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APPENDIX 11. EXTRACTS FROM THE] ANNUAL REPORTS OF CHIEF SURVEYORS. North Auckland Land .District (H. J. Lowe (retired 31st March, 1927), 0. N. Campbell, Chief Surveyors). Rural.-- During the year 9,776 acres of rural land were surveyed by staff surveyors, and 12 acres by private surveyors. Topographical.—There has been little work in this section, an area of 32 acres only being carried out by staff surveyors. Town-section Surveys. —Staff surveyors subdivided an area of 163'3 acres into town sections. Village and Suburban.— An area of 19 acres was surveyed by staff surveyors in this section, and 4 acres by a private surveyor. Roads.—Staff surveyors completed 12-3 miles of road surveys. Native.—Most of the work in this section was carried out by private surveyors, 6,071 acres being the total for the year. Nine acres were surveyed by a staff surveyor. Other Work. —This work included inspections of Land Transfer surveys, investigation surveys, reports and schemes of subdivision, locating and grading roads, surveys for Police Department, intersections on standard blocks, engineering surveys, &c. In addition, good progress has been made with the preliminary surveys in connection with the Orakei Garden Suburb, and the final survey and road-construction have advanced sufficiently to enable us to contemplate putting the first portion on the market at an early date. Office-work. —During the year 204 plans were received, and 227 were examined and approved ; 208 scheme plans have been dealt with ; 31 plans were compiled in the office ; 6 maps were drawn for photo-lithographic reproduction; 30 block-sheets were drawn; 6 survey district and 2 county maps were revised ; 124 sale plans were drawn ; 876 tracings were prepared ; 478 leases and 336 certificates of title were endorsed ; 220 Proclamations were entered; 893 plans were recorded. The year's work has also included a large amount of general work, sun-prints, colouring lithos, mounting, recording Land Board transactions, and Gazette notices, searching, correspondence, reports, and general office-work. It will be noted that, notwithstanding the present dull state of the market, 208 scheme plans were dealt with, showing a very slight falling-off from last year. Steady progress has again been made in respect to the preparation of maps for photo-lithographic reproduction, a pleasing feature being the number of up-to-date survey-district maps of the northern portion of the district now available for sale and office purposes. A long-felt want is also being supplied in the production of 2-chain record sheets of the various boroughs and town districts, a considerable number of which have now been completed. The draughting-work is maintaining a high standard, and it is creditable that during the year, first-class draughting certificates were obtained by Messrs. P. B. Wright, R. P. Fletcher, and K. H. Melvin. The success of these officers will, no doubt, act as an incentive to the younger members of the staff. Standard Surveys. —During the year the office-work in connection with the branch, carried out by the Crown Lands Branch staff, has included 28 sheets drawn, additions to 8, 36 examined ; 23 sheets have been traced, 1 checked, and 17 traverse sheets checked ; also work of a general nature, field data, &c. Native Land Branch.—ln this branch the year's returns show a total of 25 survey plans and 5 compiled plans received, 49 plans examined and approved; 112 schedules of cost were checked, 7 caveats lodged, 6 Native Land Courts attended, 17 tracings made, 3 compilations ; also general work, searching, correspondence, and general office-work. In addition, the officers of this branch have been busily engaged during the later part of the year in preparing and assembling data for the Crown Solicitor to place before the Royal Commission re Native grievances. The work has entailed extensive detailed searches of old files and records, and the preparation of illustrative maps. Land Transfer Branch. —885 plans received during the year, and 794 were examined and approved. Pro-posed Operations for 1927-28. —Mr. Traill will continue the survey of Orakei Garden Suburb. Other staff surveyors have been authorized to survey 22,300 acres of rural land, 36'5 acres of town surveys, and 62 miles of road. Contract surveys on hand include 3,063 acres of Native land and 8 miles of road survey. Office-work will, as usual, include the drawing of survey-district, town-district, and borough maps, and the 20-chain record maps. General.- -The past year has been marked by a number of changes in the staff, and we have had to bid regretful farewell to three senior officers of long service—viz., Messrs. H. J. Lowe, Chief Surveyor ; A. H. Yickerman, Chief Draughtsman ; and J. Y. Dixon, Roads Legalization Branch. Their positions have been filled by the appointment of Messrs. 0. N. Campbell, F. R. Burnley, and R. A. R. Enting ; while Mr. C. G. D. Maher, of the Auckland staff, succeeded Mr. Enting as Officer in Charge of the General Draughting Branch. Two officers resigned during the year, two were transferred on promotion, one officer was transferred from Drainage Branch, and one from Head Office. Three new cadets have been appointed, the staff now numbering thirty-nine. Auckland Land District (K. M. Graham, Chief Surveyor). Minor Triangulation. —An area of 23 square miles was covered by minor triangulation in the Maungakawa, Wairere, and Cambridge Survey Districts in connection with the re-establishment of Trig. 144.