C.-^l

XVII

Amongst miscellaneous maps published may be mentioned the northern portion of Waitaki County ; Eeefton Mining District, showing claims with alphabetical and numerical lists of names ; Wanganui Eiver and traffic routes leading thereto ; Kapiti Island; Kermadec Islands; circumpolar stars; summit of Tongariro; Landsborough and Clarke country; portion of Fiord County, Western Otago; Eesolution Island; and Townships of Apiti, Pipiriki, Eaupo, Eaetihi, Taihape, Pukearuhe, Eltham, Seddonville, Waiau, Millerton, Eeefton, Gore, Clyde, Alexandra, and City of Christchurch. The renewal of the 80-chain index county maps has been proceeded with intermittingly. New maps of Waitaki and Selwyn Counties are in hand, the former being well advanced towards completion. The county maps of Pahiatua, Wairarapa North, and Wairarapa South—completed last year—have been copied on transparent paper, and will be photo-lithographed in six sheets. These sheets will serve as preliminary maps of twenty-six survey districts until the standard mile-to-the-inch maps have been published. A new map of the colony, constructed according to the rectangular tangential system of projection designed by Colonel Sir Henry James, E.E., is being proceeded with uninterruptedly. The projection has been completed by Mr. Grant, who will also compute and assist in plotting the trig, points on which the topography is constructed. The scale of the map is eight miles to an inch, to be reduced by photography to ten miles to an inch, that being the uniform scale of the maps of the world issued by the War Office. Mr. Wilson, an expert and rapid draughtsman, has been intrusted with the drawing of the map. A map specially designed for use in the public schools is to be commenced as soon as the outline of the map of the colony just referred to has been completed. The following are the principal subjects printed off for other departments, viz.: Monthly time-table maps in three printings, diagrams, and process pictures for Eailway Department; process reproductions of photographs for report on Tasmanian light railways ; illustrations and maps for Public Works Statement; architectural and engineering drawings for Public Works Statement; geological map in five printings, diagrams, and process pictures for " Mining Eecord," for Mines Department; examination - papers, charts, and diagrams for Marine Department; statistical diagrams in four printings for Eegistrar-General; examination-papers for Education Department; policy forms and cheques for Government Insurance Department; designs for creameries, diagrams in four printings, process illustrations, and statistics for Agriculture and Stock Department; diagrams and map of telegraph and telephone routes in three printings for Telegraph Department. The computing (where necessary), compiling, and drawing required for the subjects printed for the Telegraph, Stock, and Eegistrar-General's Departments were performed by the draughtsmen in the Head Office. The preparation of land-sale maps has been proceeded with as in previous years. One hundred and eighty-six maps have been lithographed and issued to the district offices, fifty-eight being for Auckland, seven for Hawke's Bay, ten for Taranaki, twenty-two for Wellington, two for Nelson, fourteen for Marlborough, twenty-eight for Canterbury, twenty-five for Otago, and twenty for Southland. One hundred thousand one hundred copies of these have been printed. As usual, photographic reductions of the larger blocks and settlements have been made for administration reports, &c, and compilation of index county maps. Pamphlets and maps containing particulars in detail of the disposal of the estates purchased under the Land for Settlements Act have been prepared and the distribution largely assisted by the Head Office. The following are the estates, viz.: Horsley Downs, Paparangi, Hekeao, Pawaho, Otahu, Beaumont, Okauia, Te Moana, Pouparae, Albury, Marawiti, Momona, and Tokorahi. The "Tourist Guides" impose a great deal of work in editing and revising, drawing maps, and preparing indifferent photographs for reproduction. There are seventeen of these guides, containing descriptions of the tourists' routes of the colony furnished mainly by the Chief Surveyors. About two hundred maps and three hundred pictures will be required to complete this work. The first edition will be ready for issue before the commencement of the next tourist season. For the encouragement of tourist traffic the following publications have been sent to the Agent-General, viz.: "The World's Sanatorium," " Waikaremoana," " Eesourcesof New Zealand," "Thermal Springs of New Zealand," " Fiordland," " Wonderland," " and Grand Tour" pamphlet, and framed photographs were sent to the Brisbane Exhibition. For the purposes of the Native Land Acts eighteen schedules and five plans have been prepared. For the Public Works Department four plans and schedules have been examined. For Proclamations under the Public Works Act fifty schedules and fifty-two plans have been examined and recorded. Thirteen plans of towns for Governor's approval have been examined. For the Local Bills Committee of the House of Eepresentatives thirteen schedules have been revised. Forty-six descriptions of boundaries and thirty-eight maps have been prepared for subjects relating to the Land Act and Land for Settlements Act. Eighteen schedules and eighteen maps have been prepared for Proclamations under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Seventy-nine descriptions of boundaries of registration districts, drainage districts, mining districts, road districts, and boroughs have been written and recorded. Numerous tracings, computations, designs, plans on deeds and warrants, have been made Additional information has been recorded on index county maps on its receipt from the distric offices. A notable feature of the year has been the removal of the whole of the lithographic plant into the new offices. The removal was commenced on the 24th September and completed on the Bth November, thus occupying a little over six weeks. Arrangements were made, however, by iii—G. 1. ■JgJB