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up fresh country. Several small surveys, road deviations, and connections, are much wanted, and must be provided for in some way. The n iangulation round Mount Egmoni is unfinished, while every month provides fresh examples of the pressing need for standard traverses in the towns and Hilt country. FRANCIS SIMPSON, Chief Surveyor.

WELLINGTON. The gross urea surveyed during the year under the various headings is approximately 13,486 acres, besides 88,500 acres the field-work of which will be completed early during the coining year, lint has been delayed owing to the wet season at start, and the reoeni destructive bush-fires. ;U miles of the North Island Main Trunk Railway has also been surveyed and mapped. Tr {angulation. —Nothing has Keen done under this heading, although there is a very large area of 2,150,000 acres of large triangles, the observations for whioh are nearly completed, in the field : also an area of 565,000 of small triangles, whioh are partially completed, and if done would furnish a complete and systematic check on the settlement and Land Transfer surveys to enable many existing discrepancies to be satisfactorily adjusted. As this work is very important, I trust that when the pressure of settlement surveys is over it may be resumed and completed. Topographical. —The only work done under this heading was an area of 6,178 acres, contained in the Carrington Estate in the Tiffin District, comprising a large amount of detail and description. Rural and Suburban. —The principal surveys of this class have been the continuation of the subdivision of the Kaitieke Block, \n the Kaitieke Survey District, by Mr. Thompson for ordinary Crown lands settlement (selection before survey); Messrs. (Jirdlestone and Stewart continued the subdivision of the lin.it it i Block, in the South Waiinaiiiio, in the Wliirinaki and Manganui districts; and the continuation of the subdivision of the Te Tuhi, Ahu Ahu, and Puketotara Blocks, in the Xgamatea district, by Mr. Roberts; also the subdivision of the Kawhatau Block by Mr. Campbell. Native Land Court. —The survey of one block, containing 12 subdivisions, with a total area of 1,063 acres, in which the Government is interested, having advanced the cost of survey, and taken out liens in the Native Land Court, was undertaken by Mr. Strachan, District Surveyor; and, in addition, 47 Native blocks, comprising 119 subdivisions, containing 17,423 acres, were surveyed by private surveyors for Natives direct: so that the total surveyed by staff and authorised surveyors is 18,486 acres. Plans comprising 1,934 acres, at a cost of £58 10s., were also compiled. Okfice-work. Statutory Plans Branch. — Mr. M. C. Smith, who has been for many years in charge of this branch, was in January last temporarily transferred to New Plymouth ollice as Acting Chief Draughtsman, and the work has since been very satisfactorily carried on by Mr. R. W. Collins. Examination of Plane. —During the year 97 plans of sectional and Native surveys, containing .")(),'.)()(> acres, were received, and 133 approved; 88 statutory plans were received, 203 approved and recorded, 95 were examined, and 72 sent for Proclamation. Compilations. Twenty-three drawings and tracings were prepared for photo-lithography, 2 new Crown grant maps were compiled, also two new trig. maps. Road* mill Railway*. —The staff having been principally engaged on settlement surveys, only necessary deviations and side-pegging of roads has been attended to. . 35 miles of the North Island Main Trunk Railway was surveyed, at a cost of £71, or £.'2O ,">s. 7d. per mile. Other Work, —Under this heading many and various duties are included distinct from the actual cost of subdivisional surveys, comprising as it does small surveys for scenic purposes, and other departments, repairing and replacing of trig, stations and displaced standard blocks, redefining old boundaries, timber estimates, inspection of late iire-swept areas, road deviations, &c, the character of which prevent their being tabulated in the ordinary schedule of work returned. Inspection of Surveys. — Mr. Inspector Climie inspected 37 surveys during the year, including 29 for Land Transfer Department, at a cost of £447 15s. lid.; and Mr. Mountfort completed • i inspections, at a cost of £52 2s. 9d. The surveyors' work maintains a uniform standard of excellence, regardless of the difficulties in the rough and remote blocks in which most of the surveys are now carried on. Land Transfer Office (Survey Branch). —There were 360 plans passed, an increase of 20 over last year, which does not include 50 single and 3,285 in duplicate plans indorsed on transfers, &c, all of which have to be examined ; 30 Land Transfer plans and tracings have been mounted and repaired. Titles. —There were 3,170 deeds and other instruments passed, showing an increase of 20 over last rear; 50 single and 3,285 plans in duplicate were placed on certificates of title, being an increase of 275 over last year: 20 miscellaneous plans were drawn and compiled. Miscellaneous. — The usual demands were attended to by the office staff. These comprised supplying information to the public generally, data for the execution of surveys by staff surveyors and others, 17s tracings, 48 general plans, 26 sale plans, 99 lithos, 201 applications, and 7 plans were remounted and repaired, and a multitude of other duties performed. Proposed Operations. —A staff of 10 surveyors is at present engaged in different parts of the district, and has an area of some 86,000 acres of subdivisional surveys in hand, consisting chiefly of bush land suitable for pastoral purposes in large areas. About 8,770 acres of selection surveys in the Kaitieke Block will be completed during the next season. Mr. Strachan has the survey of