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tenders, and it was understood that the cost (£lO 4s. per mile) was to include supervision of the construction works. Other Work. —Under this heading Mr Strauchon returns £39 for office work in connection with preparing plans and specifications for sections of Waikawa-Catlin's Eoad, and for selecting and clearing trig, stations, cutting tracks, &c, preliminary to triangulating the Taukutu Bush. Office-work. —Thirty-one plans, containing 97 lots, aggregating 2,803 acres, were examined. Diagrams have been placed on 458 duplicate certificates ; on triplicate certificates in lieu of Crown grants, 339 copies ; on perpetual, gold-mining, coal-mining, and other leases and licenses, 204 diagrams; 77 leases and 67 applications were also examined. Lithographs, &c. —Five lithographic plans were prepared, and 1,500 copies were printed locally. Eighty-seven lithographs and 38 maps have been mounted. Work done for other Departments. —The principal item under this heading is the revision of plans and schedules for the triennial assessment of the Property-tax Department, but this work will not be completed before the end of July. Three maps have been specially prepared for the Babbit Department; and a few plans of roads have been examined for local bodies. Future Operations. —Having so recently taken charge of this district, I have not yet had the opportunity of acquiring personal knowledge of the Crown lands available for settlement, but it is proposed that Mr. Wilmot should carry on the triangulation of Tautuku Bush, commenced by Mr. Stranchon, preliminary to preparing for settlement some 30,000 acres in the neighbourhood of Waikawa; and the roads laid off by Messrs. Blaikie and Sharp, above referred to, may be regarded as a first instalment towards opening this land. Mr. Hay will continue settlement-surveys in Longwood district, where some 4,600 acres are in hand. In addition to these, arrangements have been made for resuming a considerable area of saw-mill licenses, from which the timber has been cleared, and for which inquiries continue to be made for settlement purposes. There are also some village lots to be surveyed, besides isolated sections, which are granted from time to time by the Land Board, subject to survey fees being paid. Steps are being taken for initiating a system of record for correspondence, and it will take some time to get this into proper working order, but my experience in other offices has convinced me that such a system means economy of time when once in working order. It affords me great pleasure to testify to the hearty support I have received from all officers here since my arrival. G. W. Williams, Chief Surveyor.