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the standard survey of the City of Nelson is badly needed, and I understand Mr. Mount-fort's services will be available in August to put this very necessary work in band. Press of settlement work still prevents any standard surveys of the main roads being undertaken to control Land Transfer surveys, which are increasing year by year. Rural. —The staff surveyors have completed 46,830 acres, at an average cost of 2345. per acre, and the contract surveyors 25,896 acres, at 2395. per acre. As the contract surveyors only made fair pay out of their contracts, and the work executed by the staff is practically the same price, the above figures are quite satisfactory. Additional contracts of 5,000 acres and 10,000 acres have recently been completed in the field, and another 5,300 acres will be finished in a few weeks. Mr. J. A. Montgomerie, who undertook the surveys of selections by contract in the Inangahua County, mot with a trap accident during the year, which resulted in his death. He was universally liked and respected by all those with whom he came in contact, and I very much regret his untimely end; his work and plans were very satisfactory. The work in this district is now being executed by Mr. T. Learmont, and a number of the surveys of selections in the Buller County by Mr. Snodgrass by contract. Although 1 have every confidence in these surveyors, it would be much more satisfactory if inspections of their work had been made, but I have not so far been able to spare the services of a staff surveyor for this work, and it is out of the question to make inspections myself. I hope that, Mr. D'Arcy Irvine will soon be able to undertake some of these inspections when be lias recovered bis strength from his very serious accident; failing bis services, it will be necessary to get Mr. James Stevenson, who is now stationed in the Buller County, to make some of these inspections. Inspections. —Mr. J. D. Climie, Inspector of Surveys, made four inspections of some Land Transfer surveys executed in this district by the private surveyors, and, with the exception of the Taitapu Block, they proved to be fairly satisfactory. Staff surveyors also made six inspections, embracing work done by both staff and contract surveyors, which also proved satisfactory, except for some errors disclosed in the survey of D'Urville Island. Native Land Court. —During the year the subdivision of D'Urville Island (40,469 acres) into the original eleven blocks and also some further partitions have been executed by contract at a cost of 4'79d. per acre. There still remain some 5,864 acres for further partition, and a emit tact lias been let for this work, which is almost completed in the field. Native Reserve Survey. —Mr. D'Arcy Irvine, staff surveyor, commenced the survey of the Okiwi Native Reserve (3,345 acres), but unfortunately met with a very severe accident owing to a tree falling on him. He has been in the hospital on and off for nearly five months; he is now convalescent, and will probably be able to undertake light work at an early date. Mr. D. Nelson, assistant surveyor, completed Mr. Irvine's work in a most satisfactory manner. Other Work. —This work consists chiefly of inspections, reports, and miscellaneous small surveys and services which do not come under any of the headings of Table 1. Moods. Apart from the roads embraced in the area returned as rural, some eight miles and a half have been laid off in heavy bush by the staff surveyors at the very reasonable cost of £21 - 82 per mile. Mining Surveys. —No surveys of this description were made by the staff, but six mining surveys, comprising 394 acres, were executed by contract surveyors, who were paid by fees deposited in the Warden's Court. I.iiiul Transfer Work. —The Land Transfer Draughtsman reports that 78 plans, containing 5,597 acres, were examined and approved, and that 34 others were examined and returned for correction ; 148 deeds were passed, and 196 certificates of title were made out in duplicate. Proposed Operations, 1912—13. —An area of 77,000 acres is in the bands of the staff surveyors, of which about I "2.00 d acres are completed in the field. There are still fifty applications unallotted, with a total area of 25,45.") acres. The blocks to be dealt with during the coming year are the Brighton Block, 9,584 acres, in the hands of Mr. .lames Stevenson and his authorized assistant Mr. Patton ; the Howard Block, some 20,000 acres, in progress by Mr. Fairhall and authorized assistant Mr. Hemphill; the Waimea Block, allotted to Mr. J. D. Thomson. District Surveyor; the Gowan Block, 4,000 acres, allotted to Mr, Maitland, District Surveyor. There are also 1,000 acres to subdivide in the Mokihinui Valley, 1,000 acres of cut-out timber lands in the Oparara district, and 8.600 acres in the Matiri-Owen Block. In addition. Mr. James Stevenson has instructions to remeasure the triangulation base near Westport to bring it in terms of the Imperial standard, and to revise the triangulation between Westport and Brighton to control the Burveys of selections, approximately 6,000 acres, between Westport and Charleston (in the hands of Mr. I). Nelson) and the Brighton Block sujvev. Most of this triangulation was executed in 1878 and badly needs revision. OMee-work. —■During the year the Computer. Mr. J. V. Frith, has examined 64 plans with an area of 90.106 acres in 167 sections, 6 mining plans, •'! township plans, 5 plans minor and subsidiary triangulation. 23 plans of roads, and 16 railway-land plans, and checked 338 traverse reduction sheets. Photo-lithographic tracings were executed as follows : Completion of tracings of the Waimea County, also of the Borough of Nelson; plan of mining claims in the vicinity of Reefton, and also plans of the Survey Districts of Reefton, Maruia, Tutaki, and Wangapeka. All the triangulation for which satisfactory observations have been taken has now been recomputed on the polygon system in terms of the Imperial standard, and tracings made showing the amended values to take the place of the old trig, maps, and as opportunity offers new plans will be made. The subsidiary trig, work is being recomputed with a view of preparing separate maps. Changes of Staff. &c. —Mr. N. Wright was transferred to Napier, and Mr. Keen an took his place as Record Clerk and Accountant, and Miss S. M. Murrell was appointed as typiste. Mr. Roebuck, draughtsman, left for an appointment in Western Australia, Mr. .T. P. Black was taken on in his place, and Mr. H. Black was appointed temporary draughtsman. Mr. R. E. Harris has