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tion Mr. Kitson was for eleven years and a half an employe of the Provincial Government, and fo the whole of these twenty-two years his career shows a record of honourable service; and that the exigencies of the times have compelled his retirement is much felt, not only by the heads of the department, but also by his brother officers with whom he has served in this district. Through the same cause I have also to regret the loss of the services of Messrs. Anstey and Mather, skilful draughtsmen, who have done their work faithfully and intelligently for many years. Proposed Operations, 1887-88. —The arrears of field-work of the sectional surveys are so well in hand that I shall be able to employ four of the surveyors to extend the triangulation and topographical surveys over that portion of Canterbury of which we have no topographical details other than the old surveys made by Messrs. Jollie, Whitcomb, Wilson, and Young, more than twenty-five years ago. It is absolutely necessary that this should be done twelve months before the expiration of the present pastoral leases in May, 1890, so that proper plans can be prepared, showing the position of the division-fences, and the actual extent of country over which the stock graze, which in many cases does not agree with the boundaries of the runs as shown by the licenses, and in some instances in the high mountainous country the sheep are mustered from places miles beyond the apparent boundaries of the runs. I purpose to send one surveyor to triangulate the Waipara and Hurunui country back to Lake Sumner, one to complete the block between Mount Hutt and Lake Heron, taking in the upper waters of the Ashburton, and one to continue the triangulation up the Eangitata to connect with the triangulation of the fourth surveyor, who will commence work at the termination of the present triangulation on Lake Tekapo, and continue up the Godley and Macaulay Bivers, and the country lying between the last-named river and the Mesopotamia Bun on the Eangitata. I think that these parties could commence work by the middle of September, or early in October, and continue it until the end of May. It will have to be pushed on as fast as practicable during the summer months, as it will be impossible, owing to the severity of the winter, to remain in the field beyond the end of May. They can come into the office for two months to complete the plans and calculations. By these means, I anticipate the completion in two seasons of the triangulation and topography of the rest of the Canterbury District. This would leave me one surveyor to go on with the current work, or the subdivision of any reserves or other lands which may have to be undertaken during the year. John H. Bakeb, Chief Surveyor.

QTAGO. The strength of the field and office staff is nearly the same as it was at the date of my last report, being six staff surveyors and three cadets in the field, eleven draughtsmen and two cadets in the office, and two draughtsmen in the district offices. Minor Tr'iangulation. —I have been compelled to have parts of two districts triangulated this year in order to connect outlying surveys. Mr. Strauchon observed some triangles to connect a section near Nugget Lighthouse; and Mr. Wilmot had to extend the Glenomaru triangulation into Woodland District, so as to embrace the homestead block to the south of Catlin's Biver. The cost per acre of this triangulation includes carrying standard bearing from Mount Oamaru (near Eomahapa) to Hinehine, south of Catlin's Lakeland is 2-77 d. Mural Section Surveys. —The amount under this heading is a little less than last year, being 35,752 acres, comprising 256 sections, at a cost of £3,205 ss. 10d., or Is. 9-Jd. per acre. Town Section Surveys. —Only forty-three town sections were laid off, comprising 82 acres, at a cost of £49 15s. 4d., or £1 3s. 2d. per allotment. Mining Surveys. —Sixty sections, containing 1,499 acres, have been laid off this year, as against thirty-nine sections, containing 432 acres, last year. The cost per acre is Bs. 6d., as against 15s. 6d. last year. Road Surveys. —These comprise eighteen miles, costing £161 10s. lid., or £8 19s. 6d. per mile. Village Settlements. —The survey of the village settlement in Block VII., Waikawa District (including the Village of Niagara), was completed some time ago. The area laid off is a little over six hundred acres, and the sections range from a quarter of an acre to forty-five acres in extent. The plans have been lithographed and handed over to the Crown Lands Office here. Survey Inspections. —During the year, besides inspecting roadworks carried out under the counties, I visited the districts of Naseby, Gimmerburn, Waikawa, Woodlands, Glenomaru. The latter I visited on two occasions, and have gone over every road that has been laid off and graded by Messrs. Wilmot and McCurdie in the blocks now being surveyed by them. I also, with Mr. Colin Allan, Immigration Officer, inspected the village settlements in Molyneux and Glenomaru Districts, on which it is proposed to settle any of the unemployed who wish. Examinations for Authorisation. —Only three cadets presented themselves—two belonging to this office and one from a private office. All passed successfully. District Offices. —Of the three district offices, Lawrence is under the charge of Mr. McLean, Queenstown under Mr. Adair. Naseby, having no resident draughtsman, is under the charge of the District Surveyor, Mr. D. Barron. Dunedin Office Work. —As directed by you Mr. W. I. Percival terminated his services in this department on the 31st of March last. Mr. W. P. Browne, after a protracted absence through illness, resumed duty in February. The work of the office made very satisfactory progress. It will be. seen that Mr. Skey, the Chief Draughtsman, with the assistance of Messrs. Browne, Wadie, Marsh, and Stables, have, besides other incidental work, prepared and recorded 425 Crown grants and certificates of title, representing 33,825 acres; 116 perpetual leases, in triplicate; 52 pastoral leases, in duplicate ; 80 deferred-payment licenses, 20 occupation licenses, 22 mining leases, 10 agricultural leases, 9 exchange leases, 10 special leases, all in duplicate ; 65 village special-settlement leases and 17 small-grazing-run leases, both in triplicate. Mr. Wadie has also