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lakes in hand, and also the laying out of roads preparatory to defining reserves for Natives. Mr: J. Stevenson explored for and located 25 miles of roads in Native Reserve A—14,850 acres, situated in the Makotuku and ixarete Survey Districts. He also located and graded 2 miles in this block. In Native Reserve E, situated in Block VIII, Kaitieke Survey District, he located and graded 6 miles 20 chains of roads. He also has an area of about 14,400 acres of the Morikau No. 2 Block to complete for subdivision and settlement under the Aotea District Maori Laud Board; also the locution of roads, prior to subdivision, in Reserve A, Waimarino. Messrs. Girdlestone and Stewart will continue and complete the survey of the Ruatiti Block, South Waitnarino, of about 18,")00 acres, and Mr. Johnston the subdivision of the Ohakuue Extension and Horopito Townships. The other staff surveyors, when available, will be fully employed in the subdivision of land for settlements, Crown and Native lands, and other miscellaneous work. It is desirable that the Wellington City standard survey should be extended to the suburbs (if possible during the coming season), owing to the many subdivisions now taking place around the city. Mr. District Surveyor Carkeek has been transferred to Marlborough, and Mr. District Surveyor Lowe has come into the office for the current year. It is with regret that I have to record the loss to the Department of the valuable services of Mr. District Surveyor McKay, who resigned at the end of March last, and who has been in the service of the Department since 1883, and worked the greater part of his time in the Wellington District. He was an able and most reliable officer. I also regret to record the resignation of Mr. Assistant Surveyor E. A. Marchant, who is a most promising young surveyor, and a loss to the staff. John Stkauchon, Chief Surveyor.

NELSON. Topographical. —Au area of 82,739 acres was executed under this heading. 3,860 acres of this is simply topographical, costing o'96d. per acre, the remainder, 78,879 acres, being "provisional " survey of Crown lands for settlement, costing 4'97d. per acre. In some cases this latter work is governed by subsidiary trig., and in others by theodolite traverse of main line of road through the blocks. These blocks are situated in the Maruia, Glenroy, Rappahannock, Maungatapu, and Tadmor Districts. Minor Trigonometrical and Topographical Survey. —The only area returned under this heading is a block of 4,600 acres to check sectional surveys, costing l - sd. per acre. An area of 46,000 acres of subsidiary trig, has been completed in the field by Messrs. Cumine and Fairhall, partly in conjunction with " provisional " surveys, and partly to check sectional surveys. The area of 409,488 acres returned as unfinished was completed in field by Mr. Sadd four years ago ■ and partly mapped, but owing to more urgent work the plans have not yet been finished. Rural and Suburban. —An area of 25,674 acres, in 99 sections, at an average cost of l'42s. pur acre, has been returned under this heading, chiefly in the Howard, Pakawau, Hope, Kongahu, and Kawatiri Districts. The bulk of this work lies in heavy bush, hilly country. Gold-mining Surveys. —There were 4 surveys of this class, all by private surveyors, passed through the office, containing 457 acres. Cost of same, £125 165., being s'ss. per acre. Roads, &c. —26"57 miles. The bulk of this is a traverse of Greymouth-lieefton Road, the remainder being several small access roads. Cost is .£11"02 per mile. Other Work. —Represents the cost of various duties which cannot be placed under any of the above headings, such as field inspection, small surveys, reports, work for other departments, general office work, &c, in district offices at Reefton and Westport. Field Inspections. —During the year Mr. Sadd, District Surveyor, made two inspections of selection surveys in the Maruia and Matiri Districts. Mr. Snodgrass, District Surveyor, also inspected similar work at Karamea. Proposed Operations for 1907—8. —Mr. Montgomerie has the survey of the Blackwater Township to complete, survey of reserves, &c, repegging Black's Point Township, and sectional surveys, totalling about 1,254 acres. Mr. Snodgrass, District Surveyor, has to complete the Inangah.ua Block of 5,000 acres, 1,500 acres of which is completed in the field, also certain small surveys, and such selections as may be hereafter allotted to him. Mr. Carkeek, District Surveyor, began a Native Laud Court survey of D'Urville Island on the 6th March. This comprises about 40,000 acres of triangulation and topography, to be followed by some subdivisional work. Mr. Sadd, District Survwor, is engaged on the survey of Wangapeka Estate, 4,587 acres, and Crown lands adjoining, 1,555 acres. He has also 3,540 acres of selections and 12,000 acres of "provisional " survey to execute. Mr. Thomson, District Surveyor, has 1,300 acres completed in the field, and 1,340 acres in progress of rural selections, in Kaiteriteri and adjoining districts. In addition he has 2,346 acres of selections to survey. Mr. Maitland, District Surveyor, is engaged upon rural selections at Aorere ; 1,060 acres is completed in the field, and also an access road at Upper Takaka ; mapping in progress. In addition he has 14,090 acres of selections to survey. Mr. Cumine, temporary surveyor, has just begun the survey of 8,000 acres rural selections in the Maruia North Block, assisted by Mr. J. H. Buttress. Mr. Cumine has also 25,000 acres subsidiarytrig, completed in the field, covering-sectional surveys in Maruia Valley. Mr. Fairhall, temporary surveyor, has just completed the field-work of 21,300 acres subsidiary trig, to check sectional surveys, also of 11,457 acres of rural selections, and 680 acres of revision work adjoining, in the Matiri District: mapping in progress. In addition he has an 1,800-acre block to cut up, and furtlicr rural sectional surveys amounting to 2,985 acres.