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awaiting its turn to be done, and to this our attention will principally be given. Happily the triangulation is available now in nearly every part of the province, and in most districts it has been broken down into minor series, so that little but filling up gaps here and there remains to be finished. This, of course, allows of the full strength of the staff being turned to the preparation of lands for settlement, and for laying out roads where the rights exist. During the past year one of the cadets, Mr. E. F. Adams, has passed on to the grade of assistant surveyor, and is fully engaged in doing good work on the village settlements, whilst two others will have completed their cadetship immediately. Mr. G. W. Williams, who has for so long served as Inspector in this district, was transferred in April to the Chief Surveyorship of Hawke's Bay, and Mr. J. Orme Barnard, Inspector at Gisborne, left the service on the 30th ultimo in consequence of the reductions, his place being taken by Mr. S. Weetman, the senior District Surveyor. I cannot part with these officers without placing on record my sense of obligation to them for the able and willing manner in which they have seconded my efforts to carry out the duties intrusted to me. S. Percy Smith, Assistant Surveyor-General.

HAWKE'S BAY. Topographical and Trigonometrical. —Of Crown lands in the Weber and Tautane Districts 9,600 acres were triangulated by Mr. F. Eich, for the purpose of controlling current settlement surveys, and 54,320 acres in the Maraekakahu District by Mr. C. D. Kennedy by contract at fd. per acre. A system of minor triangles was also extended over a sectional survey of about nine thousand acres, let to Mr. A. H. Boss; but the cost of this was included in the contract. Settlement Surveys. —The area treated under this heading is more than double that of last year, being 30,527 acres, against 14,641 acres in 1885-86. The average size of sections was 182 acres, and the average cost per acre 2s. 7fd. This rate compares favourably with that last year (when it was returned at 3s. Bd.), especially when it is remembered that as a rule each new block opened is more difficult of access and in rougher country. The whole of this was forest, with the exception of 665 acres by Mr. W. Hallett in the Motoutaria District. Native Land Court Surveys. —These appear to have been altogether in abeyance lately, as there is nothing to return under this class; but I believe this is owing to the absence of any sessions of the Court. Land Purchase Surveys. —A block of land containing some 84,400 acres, situated in the Takapau and Mangatoro Districts, is under survey for land-purchase purposes by Assistant Surveyor G. Watson, who joined the staff here in January last; but there is nothing complete to return. Boad Surveys. —Only twenty miles are returned under this class, thirteen miles having been laid out by Mr. Hallett through Native blocks, and four and a half miles by Mr. A. H. Eoss on the Wainui-Porangahau Eoad. PMihuay Surveys. —Of railway-land surveys 8-6 miles have been executed under contract by Messrs. C. D. Kennedy and H. K. Hovell, at a cost of £172 10s., chargeable to the Public Works Department. Other Work. —Under this heading may be included the standard surveys of the townships of Danevirke and Norsewood, at a cost of £433 6s. 3d., including revision of former surveys, both by Mr. Hallett. This officer retired from the staff on the usual terms in December last. Land Transfer Surveys. —Mr. Dennan, the Chief Draughtsman, has examined and recorded seventy-four plans, of an aggregate area of 31,333 acres, divided into 509 lots, besides supplying forty-three certificates for the District Land Eegistrar, at a total cost of £297 9s. 4d. Office-iuorlt. —The cost of work done for other departments and for local bodies is £234 3s. lid., the principal items being £83 4s. Id. for examination of railway-land plans chargeable to Public Works, and £88 7s. for preparation of the various instruments of title. Future Operations. —Messrs. Tone and Eich are to continue settlement surveys in the Weber and Tautane Districts, 25,000 acres of Crown land still remaining to be dealt with. The Te Ohu Block, containing some fourteen hundred acres, has also to be prepared for settlement. In conclusion, I would remark that during the short time I have been in this district there has been ample proof that there is a constant unsatisfied demand for land, provided that it can be obtained of fair quality and accessibility, and I sometimes have inquiries from distant parts of the colony for land which we have not even begun to survey. G. W. Williams, Chief Surveyor.

TARANAKX Triangulation.— -The triangulation completed by the Taranaki staff is 130,000 acres, which, with what has been done on the Wanganui by the Wellington surveyors, practically finishes the work in this district. As the triangles over the forest area are of from five- to eight-mile sides, breakingdown will have to be resorted to in the event of settlement work, which can be easily done by the sectional surveyor as required. This course avoids the heavy immediate expenditure needed to cover this extent of country with small triangles, which for many years will not be generally required, and over a considerable area not at all. With the triangulation already done topography has been combined, so that we have now, a very complete and valuable map of the whole district. Rural and Suburban. —Of this, 22,862 acres have been completed, at 2s. Id. an acre. I find that during the year some 27,000 acres have been selected under settlement conditions, and reserved; but there are, exclusive of 14,000 acres surveyed but not offered, still about 40,000 acres open for settlement in different parts of the district, so that by keeping the surveys going at the present rate intending settlers will have ample choice, and the surveys for some years be well in advance of the demand. About half the area surveyed this year, which is not yet open