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Good progress has been made in the production of maps and charts for aeronautical purposes. The Department is now responsible for the accuracy of data shown on such charts as a safeguard to aeronautical operations in the Dominion. As the availability of staff will permit, it is hoped to extend topographical mapping operations to cover military training areas. Any such extension of mapping will be part of the national map series and thus a useful addition for general national use. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY New Zealand Aerial Mapping, Ltd., Hastings, has continued to supply the Department with aerial photographs and mosaics for all purposes. The company has concentrated on filling in a number of gaps in aerial photographic cover in the North Island caused by unfavourable weather conditions at the time of initial photography or by the initial limitation of flying contracts. This has enabled the company to-complete a full mosaic cover of the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Taupo districts. The usefulness of these mosaics for the patterning of land-settlement, land-utilization investigations, land classification and valuation, and soil, pasture, and geological surveys is becoming more and more evident. They are a valuable supplement to the existing map cover, particularly where no detailed mapping has been carried out. The company's facilities are operating at full capacity, their standard of work being •excellent, in fact, techniques have been developed which have not only speeded up the work but also improved the quality of the company's productions. MISCELLANEOUS A conference of Chief Surveyors was held in October, 1949, at which questions of administration and procedures were discussed at length. Consequent on the findings of this conference a direct benefit has been derived through the adoption of uniform practices and procedures and a more comprehensive grasp by district offices of the' over-all survey requirements of the Dominion. The Department is at present preparing maps for the census to be taken in 1951. This involves an immense Amount of detailed work and will divert the services of approximately fifty draughtsmen from other work for a period of three months. The preparation of land holding maps which have proved to be indispensable in dealing with land-settlement problems is almost finalized. They will require to be kept up to date and can be adapted for many land-utilization and land-classification purposes _ CONFERENCE OF BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SURVEY AUTHORITIES In November next two important conferences will be held in Wellington. In accordance with reciprocal arrangements entered into with the Australian States in 1892, the Australian State and New Zealand Survey Boards meet in conference at four- or five-year periods to discuss reciprocal surveyors' examination requirements and procedures. For the first time this conference will be held in Wellington at which twenty delegates from the Australian States will be in attendance.' Immediately following this conference a further conference of representatives of survey authorities of the British Commonwealth and the United States of America will meet to discuss the extension of this reciprocal arrangement, with the object of establishing a basis of reciprocity in the training, experience, and qualification of the land surveyor throughout the British Commonwealth, and the United States of America. Arrangements for these conferences are well in hand, and it is. anticipated that the outcome of the deliberations of conference will permit of a free exchange of the surveyors between the countries concerned, and also establish the profession of surveying as an efficient agent in the development of national resources and projects throughout the English-speaking world. The contacts made with overseas survey authorities will also be of great benefit to the profession in New Zealand.

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