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the invariable ready assistance and hearty co-operation received at their hands, which, together with the amicable relations that have existed between us, has helped to make my varied duties a constant pleasure. Mr. W.D. B. Murray, Chief Draughtsman at the Head Office, reports as follows for the year 1908-9 :— During the past year the following plans of towns have been drawn in this office : Kaikora North, Martinborough, Opotiki, Ross, Greymouth, and Rotorua Town District. Plans of these towns have been printed, including Manaia, Paeroa, and Waikouaiti. There are also in the draughtsmen's hands, in a forward state, plans of Wanganui, Tauranga, Waipawa, Westport, and Hastings. In course of publication are the towns of New Plymouth, Waipukurau, and Palmerston South, also the Counties of Buffer, Inangahua, Kawhia, and Cheviot. Republished, the Counties of Ohinemuri, Rodney, and No. 1 Tauranga. Photo-litho. plans have been made showing magnetic stations in the North and South Islands ; six plans showing the rise and fall of the tides at Wellington, Lyttelton, and Timaru ; also a photolitho.' plan of the Hauraki Plains. Seventy-one electoral maps were made for Parliament, to replace those burnt; map of the North Island showing the proposed districts for Native Judges, with descriptions. Thirty-one survey districts were revised and forwarded to the Government Printer, and eight of these have been published. Numerous maps have been prepared for other Departments, such as Defence, Education, Registrar-General, Internal Affairs, &c.; also maps in connection with Waipoua Kauri Forest, and the triangulation of Canterbury, major and minor. To enumerate all the miscellaneous duties performed by the draughting staff would be tedious, but I might mention—all field checks are recorded ; bands tested for staff and outside surveyors, 19 1-chain and 17 5-chain ; descriptions prepared in connection with Proclamations or otherwise. Sixteen plans were examined and fifty-six schedules were revised and amended for Bills going before Parliament. During the past year 141 proposed township schemes, both Government and private, were submitted for the approval of His Excellency the Governor. A considerable amount of work is involved in connection with these, as they have to be carefully examined, and in many instances have to be returned to the surveyors to bring into accord with the requirements of the Act and Survey Regulations. The number of tracings drawn during the year was 880. This is exclusive of tracings or plans drawn for photo-lithography. Through the creation of five new counties in the North Island and one in the South, new county maps have been prepared and issued. Of maps, lithographs, and tracings, 1,142 have been mounted by the office staff for office and outside requirements. As this report is written on the eve of my severing connection with, the Survey Department of the Dominion, after a continuous service of thirty-five years, during the last three of which I have acted as Chief Draughtsman in the Head Office, I take this opportunity of thanking the officers for the willing help and able assistance they have rendered me at all times when our duties have brought us together.