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In the land transfer branch of this office, the volume of work decreased under most headings comprised in the tables, particularly as to certificates of titles and transfers. Two plans were prepared of part of the Papanui district. During the absence of Mr. Monro on leave for six months, his assistants, Messrs. Cane and Leversedge, carried on the work efficiently J. W. A. Marchant, Chief Surveyor.

OTAGO. Triangulation with Topography.-Mr. Langmuir returns 13 200 acres and Mr Wilmot 23,000 acres situated in the Tautuku, Eimu, and Mokoreta Districts. This completes the triangulation of the Tautuku Forest. The calculations and mapping of Mr. Langmuir s work extended over a much greater area, hence the cost is slightly increased. ■•.-,• • • Tovoaravhical for small Grazing-rum.— 31,210 acres of the area returned was the subdivision of the Barewood Buns for the Otago University Council. The endowment was cut up into nine small grazing-runs, all under mathematical check. The remaining 29,050 acres m the Upper Taien and Bock and Pillar Districts were surveyed by Mr. Calder into ten small grazing-runs, the boundaries all being traversed. _ . Bural and Suburban.— l6,ooo acres of the area returned under this heading was m dense bush, situated for the most part, in the Tautuku Forest. The principal blocks under this heading are the following- Subdivision of Bush Beserve, Block XV., Maungatua, 1,560 acres, by Mr. J Langmuir. Blocks II and VIII., Woodland District'; area, 4,400 acres. Block 11. will be opened under the improved-farm system, and Block VIII., under Part 111. of the Land Act. The survey of these blocks was commenced by Mr. 11. Maitland, which accounts for the low price per acre of Mr. Wilmot who finished them Block VIII., Tautuku, 3,600 acres, by Mr. McCurdie ; situated on the Mam CatlmsWaikawa Boad, to the north of Tautuku Native Beserve. Blocks V., VI., and VII .Catlin's District; area 3 800 acres by J. Edie ; situated in the Catlm's Valley. In Central Otago Mr. Calder surveyed 9,454 acres into 129 sections, being chiefly subdivisions of small grazing-runs, and the good land in some of the pastoral runs. Town Sections —Mr. Wilmot completed his survey of the sections in the Townships of Glenorehy and Alexandra, and Mr. Calder subdivided 500 acres in Blocks XI. and XVI., Mamototo District, into village allotments. . . Native Land Courts Survey.- -Mr. Barr completed his survey of the Taien Native Beserve. Plans have been prepared and forwarded to the Native Land Court. Gold-mining— Seventeen sections, having an area of 660 acres, were surveyed by the staff surveyors, and eleven sections, having an area of 260 acres, were surveyed by authorised surveyors at the rates laid down in the Mining Act. . Boads andßailways.— Under this heading a distance of forty-seven miles is returned, fifteen miles of which is the coastal traverse from Tautuku Native Eeserve to Waikawa by Mr McCurdie. The remainder consists chiefly of engineering surveys of roads in the Woodland District at present Operations for 1895-96,—Mr. Langmuir will be required to subdivide the Maerewhenua Estate, and besides the ordinary work in his own district his services will be available for the subdivision of any other property that may be acquired under the Land for Settlements Act I also propose if any time can be spared from his other duties, that he should extend the standard traverse in the' Clutha and Taieri Districts, in those parts where there are no trig, stations available for reference when surveys are required under the Land Transfer Act, In this connection it would be very desirable if a fresh standard survey could be made of the City of Dunedm ; the only work of the kind that has been done was the survey of the late J. A. Connell, on behalf of the Dunedm Corporation in the year 1871. There are also other towns in various parts of Otago where I think it would be wise economy to put in a few standard points while it is still possible to do so before most of the reliable points are lost. Mr. Wilmot will be engaged in the subdivision of the Mernvale Estate in Southland, and, if the routine work in his own district does not keep him fully employed, there will probably be some work in cutting up properties that may be acquired in this district. Mr Calder will I anticipate, be constantly employed with the surveys m his own district, and Mr. McCurdie will continue subdividing bush blocks fronting the mam Catlm's-Waikawa Eoad. He will proceed at once with the survey of Block XII., Tautuku, which will be opened under the improved settlement farm system, and when completed he will finish off the survey of the Tautuku Native Beserve. . ■ , . . . . Survey Inspections, the year I have paid twelve monthly visits to the co-operative road-works in the Catlin's and surrounding districts, and six monthly visits to those on the Pomahaka Downs Estate ; also two to the Teaneraki Village Settlement, two to the West Harbour Eoal, and one to the Leith Valley Boad. I have paid twenty-two visits to the surveyors in their camps, chiefly with the object of seeing that the roads were being laid off to the best advantage The staff surveyors do not require to have their field-book tested for accuracy, as it is uniformly of a high standard of excellence. , ~ ~ ..„...., I was absent from my district from Ist to 15th September attending the inquiry m Wellington into the sale of the Pomahaka Downs Estate. I also attended the Minister of Lands on his journey from Catlin's Eiver to Waikawa and Fortrose from the 30th November to the 4th December, and was inspecting pastoral runs, falling in with the other Land Classification Commissioner from the 7th December to the 13th. inclusive. . . - One contract survey was inspected during the year ; and of miscellaneous inspections there were two at Willsher's Bay two of new trig, stations, two pastoral runs, and the sand encroachments at the Otago Heads. ' C. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor.