c.—l

42

Staff. —The staff consisted of but four surveyors until the following surveyors were appointed temporarily: Mr. John Stevenson, Ist November, 1892 ; Mr. John Boddick, 17th January, 1893 ; Mr. John Cunningham, 24th February, 1893; Mr. B. C. Taylor, Ist March, 1893; and Mr. H. W. Beid, 6th March, 1893. Mr. District Surveyor Welch's health failed him last December, and this active and zealous officer's services in the field were unfortunately lost to the Government and department. He has been engaged in the Wellington District Survey Office since the 18th March last. Surveys Executed. — Mr Welch's surveys comprised the Midland Eailway Company's Blocks L., LIV., and LXIL, and a topographinal survey of Buns 20, 22, 24, and 26. Mr. Brodrick's work consisted of the Station Beak Buns and scattered sections in the Geraldine and Mackenzie Counties. Mr. McClure defined the Midland Eailway Company's Blocks LXIV., LXVIL, LXX., and LXXL, and a block of selected lands on the plains near Hezlerton. Mr. Mathias's area is made up of topographical surveys at Woodend and Alford Forest and scattered sections in the Ashburton County. Mr. Stevenson took up, and is still engaged on the surveys Mr. Welch had left unfinished. He also surveyed the Ashwick Flat Eun. Mr. Eoddick was sent to define the selections which had been made on the Hunter's Hills in 1890. He will shortly have to go to Cheviot. Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Taylor have been engaged constantly on Cheviot, and Mr. Beid relieved Mr. Mathias at Mount Somers. Messrs. Mathias, Cunningham, and Taylor defined sixty miles of subdivision fences on Cheviot. The two former extended the Amuri triangulation towards the Stoneyhurst work, and Mr. Taylor explored for and indicated several of the main roads on Cheviot. The several surveys have been carried out on the lines indicated in last year's report. The areas of field-work have been materially reduced, but they are still very formidable; and, owing to the urgency of the Cheviot surveys, there is little likelihood of their completion next season, though standard points of reference have been carefully laid down throughout. Proposals. —Mr. Brodrick will continue the surveys of selections about Fairlie and Geraldine. Messrs. McClure, Mathias, Cunningham, Taylor, and Boddick, and Mr. F. Stephenson Smith, District Surveyor, who has joined the Canterbury staff temporarily, will continue the Cheviot surveys. Mr. Stevenson will complete the surveys of subdivisions of Buns 20, 22, 24, 26, and 37. Mr. Eeid will continue the surveys of selections at Mount Somers and Alford Forest. Office. —The office-work has been unusually heavy, and quite beyond the capacity of the present staff; and if some of us had not worked constantly in overtime we could not have kept pace with the public requirements. Christchurch, 12th May, 1893. J. W. A. Marchant, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Topographical Surveys.— -The large amount under this heading consists almost entirely of small grazing-runs, chiefly in Central Otago, amounting to no less than 183,500 acres, which has been executed at something under 1-Jd. per acre. Minor Triangulation. —This is almost wholly in the Tautuku Forest, andj has been executed under great difficulties by Messrs. Langmuir and Wilmot. This survey was urgently required, as the block and section surveyors were getting ahead of the triangulation ; the consequence was that in some cases the block and section surveyors had to clear some of the hills and erect some trig, stations, in order to preserve a proper check on their work. At the same time the trig, stations so erected have been of great assistance to the trig, surveyors. Rural and Suburban. —Nearly four times the area has been executed this season as compared with the last season's report. Of a large amount of 54,000 acres under this head, Mr. D. Barron has executed nearly half, chiefly large sections in open country. The balance is mostly in heavilytimbered country. The cost per acre for both descriptions of land is very satisfactory. There are no other items in the tabular statement calling for special mention. Survey Inspections, dc. —During the past season I have made thirty-three visits of inspection to surveyors in the field, four inspections of roads and bridges, and three of Land Transfer surveys. I have visited Catlin's Eiver and adjacent districts on six occasions, to pay wages and inspect roadworks generally. In April, 1892, I spent eight days with the Surveyor-General on a tour of inspection through the Otago District. In July, 1892, I accompanied three members of the Land Board on a visit of inspection to Eun 199, beyond Eoxburgh. In November and December I was absent from Dunedin for twenty days with the other Land Classification Commissioners, inspecting and classifying runs; and in January of this year I was engaged for one week with the Hon. the Minister of Lands, inspecting runs, &c, in the interior. Proposed Operations for 1893-94. —Owing to the demand on the services of Messrs. Langmuir and Wilmot last summer, in consequence of the subdivision of various runs, they have made very little progress towards completing the triangulation of Tautuku Forest. Also the promotion of Mr. D. Barron to be Chief Surveyor of Westland, which occurred last month, makes it necessary for me to alter somewhat the proposed scheme of operations for 1893-94. Mr. Langmuir will probably bo able to spare some time from the Lawrence District this season, and I propose that he should utilise the good summer weather in completing the triangulation of the Tautuku Forest. There are also some surveys urgently required in connection with Land Transfer work. For instance, the Clutha District has never been triangulated, except a small corner in the west portion of the district, and this was done in connection with the Warepa triangulation. The Taieri District