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Rural. —The bulk of this area comprises selection surveys completed, but there are also some 2,000 acres of finished survey which will be ready for market when certain legal difficulties have been removed. Some 6,300 acres are complete in the field but not yet completely mapped. Town Section Survey. —This comprises merely a small extension of existing surveys, and no new towns have been laid out. Native Land Court. —This class has provided the largest area of finished work this year, but has been almost wholly done by private surveyors, under contract, 1,580 acres only out of the total 58,116 being done by staff. There are, however, two areas, one of 4,087 acres, of which the field-work is completed, and another of 14,850 acres, in hand by a stall' surveyor. The total area of this class now actually in hand by staff and private surveyors is 81,217 acres. Roads. —No important work has been done under this head this season, but the total of 26| miles includes 10 miles of standard survey along the Hutt Valley Main Road, and 14 miles traverse of an existing coach-road hitherto undefined by survey, near Alfredton. Other Work. —This includes the usual small surveys' and reports which cannot be included or classified under the other principal heads. Proposed Survey Operations. —The principal work remaining in the district is the South Waimarino Block, where three surveyors with two assistant parties are at work. In addition to this, Native surveys of 18,937 acres are in hand by the staff, and a total of 62,280 acres has been let to private surveyors. Office-work. —A beginning has been made during the year with the work of replacing old records — i.e., working-plans which were becoming obliterated by use, some twenty-seven plans having been made. The work of publishing survey district lithographs, much wanted, has also been begun in a systematic manner, and one district has been completed. It is hoped to keep up a steady output till the district has been covered by these handy maps. The north-west part of the district is now under revision, and the county map thereof will shortly be ready for reprinting up to date. All the public county index maps have been carefully revised, and nine new ones made. The general map of the district has also been revised and republished. Examination of Plans. —The number of new plans received was 244, and 248 were approved, being 152 in the general computing branch and 96 in the statutory plans branch. These two branches have a total of 69 plans on hand, 40 in the general and 29 in the statutory branch. The new plans in the general computing branch covered 32,341 acres of Crown sections, 73,460 acres Native lands, 278 acres town sections, and 667 acres for Maori Land Board. Land Transfer. —In this branch 233 plans were received and 217 approved, while 53 applications. 1,910 transfers, 158 leases, 138 mortgages, 108 Orders in Council, 91 Proclamations, 445 balance certificates, 48 caveats, 54 other dealings were put through, and 4,724 plans were put on titles. Native Land Court Work. —This work is increasing under the influence of the new Act and the ease, of obtaining surveys, new authorities for a total area of 58,116 acres in 405 subdivisions having been surveyed, at a cost of £4,903 2s. sd. The number of Court orders completed as a result of these surveys is, however, disproportionately small, owing to the liens due for survey not being satisfied, 80 only being sent forward. Crown liens to an amount of £2,430 16s. 4d. were received, and 168 acres were cut off, in lieu of 15 liens, amounting to £366 lis. 6d. 53 surveys are outstanding, of 225 partitions, containing 62,280 acres. General Drafting-work. —The staff upon this work as been kept busy throughout the year, and a large quantity of data has been prepared for surveys of Native and other lands as well as the routine work of recording approved plans. 783 tracings were made for office purposes, 190 for data, 34 for photo-lithography, 113 for Surveyor-General's records, 219 for Valuer-General's records, 122 for selectors, 122 plans were recorded, 10 new record maps were made, 272 plans were placed on miscellaneous titles, 16 plans were drawn and 25 tracings for local bodies, as well as much miscellaneous drafting-work. Changes of Staff. —In the field Mr. Keddell retired from the staff, and Mr. Greville left the field and was made Inspecting Surveyor and Computer. Mr. Lowe. Computer, was promoted to Chief Draughtsman in Taranaki, and Mr. C. T. H. Brown was transferred to the Auckland Office, Mr. R. W. S. Ballantyne taking his place. Mr. Randrup and Mr. Enting also were transferred to Auckland. Messrs. Girdlestone and Mountfort, District Surveyors, have still been attached to the Head Office staff throughout the year. Consequent on the promotion of Mr. James Mackenzie to the position of Surveyor-General of the Dominion from the Ist April, 1912, and up to which time he was in charge of this office, I can only voice the pleasure he has in acknowledging the able assistance received from both indoor and outdoor officers as well as private authorized surveyors during the year, and to place on record his appreciation of the loyal, zealous, and ever-ready help that he has received during his administration of Lands and Surveys in the Wellington Land District. M. C. Smith, Acting Chief Surveyor. NELSON. +Minor Triangulation. —The only work of this description executed was an extension of the trig, work in the Maruia Valley, containing an area of 18,850 acres, which was necessary to control the sectional surveys in the Warwick, Rappahannock, and Glenroy Blocks. This work was executed by Mr. James Stevenson. Standard Survey. —During the year the field-work of the staudard survey of part of Westport and Murchison was completed, but the plans have not yet been returned. The revision of