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Gold-mining Survey. —Forty-six special claims, aggregating 3,398 acres, were surveyed during the year. All of these were controlled by the Westland triangulation. Should the present mining revival continue, we may expect an increase during next season. Road Surveys. —Of road surveys a total mileage of six has been finished, comprising portions of the Doughboy and Hokitika Valley Eoads. Proposed Operations for 1897-98. —It is proposed that Mr. Wilson make the necessary surveys for widening Cook Eiver Flat Boad; construction of track to Fox Glacier and Upper Cook Eiver; to lay off certain spotting selections at Waikupakupa, Cook Valley, and Paringa district; and to cut up the block between Karangarua and Makawhio Eivers recently set apart for landless Natives. Mr. Smyth to complete surveys of Hokitika Valley and any other roads in the northern district which may be authorised ;to proceed with revision work in Kokatahi and Kanieri districts; and to attend to mining and other surveys, as may be required. W. G. Mtjeeay, Chief Surveyor.

CANTEBBUEY. Rural and Suburban.— 42,l7'B acres were surveyed into 358 sections, at a mean cost of 9-9 d. per acre. Of this area, 34,601 acres comprise lands acquired under the Land for Settlements Acts, Mr. Brodrick having surveyed 20,619 acres, forming the Orakipaoa, Highbank, and part of the Albury Settlements; Mr. McClure, 6,243 acres, forming the Waiapi, Horsley Down, and part of the Bakitairi Settlements ; Mr. Mathias, 4,389 acres, forming the Marawiti and part of the Eakitairi Settlements ; and Mr. Farnie, 3,350 acres, forming the Otarakaro, Wharenui, and part of the Albury Settlements. The remaining area under this heading—with the exception of 3,005 acres, Midland Eailway, Block 65 —comprised ordinary settlement surveys by Mr. Brodrick, Mr. Mathias, and Mr. McKenzie; also a reserve by Mr. McClure. In addition to the above, Mr. McClure has completed the fieldwork of 65,526 acres, 60,100 of which are Midland Bailway blocks, and the balance comprise the Broomfield and Loburn Buns ; and Mr. Mathias has completed the fieldwork of 54,000 acres of Midland Eailway blocks. Town-section Survey. —Only one small survey was made under this heading —viz., a one-acre allotment in the Township of Eangiora, for the Police Department. Roads, Railways, dc. —Mr. Brodrick completed the engineering survey plans of thirteen miles of the Mount Cook Boad, the fieldwork of which was finished in 1894. His more recent work has been the reconnaisance survey of routes between Lake Tekapo and the Mount Cook Hermitage, and the exploration of routes to the West Coast. Mr. McClure surveyed two miles and a half of roads in the Patoa Settlement. Other Work.— The sum of £1,709 Is. 6d. under this heading is distributed as follows : Mr. Brodrick, £269 9s. 9d.; Mr. McClure, £815 3s. 3d.; Mr. Mathias, £570 2s. Bd.; and Mr. Farnie, £54 ss. lOd. The work includes unmapped surveys, reconnaisance surveys, inspections of roadworks, water-races, and various other duties.

Traverse Closures.

Proposed Operations for 1897-98 —.The survey of 121,386 acres has been completed in the field, and requires mapping. Of this area, 114,100 acres comprise Midland Bailway Blocks Nos. 42, 43, 53, and part of 54, and, as the company is pressing for the completion of the plans, I propose that Messrs. McClure and Mathias should get them out of hand as soon as possible. The balance of the unmapped area is made up of 1,860 acres, being a rural section in the Opuha district surveyed by Mr. Brodrick, and 5,426 acres, being agricultural pastoral runs, Broomfield and Loburn, surveyed by Mr. McClure. The area of land requiring survey is 66,832 acres, but, as far as we know at present, the only surveys urgently required are as follow : 45 acres, county and Native reserves in the Akaroa County; 367 acres, rural sections in the Ashburton County; 25,100 acres, educational endowment, and one rural section, 900 acres, Geraldine County; 213 acres, two rural sections in the McKenzie County ; total, 26,625 acres, leaving 40,207 acres to be surveyed later on.

Name of Surveyor. U <D <V S-i 0 m JJ a s CO o I O 8 I Sz; f-j Sum of Differences. (Links.) ago OPmB Mean Differences per Mile. (Links.) f ® A w .3II Remarks. (Nature of Country.) '. N. Brodrick ... . H. M. MeClure... 1, 0. Mathias 34 11 22 521 168 147 99-07 42-00 3500 76-4 14-0 15-3 82-8 18-8 14-0 0-77 0-33 J 0-44 0-83 0-45 0-40 Open, flat, undulating, and rough hilly country. Open, flat, and undulating country. Open, level, and undulating country. Open, flat, and rolling downs. i. H. Farnie 18 141 36-72 20-1 17-7 0-54 0-48 Totals and means 80 977 212-79 125-8 133-3 0-59 0-62