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Boards), and 171 miles of road-surveys. In addition to the above total, the larger areas of Crown land and new purchases proposed to be surveyed for selection are situated as follows : Mangonui County, 9,550 acres, including 8,600 acres national endowment; Bay of Islands County, 5,700 acres, including 3,900 acres national endowment ; Hokianga County, 7,600 acres, including 6,000 acres national endowment ; Hobson County, 7,050 acres, including 1,150 acres national endowment ; Waitemata County, 4,870 acres, including 3,270 acres national endowment ; Kawhia County, 5,000 acres ; Awakino County, 5,400 acres national endowment; Waitomo County, 11,145 acres ; Raglan County, 45,000 acres, Tauranga County, 2,500 acres national endowment : West Taupo County, 6,900 acres ; Rotorua County, 6,300 acres, including 2,300 acres national endowment ; East Taupo, 48,500 acres national endowment ; Whakatane County, 3,000 acres national endowment ; and Opotiki County, 7,000 acres national endowment. Accounts. —The amount of work thrown on the Accountant's branch has increased very much. The number of vouchers which passed through the books totalled 3,179, being an increase of 945 over the previous year. These vouchers represented an expenditure of £78,985 9s. 5d., made up as follows : Paid from credit notes on Chief Postmaster, £4,934 18s. lid. ; paid from imprest, £13,442 3s. Bd. ; paid on certificates through Post Office, £22,459 18s. 6d. ; direct payments, £38,148 Bs. 4d. During the year 1,713 cheques were issued on the Imprest Account, and on the Official Account 971 cheques were issued, representing an amount of £14,367 os. 7d. Under the Native Land Settlement Account £14,551 2s. lOd. was paid for survey of Native lands, and £6,211 17s. lOd. was collected for survey liens. The amount of credits received during the year was £13,254 17s. Transfers, dec. —Many changes have taken place during the last year. Mr. Gold Smith, the Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, a very old servant of the Department, in his long career had gone through many hardships during his strenuous field life, and no doubt the early strain necessitated his retirement on account of ill health on the 31st December last. Unfortunately, he did not live long to enjoy the well-earned rest, as he was suddenly taken ill, and died on the 10th March. Mr. Sidney Weetman, formerly Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury, another old Auckland officer, living in this city, also died during the year, after a long illness ; and Mr. Gillies, District Surveyor, also retired on account of ill health. Mr. A. J. Mountfort was transferred to Canterbury, Mr. W. M. Atkinson to Hawke's Bay, and Mr. MacMorran to the engineering surveys, Hauraki Plains. Mr. Hooper has been transferred from the field to the office ; Mr. Goulding resigned ; and Mr. Clayton's services were dispensed with. Mr. .1. H. Lindsay has been appointed to the field staff. Mr. R. Ballantyne, in charge of the Native branch, was transferred to Wellington, Mr. C. T. Brown taking his place ; and on Mr. Brown's appointment to the Presidency of the Ikaroa Maori Land Board Mr. R. J. Knight took charge of this work. Two old officers in Messrs. Covil and Scanlen retired. Two other draughtsmen resigned, and one was transferred; and eleven draughtsmen and cadets, by new appointment or transfer from other districts, were added to the office staff, making a net increase of five. Conclusion. —Work in all branches shows a great increase. All officers have done their utmost to keep the additional work up to date, and 1 have to express my thanks for their efforts and attention to their various duties. The work of the office is increasing so fast that additional space and officers are required, both in the interest of the Department and public. H. M. Skeet, Chief Surveyor. HAWKE'S BAY. Minor Triangulation. —No work of this nature has been executed during the year. Topographical Survey for Selection. —Included under this head is an item of 42,000 acres, costing £157 25., or at the rate of 0-9 d. per acre, executed by Mr. Farnie for purposes of partition of Wharekahika Block, included in which is cost of attendance at Native Land Court, as also a provisional survey of 12,070 acres, costing £98 15s. 7d., or at the rate of 0-16s. per acre, made by Mr. Brook, which includes road-location and scheme for nineteen sections in Manawaangiangi Settlement, neat Porangahau. The final sectionizing of the above block, which has been purchased by the Crown from the Natives, was let by contract, and the plans are expected in shortly. Rural. —An area of 10,457 acres of pastoral Crown land, situated in the districts of Motu, Ngatapa, Koranga, and Maungaharuru, was surveyed by three staff surveyors into twenty-two lots, at a total cost of £1,215 125., or an average of 2-425. per acre. Town Section Surveys. —A total area of 9£ acres>has been cut up into twenty-two lots—namely, twenty-two sites for workers' dwellings at AwatotO and four sections at Clyde. The total cost was £52 19s. Id., or an average of 48T4s. per lot. Native-land Surveys. —The total area surveyed by the staff was 28,153 acres. Of this area 2,797 acres were surveyed at the request of the Maori Land Boards into ten divisions, at a total cost of £211 95., or at the rate of 18-09 d. per acre, comprising the blocks of Tongoio South, Taumata-o manu, and Waihua Ib. The balance, 25,356 acres, was surveyed by requisition of the Native Land Court, in order to complete partitions into fifty divisions, at a total cost of £706 7s. 2d., or at the rate of 6-68 d. per acre. In addition, surveys of 57,505 acres were executed during the year by private surveyors at the requisition of the Court, the Government in most cases advancing the cost of survey, making a grand total of 85,658 acres. Village and Suburban.— An area of 6£ acres was surveyed into two lots in Motu Village, at a total cost of £10, or at the rate of 3T4s. per acre. Roads. — 2\ miles were surveyed, at a total cost of £49 ss. 2d., or an average of £19-7 per mile. Other Work. —This includes miscellaneous surveys, inspections, reports, and road-explorations.