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and 267 lithographs were coloured; in all, 38 photo-lithographic tracings were prepared, representing 16,200 acres of land for settlement and 647,600 acres of pastoral runs. Nine compiled plans were made and 4 plans of surveys executed by the Chief Draughtsman during the year. Tracings and descriptions for Gazette notices have been prepared, while the usual routine work of recording, cross-indexing, mounting plans, Ac, is well up to date. The Crown-grant maps of the Town of Cobden have been brought up to date, but there are considerable arrears of this class of work, also of block sheets and Land Transfer record maps, 'which the present, staff are not able to overtake. Changes hi Staff. —Mr. A. N. llariop, District Surveyor, was promoted to be Chief Draughtsman in this office in May, 1914, since which iie has been very assiduous in mastering the details of his new work. Mr. Armstrong, Draughtsman, was transferred to ihe Wellington office, and Cadet Norris was appointed in his place. My cordial thanks are due to both the field and office staff for their efficient co-operation in ihc various duties allotted to them. H. D. M. HasjcoArd, Chief Suiveyor. CANTERBURY. Triangulation. —No work of this nature has been done during the year. Topography. —The 16,334 acres of topography returned represents preliminary surveys of various estates acquired. Rural. — Under this heading only 8,381 acres lias been completed by (he stall, comprising Kinlay Downs, Teschemaker, Hillboro, and Copland Settlements, Arc. In addition, the survey of Glenmark (about 11,400 acres) was almost completed. Village mid, Suburban. —There were no surveys of this description. Town See/ion Surveys. —Only about 10 acres, subdivided into 2! lots, for workers' homes at Waiiuate was executed during the year. Roads. —About 13 miles of standard survey on the Canterbury Plains, near Rangiora, represents the bulk of the return under this heading. Gold-mining Surveys. —There were none. Coal-mining Surveys. —One mining claim of 1,000 acres was surveyed by contract, and paid for by the applicant. Native Laud Court Surveys. —Altogether there were 80 subdivisions, comprising 186 acres, all done by contract surveyors, and mostly paid for by the owners concerned. Survey Inspections. —-During the year 4 field inspections of Land Transfer surveys have been made, and in 2 cases the result fully justified the expenditure. Other Work. —Consists of inspections, reports, road deviations, drainage, and water schemes, miscellaneous surveys, &c. Proposed Operations for 1915—16. —This work will comprise the subdivision of Lees Valley Block, being Huns 145 and I 45a, in conjunction with Ihe adjoining freeholds recently acquired (36,200 acres in all); the survey of Glenmark Settlement (11,400 acres), ami any new estates that may be acquired; the continuation of the standard survey of the Canterbury Plains; the survey of an extension of the Summit Road, over the Port Hills; and various small surveys in different parts of the district. Land Transfer. —During the year 281 plans have been examined and approved, embracing 51,195 acres; 2,231 transfers, leases. Proclamations, &c, have been dealt with; diagrams (in duplicate) have been endorsed on 1 ,709 certificates of title, all the copies having been made in the office. Office-work.- —During the year 24 Public Works plans, 29 road plans, 4 land-for-settlements plans, and 31 miscellaneous plans have been examined and approved. Isomagnetie charts in connection with the recent magnetic survey of the Dominion by Dr. Farr have been prepared for reproduction, but these are not all completed. The acquisition of Finlay Downs, Teschemaker, and Glenmark Settlements has entailed a large amount of office-work. Changes in the Staff. —Owing to a variety of causes there have been a, large number of changes in flic personnel of the staff. Mr. H. G. Price, Chief Draughtsman, was promoted to the position of Commissioner of Crown Lauds and Chief Survej-or at Blenheim, and was succeeded here by Mr. F. E, Greenfield, formerly Chief Draughtsman at Nelson; Messrs. D. McDonald, Crown Land's Banger, and R. J. Cornwall, cadet, have joined the Expeditionary Forces; Mr. S. H. Sapsford, (clerk, was transferred to the Defence Department at Wellington; Mr. A. E. Rosanowski, clerk, lo the Head Office; Messrs. S. P. Day and C. D. Gaudin, cadets, to the Audit and local Government Life Insurance Departments respectively; and Miss Sapsford, typiste, to the Public Works Department at Wellington. Mr. J. G. Nilson, from the Head Office, was appointed Clerk to the Receiver, and Misses Brake and Eslick joined the staff as typistes, and Messrs. Nightingale and King as cadets. In conclusion, 1 desire lo record my appreciation of the hearty co-operation of the staff, both field and office. C. R. Pollen, Chief Surveyor.