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The following 80-chain district maps are in hand and nearly completed, viz. : Oparara, French Pass, Kawatiri, Inangahua, Ellesmere, Akaroa, Hutt, Fighting Hill, Eolleston, Okain's, Pourerere, and Blackhead, and the nine districts comprised in the Counties of Wairarapa North, Eketahuna, and Akitio. The maps of towns and villages published include Toka-anu, Huiakama, Whangamomona, Taihape, Eaetihi, Mangamingi, Mangaweka, Mangawharariki, Eeefton, Morven, Opawa, Alexandra, Kelso, Banfurly, Komako, Waikouaiti, Niagara, Limehills, and Winton. The miscellaneous maps published include Kermadec Islands, tourist map of City of Auckland, and, 188, maps in three colours for the Tourist Guides. The ten-mile map of New Zealand, which has been under preparation for twelve months, is well advanced. The Middle Island portion will probably be completed in September next. The North Island sheet contains all of the data in pencil, and Mr. Wilson undertakes to finish the writing in six months. The. map 3 should be ready for photo-lithographing in April, 1900. Concurrently with the map just mentioned, the school map of New Zealand is proceeding. This map is nearly completed. It is held in abeyance at present owing to pressure of other work. A very large amount of drawing and photo-lithographing has been done as usual for other departments. There have been printed for the Mines Department 1,000 copies of fifty-one "process" illustrations for the Mines Record, 11,000 copies of map of New Zealand in three colours, 1,000 copies of Geological Map of New Zealand, and 92,300 copies of various diagrams; for the Yearbook 5,000 copies of four "process" illustrations, and 5,000 copies of six diagrams in four colours ; for the Eailway Department 2,000 copies of seven " process " illustrations, and 58,100 maps in three colours for Eailway Time-table ; for the Government Insurance Department 6,000 policy forms ; for the Telegraph Department 5,420 copies of map showing telegraph- and telephone-lines in two printings ; for the Agricultural Department 7,500 copies of statistical diagram in four printings, and 17,350 copies of agricultural statistics; for Police Commission 3,900 copies of map showing police districts of the colony in three colours ; for the Public Works Department 3,900 copies of maps of North and Middle Islands in five colours, and 2,000 copies of four "process " illustrations ; for the Marine Department 1,100 copies of sight-testing diagram in seventeen printings, 1,250 copies of international flag-signals in four printings, 1,650 copies of New Zealand wreck chart in three printings, and 1,650 copies of "process" illustrations of lighthouses; for the Public Trust Office 900 copies of West Coast settlement sections in two printings; for Bureau of Information, London, 10,000 copies of map of New Zealand in three printings; for parliamentary committees 1,425 copies of diagram showing train and steamer routes ; for Education Department examinationpapers. The compilation and drawing of the work for the railway, telegraph, agricultural, police, Pubjic Trust, parliamentary committee, and education authorities, and for the Year-book, have been performed by the draughtsmen in the Head Office. The renewal of the 80-chain index county maps has been proceeded with, but it has not been found possible to complete more than the map of Clutha County. The maps of Wanganui, Waitotara, and Waitaki Counties are in hand. The frequent additions of new and the corresponding deletion of old work, in addition to the wear-and-tear occasioned by constant daily use, have rendered many of the old county maps almost too obscure for easy reference. The work of renewal would advance at a, more rapid rate- if the compilation of 80-chain district maps were carried on with more vigour in the district offices. The publication of maps and pamphlets relating to the disposal of lands has been given precedence in the work of the office. Two hundred and seventy-one land-sale maps have been prepared, viz.: For Auckland, 71; for Hawke's Bay, 15; for Taranaki, 22; for Wellington, 36; for Marlborough, 17 ; for Nelson, 8 ; for Westland, 4; for Canterbury, 33; for Otago, 31 ; and for Southland, 34. 157,900 copies of these maps have been distributed among the district land offices. Exclusive of the above, pamphlets containing maps, illustrations, and conditions of settlement of the following estates purchased under the Land for Settlements Acts have been published, viz.: Karapiro, Starborough, Waikakahi, Eangiatea, and Pawaho. Eeprints of former published land-sale maps on the 80-chain scale to the number of 19,500 copies have been printed, owing to the urgent demands for these prints for county map and correspondence purposes. For the encouragement of tourist traffic ten " Guides " have been printed, and a first edition of 3,000 copies of each distributed from this office amongst the shipping companies, public libraries, clubs, leading hotels, and newspaper offices throughout .Australasia. Copies were also forwarded to the Agent-General, and to the Union Steam Ship Company and to the Eailway Department in New Zealand. These " Guides " contain 188 maps and 200 " process " illustrations ; 140,000 copies of the former and 85,000 copies of the latter having been printed. Copies of pamphlet on the "Thermal Springs " and " The Eesources of New Zealand " have been forwarded to the AgentGeneral. The distribution of tourist literature from the Head Office has been on-a very liberal scale. Ninety-one schedules and one hundred and forty-three plans for Proclamations under the Public Works Act have been examined. Sixty-two schedules and sixty-seven plans, for purposes of the Land Act and Land for Settlements Act, have been prepared. Twenty-six schedules and twenty-six plans for Proclamations under the Loans to Local Bodies Act have been prepared. For purposes of the Native Land Acts seven schedules and nineteen plans have been prepared. Eight plans of towns for Governor's approval have been examined. Sixty-seven schedules of local and public Bills introduced into the House of Bepresentatives have been revised and certified. Sixty-six descriptions of boundaries for other departments have been written, and the districts coloured off on maps kept for the purpose. These maps are posted up to date weekly.

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