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APPENDIX IX. EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF Me. J. LANGMUIR, INSPECTOR OF SURVEYS. Standard Surveys. In addition to 23 miles of new wink, an exceptional amount of reinstatement work has been done in the City of Auckland during the year. This is always a rather complicated work. Under the most favourable circumstances, when due notice of the proposed disturbance is given, and the block can be short-fixed, then the cost is minimized, but if the blocks are disturbed before they are fixed, then the cost is frequently heavy. The Auckland City Council authorities now, however, appreciate the necessity of working with the Department to maintain the usefulness of the survey which has been executed at such a large cost. Other local bodies are also for the most, part alive to the importance of this class of survey, and are doing their best, to assist in every way. and pay the cost, of the reinstatement of the blocks when the necessity arises owing to street or road improvements. A considerable amount of wink of this class both in the city and suburbs of Auckland is still in hand unfinished. Proposed Work for the Yhau 1915 16. The Auckland City Council is desirous of having a complete standard and, alignment, survey made of Remuera, Grey Lynn, and Arch Hill, three local districts which have lately joined the city. It will also ask that the survey he taken in hand as soon as possible. The Borough of Onehunga, Mangere Road Board, and the Manukau County Council have all agreed to bear the cost, of the standard blocks With east-iron surface, boxes, and it will lie a matter for regret if this work cannot be carried out at an early date, hut to do so assistance in the field will be required. In regard to alignments, f myself have sn far taken the responsibility for all so far determined, and if the surveys of Remuera, Grey Lynn, and Arch Hill are taken in hand there will he a large amount of (his work to undertake as the work proceeds, some of it complicated and difficult. The office is in arrears with standard plans, and unless further assistance, is given in the office progress will, of necessity, he slow. Secondary Triangulation. Large signals were built at thirty-four stations extending over country from Whakarara, about 8 miles east of Whangaroa Harbour, to Pohokura, on the boundary between the Auckland and Hawke's Bay Land Districts. Building is now going on about Lake Taupo, hut other parties have ceased, work lor the present. There are still nine stations in the southern part of i\u\ district, including White Island, which require signals, and sixteen stations in the northern part ; these latter will be taken in hand about August. The, building of thirty-four signals does not, perhaps, appear a big turnout, hut the parties were not engaged continuously, and a large amount of track and other clearing had to be done, much of it in difficult country and during bad weather. A considerable number of the signals are made of jarrah. hut in nil other eases the timber has been cut and pit-sawn or axed, out, on the ground. At one station. " llii.rri.iki," which is built on the top of a rock, over 1.00(1 superficial feet of totara was sawn on the ground for the signal required. llr. H. F. Edgecumbe started observations on the 14th May, and continued same to < lie, 17th November, when he was granted twenty-eight days' sick-leave, but did not take the field again until after Christmas, and little success was obtained when he had to leave the work again on the Ist March owing to a return of his illness. The total number of stations observed at were twenty-two. of which eleven were secondary triangulation, six were old major stations the angles of which were reobserved, and live were extra stations in the vicinity of Auckland lor the purpose of a, standard triangulation connection to the North Shore. Revision ok Old lVlajou and Minor Triangulations. This is a, work which should he started at once- in fact, the secondary triangulation will not he ol any practical use until this is done. I - have had a number of permanent signals erected at such stations as seemed desirable, hut at many stations temporary signals will he quite sufficient, and there is no necessity for these to he erected until the observer is on the ground. The old work is disconnected also in many places, and new stations are required to complete polygons, &c. Again, new stations will sometimes he required to take the place of stations destroyed or closed in by plantations. Taking the three classes of survey which 1 have been permitted to supervise during the last, few years viz.. secondary triangulation. standard surveys, and revision of major and minor triangulation much more assistance is required if any practical results are to he obtained within a reasonable time. Two observers are required for the secondary triangulation, one extra standard surveyor, one surveyor to start the revision of the old major and minor triangulations where required, and. if possible, a start should he made with the precise levelling of the district. Dealing with all classes of work in hand, the requirements, in order, appear to he as follows : — (1.) Pinal determination of the values of the new secondary base-lines measured. (2.) Continuation of the observation of secondary triangles by two observers for the Auckland District. Extra observations for true meridian are required.