs, hurriedly got out last year. They have saved the Government the cost over and over again in reducing tho number of tracings made, whilst they, at the same time, are largely used by the public. The proceeds of the sales of lithographs for the period amount to no less than £108 145., which, together with fees recived for search, &c, make a total of fees received by the Chief Draughtsman and the the two branch officers of £124 14s. 6d. The number of plans placed on Crown grants, certificates of title direct from the Crown, and memorials and certificates of title under the Native Land Act, amount to a total of 2,914, at a cost of £820, computing the salaries at the reduced rate received by officers during the past year. The arrears under this heading are very large, and cause me a good deal of anxiety: they amount to—Crown grants and certificates, 174; titles under the Native Lands Act, 915—a number which I see no prospect of getting through during the ensuing season in addition to the current work. A commencement has been made, under instructions from yourself, to get out the four-mile sheets of the district for photo.-lithographing; only one has advanced as far as the outline, as I have had to take the draughtsman off to other and more pressing work, but I trust to continue it soon. The correspondence with surveyors, other departments, counties, Highway Boards, and the public is getting almost more than I can manage. The following figures show the number of letters and parcels received and sent for the last three months:—April: Letters received 484, sent 503; parcels received 42, sent 23. May: Letters received 546, sent 513; parcels received 70, sent 48. June: Letters received 556, sent 536; parcels recived 39, sent 36. The accountant has passed through his hands during the season 1,384 vouchers, representing an expenditure of £52,762 6s. 6|d., which includes payments on roads both for opening lands before sale, and works on the Great North Road. A large amount of work has been performed by the Gisborne office staff, under Mr. Featon'-s charge, directed by Mr. Horace Baker, principally in checking and plotting on blocksheets the numerous Native Land Court and Land Purchase plans received. The want of a proper safe for this office is again brought under your notice; it causes both Mr. Baker and myself a good deal of anxiety, in view of the large number of original and valuable maps now in the wooden building used as a Government office. Work of the ensuing Season, 1881-82. —The monthly abstract shows that the surveyors have on hand (instructions issued and work in progress)—Triangulation, 804 square miles; sectionsurveys, 60,521 acres; Native blocks, 53,637 acres; roads, &c, 90 miles. In addition, there is the work which will come in during the year, but for which instructions have not been issued to the surveyors: Triangulation, 1,200 square miles; section-survey, 94,000 acres; Native blocks, 24,000 acres; roads, 82 miles. If all goes well, the major triangulation will be carried down the east side of Taupo, and possibly connected there with the Wellington surveys, as the Native applications cover nearly the whole of this area. Of the section-surveys about 20,000 acres are of the same kind as the work executed last season— id est, surrounded by old work—but the remainder is new work, which the Land Board has requested us to prepare for sale. A large portion of this is in Poverty Bay, and both Mr. Baker and myself think it will be best, with your sanction, to let it by contract. We shall continue to resurvey lands for the issue of grants as they adjoin other surveys; and I hope some progress towards reducing the considerable area on hand may be thus worked off. The defining of boundaries of land sold many years ago I propose still to leave in abeyance, unless my instructions to that effect are cancelled. Tho Native block surveys will have to be done generally by schedule surveyors, as the staff cannot be spared for the purpose; whilst the roads will be continued in exercise of the rights, as opportunity occurs. There is a very large amount of this work to be done, especially in Poverty Bay. It is sincerely to be hoped that an officer can be spared part of the year to continue the city starfdard survey. I have made arrangements towards this end, but much fear the pressure to survey Crown lands may neutralize them. During the year three of the surveyors have resigned—two through ill health, and their places have been taken by young men educated in the department, who are doing their work well and economically. S. Percy Smith, Chief Surveyor.

TARANAKI. Standard Surveys.' —The bringing under settlement survey of the level tract of forest country inland of Waimate necessitated the running of a standard line due west from the meridian line, to form a basis for the sectional work, as the very level nature of the country precludes the possibility of any triangulation. This has been run a distance of 19 miles, with sights varying from 40 to GO chains, and checked at intervals by astronomical observations. It now requires only 3 miles more to reach the open land at Opunake, where a close will be made with the standard bearings brought up from Hawera. I have carried the true bearings down to Cape Egmont, which completes all the necessary standard operations in this district, west of an imaginary line from Pukearuhe to Patea. Triangulation. —During the year operations of this nature have not been extensive; that completed embracing only 20,000 acres, and extending along the coast from Okato to Moutoti. There remains a gap of about 16 miles from Moutoti to Oeo, through Native land, which, as yet,

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