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returned under this heading, the total amount recouped for work done for other departments amount! to £881 14s. lid. As before, the construction and maintenance of the Government roads in Westland has been in the hands of this Department, and Mr. District Surveyor Wilson's time is almost wholly occupied in connection with this work. Attached to this report is a statement by him as to roads constructed in Runanga Township, and other work paid for by appropriations of the Lands Department. 1 beg to acknowledge Mr. Wilson's skilful and constant attention to these important works, which have been carried out so satisfactorily. New Chain Standard. —The establishment of the new 5-chain standard has not yet been completed. Owing to my having been so much away, and there being too many demands on the time of other experienced officers-, this work could not be overtaken, but we hope to be able to make the tiiiill marking at an early date. Proposed Operation* for 1907-B.—The survey work for the ensuing year will comprise the sectionizing of a new block of 6,000 acres for settlement at Punakaikai in North Westland, a block of .'SOO acres on the Wataroa River bed, and other smaller areas in South Westland. Besides this there will be the survey of a large number of scattered areas taken up under the Regulations for the Occupation of Pastoral Lands, and under the Mining Districts Lands Occupation Act. It is proposed also to complete the standard surveys of Greymouth and Hokitika, works that are very urgently required, and to complete the sectionizing of Rohutu Township. Office-work. —Mr. E. H. Wilmot, Chief Draughtsman (whose loyal and able assistance I wish to acknowledge), reports that the number of plans received during the year was 97, of which 76 were from staff surveyors, the remainder being almost all Land Transfer plans. The work of checking has been kept well up, 104 plans, of which 24 were Land Transfer plans, having been checked. In this connection 275 traverse sheets were completely checked also. In addition to this 18 mile-sheets of railway land plans were also checked. Application maps were kept up and two new ones made. Block maps were also kept up as far as possible, and new ones were made to replace old ones, where new work covered and took the place of old and faulty work; 10 new Lund Transfer sheets on 50-link scale were prepared; 700 leases were prepared, and 922 plans put on deeds, of which 261 were on Land Transfer titles; 180 tracings in connection with the proclamation of 87 reserves were made; and miscellaneous tracings (including data tracings for surveyors) to the number of 354 were prepared. For photo-litho. work, 6 tracings were prepared. Tracings for the litho. map of Greymouth have been completed as far as possible, but this work is held back for data not at present available. I hope it will be taken up again early in the ensuing year. The tracings for the first portion of Westland have been completed, and are ready to be sent up for lithographing , . In addition to the usual work of the draughtsmen, 4 maps were prepared for the New Zealand International Exhibition, 1 of which, showing location of economic minerals on the west coast of the Middle Island, measured over 23 ft. in length, and another showing settlement and timber lands measured over 11 ft. Work for the next year should include the bringing of all block maps up to date, the preparation of Crown grant and Land Transfer reoord maps, and completion of Greymouth and Westland County lithos. The record maps are urgently wanted, but with the amount of other work on hand the present staff will not be able to fully undertake their preparation. G. J. Roberts, Chief Surveyor.

Report on Constructive Works carried out by the Lands Department, Westland, 1906-7. Vote 67, Item 22.— Eradication of Noxious Weeds on Crown Lands, £204 12s. 9d.—This represents a large number of payments in small sums for clearing weeds in the Grey and northern part of Westland Counties, certified to by the Inspector of Stock. Vote 67, Item 54.— Kokatahi—Hokitika, River and, Main Road Protective Works, £117 19s. 3d. —Of this amount £50 was a subsidy to a settler for work done. The remainder was expended in repairs to the existing works, which have stood very well. Owing to the soft nature of the bank, there is always the possibility of the river cutting in behind the groins. The balance of the authority is to be expended in April and May in further strengthening the work. Vote 67, Item 87.— Protective Works to prevent Encroachment of Rivers in Westland Land District, £31 ss. 6d.—This amount represents purchase of wire nets and part subsidy on a moiety basis to a settler at Callaghan's Creek near Ahaura. The bank of the creek, which is threatened by flood waters caused by the accumulation of mining tailings, is being protected by a wire crate and scrub wall. Vote 67, Item 112.— River Protective Works, Wanganui River, South Westland, £138 15s. 4d. —Several very strong groins of wire crate and stone were put in early in the year to prevent the river overflowing and destroying the excellent land in the vicinity. These were very strongly built, but since the last flood require strengthening. This work is row being carried on. Vote 67, Item 114.— Roads in Runanga Township, £2,080 13s. 2d.—The work of forming and metalling streets in this thriving township has progressed very satisfactorily during the year, in spite of the operations being handicapped by the difficulty and costliness of procuring suitable metal for the roads. Endeavours have been made to keep pace with the building operations, and to give access of one sort or another to each settler as the houses were erected. A large number of houses were built last year of a superior type, and, as the Municipal and Government reserves have now been cleared, the township presents a prosperous appearance. The work of forming and metalling the streets is still in progress, and when that is well Tinder way and no buildings left without road access it will be necessary to seriously consider the question of draining, as a great number of complaints have been received from the leaseholders. Estimates will be submitted later dealing with this question. The metalling of the formed roads has been the most costly work during the past year's operations, as it has to be brought some distance, and tram-lines have to be laid for every chain of metal put on. The following is a summary of the work done during the