Q.—lα

18

on lithographs. Steward Settlement Water-race was recorded on settlement maps, section areas amended in accordance therewith, and copies of race plans made. In connection with the proposed Taieri drainage scheme, new drainage districts and ridings were shown on lithographs, areas taken out, and description furnished. A duplicate copy of a 4-mile-to-the-inch map of Otago runs was made and schedule of areas completed. A separate map was also made showing the Morven Hills and Mount Pisa Runs. Out of a total of 220 school districts, 97 have been mapped and described. In connection with this class of work the want of up-to-date lithographs of the older settled districts becomes apparent. It is intended to redraw some of these maps during the coming year in order of urgency, as the time of draughtsmen permits. Lithographs have been drawn and published of Tautuku, Rimu, and Kurow Survey Districts, and also of the Towns of Queenstown, Port Chalmers, and Newcastle. The Oamaru District map is now in hand, and when finished will show all land acquired under the Land for Settlements Act and desposited plans under the Land Transfer Act. A 1-mile-to-the-inch map of the Clutha County was coloured to show all tenures; 35 staff and settlement plans, 61 Land Transfer plans, 52 of which have been deposited, 27 railway land plans in duplicate and triplicate, 25 new road and road-closing plans in triplicate and duplicate, 10 scenic-reserve plans, and 20 mining special-claim plans in duplicate and triplicate, with complete sets of licenses, &c, all with traverse reduction sheets and schedules or descriptions; also 48 applications for bringing land under the Land Transfer Act have been examined, passed, and recorded on all necessary maps in the usual way. Tracings were made for the Forestry Department, maps of trig, stations, with their values, were supplied to the Geological Department, various post-offices were located on postal maps, locality plans were furnished to the Justice and Police Departments, plans were coloured for the Roads Department, 413 paper and cloth tracings were made showing land transactions for the Valuation Department, also coloured lithographs to show proposed Land Board members' districts, and various tracings and descriptions for gazetting purposes. 209 miscellaneous tracings, along with copies of traverse sheets, were made up; 15 maps were drawn for photo-lithography, inclusive of districts and towns above-mentioned. Diagrams were placed on 649 certificates of title in duplicate, 90 miscellaneous leases in duplicate, 25 leases in perpetuity in triplicate, 31 occupation leases in triplicate, 21 occupation-with-right-of-purchase licenses in triplicate, 3 timber licenses in duplicate, 2 cash certificates in duplicate, i agricultural leases in duplicate, 2 small-grazing-run leases in triplicate, 4 pastoral licenses in triplicate, and <S6 certificates under warrant in triplicate; making in all a total of 2,003 copies. There were 250 copies of the Town of Arrowtown printed, 440 various other impressions taken, 1,120 maps and tracings mounted, 3 books bound, and numerous maps and other -documents repaired prior to the 10th November, 1906, about which time Mr. W. J. Pearce, our lithographer, was seized with illness, which, I regret to say, terminated fatally. Mr. Pearce was noted for his conscientious discharge of duty, and is greatly missed. In the meantime, his late duties are being partially carried out by one or other of the draughting staff as occasion requires, until another lithographic printer lias been appointed. Proposed Operalio?is for Year 1907-B.—During the year now current the operations will be more extensive and varied than usual, except during the year under review. Blackstone Hill and Lee Stream Runs, subdivided into a number of small grazing-runs, are almost completed. Portion of the former of these, comprising two small blocks of 1,500 and 5,200 acres, are being surveyed for closer settlement. The survey of Airedale Estate is now being effected, while several other estates have been, or are about to be, acquired under the Land for Settlements Act, and will require to be surveyed and placed on the market during the year. This will necessitate the employment of one or two surveyors in addition to those now employed. During the year there have been some important changes in the personnel of the staff. In June last Mr. District Surveyor Wilmot was appointed to the position of Inspecting Surveyor and Chief Draughtsman for Westland. In losing his services we are deprived of a gentleman with an intimate knowledge of this district, and a surveyor not only with a thorough knowledge of his profession but also invariably reliable and accurate. In losing him, and also on a previous occasion Mr. District Surveyor Langmuir, and the services of Mr. District Surveyor Neill, temporarily transferred to Gisborne on account of illness, this district has lost men at the head of their profession . D. B AKRON, Chief Surveyor.

SOUTHLAND. Rural and Suburban. —Under this heading 10,625 acres, consisting partly of bush and partly of open land, was subdivided into 67 sections, at an average cost per acre of l - 695., slightly under last year's cost; but considering the various surveys were widely scattered, the rate per acre may be considered fair and reasonable. Town Surveys and Native Land Court Surveys. —Of the former, 94 acres (Greenhills Township and Brydone Village) was subdivided into 219 allotments, at an average cost per allotment of 10s.; of the latter class of work none was undertaken during the year. Gold-mining Surveys. —Of this class of work there was 566 acres surveyed into 9 sections, at a cost per acre of 4"45., consisting- of special and dredging claims, slightly in excess of the area treated last year, and at a slightly reduced cost per acre. These surveys were all executed by private surveyors on the fee system, cost being paid out of deposits by applicants. Roads and Railways. —Under this heading 24; 1 miles was surveyed, at an average cost of £231 per mile. Of this length, 13"2 miles of roads was surveyed through rough bush country by the staff, at a cost of £254 per mile—lines short and intricate, and much labour in carrying in bear-