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the above total, the larger areas of Crown land proposed to be surveyed for selection are situated as follows: Opotiki County, 10,257 acres; West Taupo County, 26,560 acres; Raglan County, 11.982 acres : Hokianga County, 12.031 acres, including 4,022 acres national endowment : Waitomo County, 6,639 acres; Awakino County, 7,064 acres; Whangarei County, 4,900 acres; Bay of [elands County, 11,333 acres, including 4,023 acres national endowment ; East Taupo County. 10,600 acres. Including 8.000 acres national endowment ; Rotorua County, 14,262 acres. Accounts. —The Accountant reports that the number of vouchers passed through the books during the year amounted to 2,239, representing an expenditure of £54,050 Bs. 9d. On his Imprest Account 1,634 vouchers requiring payment were made by 2,207 cheques, totalling £23.714 4s. 6d.. and the amount imprested by the Paymaster-General was £23,800. On his Official Account 927 cheques were issued for the sum of £13,975 14s. 3d. The average number of men on survey parties requiring payment was ninety-one per month, and on timber parties four. The amount collected for survey liens during the year amounted to £1,038 12s. Bd. Transfers, &c. —Mr. C. R. Pollen. Chief Draughtsman, was appointed Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands at Napier as from the Ist August, his place being filled by Mr. H. D. McKellar, promoted from Land Transfer Draughtsman, and Mr. T. K. Thompson appointed Land Transfer Draughtsman on same date. Mr. J. H. O'Donnell, Receiver of Land Revenue at Napier, was appointed to the same position here on the Ist April, vice Mr. T. M. Taylor, who retired last year. The field staff was increased by four surveyors. One transferred from the Public Works Department, one each from other districts, and one assistant surveyor appointed. Twelve draughtsmen were added to the office staff by new appointments and transfers from other districts, and two left on transfer To other districts and branch offices, making a net addition of ten. An exchange of typists was an with Nelson, and one clerical cadet was appointed and one clerk resigned. Under the Kauri-gum Act, 1910, six Rangers were appointed during the year. Conclusion. —Work in all branches shows a steady increase, and my thanks are due to the various officers of the field and office staff for the. able manner in which they have carried out tlieir several duties. Eric q Gold g MITH; Chief Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. Minor Trianqulation. —No work of this nature has been executed during the year. Rural. —The survey of 55,474 acres, comprising 125 sections, has been completed at an average cost of 2-21s. per acre. The greater part of this was work done in the previous season, the plans of which were not completed till this year, and comprises Clydebank and Tongoio Settlement Run 47, Ngatapa, Huiarua Block, part of Ruahine Forest Reserve, and Tamaki No. 4 Block. Native-land Survey. —ll,34l acres in 73 subdivisions have been completed during the year, comprising 10,822 acres, by staff surveyors —inclusive of an area of 3,887 acres for the Maori Land Boards, and 519 acres by contract surveyors. Apart from these there were 43,722 acres completed by private surveyors. Other Work. —This includes miscellaneous surveys, inspections, and reports. Insfections.— Eleven inspections have been made during the year by Messrs. Bullard and Brook, District Surveyors. Most of the surveys were found up to the required standard, with tin , exception of two. which have been returned to the surveyor for amendment. Roads, &c. —Forty-nine miles have been surveyed, at a cost of £18-46 per mile. Traverse Closures. —The staff surveyors' traverse closures vary from 0-23 of a link to 1-7 of a link on meridian, and 0-28 of a link to 1-62 links on perpendicular, per mile. Proposed Operations, 1911-12. —Mr. Brook will complete survey of Omahu No. 2 and Tongoio South Blocks, and will be available for other surveys that may be required for settlement, the Native lands and the Maori Land Board ; he will also make field inspections. Mr. Roddick will complete the survey of the Upper Motu Block, 4,600 acres, and be available for Tahora Block of 48.000 acres. Mr. Parnie will complete the survey of the Marangairoa, Pariwhero. and Tangakaka Blocks, 25,600 acres. for the Native Land Court, and report on roading a number of Native blocks on the t. Mr. Walshe will complete the survey of the Pohokura Block. 40,000 acres, as also an area of 150 acres at Pohui. Mr. Cagney will complete the survey of the Tutaekuri No. 1 Block, 12.500 acres, for Maori Land Board, and be available for other surveys in that locality. Mr. Ward will complete the survey of Pastoral Run 48, 2,900 acres, and the roads, and commence the survey of the Crown lands, 48,000 acres, in Tahora Block. These areas represent a total,of 95,650 acres of settlement land and 41,580 acres of Native land. Besides these there will also be the subdivision of the Manawaangiangi Block, 12.000 acres, lately acquired by the Crown, but which has not so far been allotted to any surveyor. Office-work. —The Chief Draughtsman reports that 557 plans have been examined and approved (an increase of 179 on previous year), representing an area of 187,874 acres. These divided up in their several classes are as follows : 349 Land Transfer —1,875 lots, 80,974 acres ; 90 Native Land Court — 551 lots, 84,188 acres ;86 Public Works plans—s2s lots, 1,763 acres ; and 32 Departmental plans —102 lots, 20,949 acres. In addition to these, 717 instruments of title, such as transfers, mortgages. &c, have been examined and reported on ; 600 tracings have been prepared for surveyors, settlers, local bodies, and other Departments; 17 tracings for photo-lithography prepared, including the Borough of Gisborne and suburbs. Transfers. —Mr. Brodrick, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor, was transferred to Christchurch in August, and I was promoted from Auckland to succeed him in Napier. In conclusion, I beg to thank the staff for their co-operation and assistance. C. R. Pollen, Chief Surveyor. 2—C. ]a.