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Native Land Court Surveys. —The Urewera Block, lying on the slopes of our highest mountain, Ruapehu, is the principal item in this class, but there have been also forty-four blocks surveyed by private surveyors for Court purposes. An incidental result of great interest professionally was brought out by Mr. Mountfort's traverses on the high altitudes of Ruapehu. The triangulation lengths, of course, all spring from measurements as at sea-level, consequently measurements over the surface at so much higher levels, four or five thousand feet, show differences so large as to require the application of corrections for altitude in order to enable comparison and closure on triangulation distances and positions. Other Work. There is always a long list of small surveys scattered about the district waiting, year after year, for attention. A number of these were squeezed between the more important works and completed, and in addition all sorts of miscellaneous reports, subdivisional schemes, estimates, odd peggings, inspections, &c, fall under this head, and. although all very necessary in their way, do not make much appearance, yet take a considerable time to do. Inspections. Mr. Cbmie during the year was transferred to the Head Office staff, with the duties of this important branch, lie has inspected five staff and seventeen private surveyors, and, taken as a whole. I he work of both stall' and private surveyors has been good. Roads. Railways, &c. —The North Island Main Trunk Railway land-plans surveys, amounting to 36 miles, with the neighbouring roads, have been executed by Mr. Johnston, and form the principal pari of the work done under this heading. The balance consists of 13-5 miles executed by three other surveyors. Proposed Operations, 1910-11. —Five surveyors, Messrs. Greville, Girdlestone, Stewart, Johnston and Campbell, are now concentrated in the South Waimarino Block, of 96,040 acres, which is the largest area of Crown lands in one block- left in this district, of settlement country. Mr. Stevenson will be occupied with Maori Land Board surveys ; Mr. Mounlfort on secondary triangulation ; another surveyor on Scenery Reserve surveys ; and two on Crown settlement surveys in the Pohangina and Akitio districts, and some minor work. Office-work. During the year the indoor staff has been largely decreased by promotions and exchanges to other districts, as well as retirements on superannuation, &c. Prominent amongst these have been Messrs. J. W. Davis, J. S. Welch, F. A. Thompson, and C. E. Adams, all able men and very hard indeed to replace, although in some instances others have taken their places and are doing excellent work. Notwithstanding that the staff has been so weakened, good results have been obtained, the record, so far as can be tabulated being as follows :— Examination of Plans. —One hundred and seventy-eight plans were received under all heads, and 198 were approved, covering 97,598 acres of sectional work. Statutory plans : 121 received, 117 approved. Land Transfer: 275 plans were examined, and 205 passed, not including those on transfers. 2,883 dealings were examined, and 4,974 plans put on certificates of title, and the index plans were brought up to date. Compilations. —Thirty-five tracings for photo-lithography were made, 2 new Crown-grant record maps, one block sheet, and 34 plans, and all approved plans were placed on the record maps ; there being no arrears in this work. Native Land Court Work. —Forty-four new surveys were received ; 61 plans were examined ; and a total of 71 surveys of blocks, with 293 subdivisions, of an area of 65,204 acres, were made by private surveyors ; while staff surveyors made surveys of three blocks, of 26,000 acres, in 48 subdivisions, and plans were compiled of 30 blocks, 73 subdivisions, of an area of 60,763 acres. Crown survey liens to the amount of £705 4s. 6d. were paid ; 56 Maori Land Board leases were prepared ; 428 orders and certificates were prepared ; 163 nominations for survey passed through ; and an area of 105,204 acres was dealt with and subdivided by Native Land Court. General. —Over 1,100 tracings were made ; 140 plans were recorded ; 100 additions to plans and 151 miscellaneous plans were made ; and 11 plans, 77 tracings, 116 lithos, and 308 miscellaneous were mounted. Work done for other Departments, local bodies, &c, amounted to £874. Miscellaneous. —A number of duties are included in the daily work of the staff which cannot be tabulated, in the way of attendance on the public and the continuous supply of information from maps and records and relating to land and title boundaries, maps, &c. Conclusion. —ln conclusion, again I wish to record my appreciation of the co-operation of my officers, both field and staff, during the year. James Mackenzie, Chief Surveyor,

NELSON. Minor Triangulation. —The work under this heading consists of subsidiary triangulation used to check and control sectional surveys. Area executed, 37,750 acres, at an average cost of l-02d. per acre. Standard Surveys. —A revision of the Standard Survey of the City of Nelson is urgently needed. The present survey, executed many years ago, is very defective both in bearings and distances, and many of the blocks have been disturbed and in some cases removed in the execution of road-formation and drainage-works. Standard traverses of some of the main roads are also required where the lands are being subdivided and brought under the Land Transfer Act. Rural and Suburban. —Under this class of work the plans of 58,554 acres, in 190 sections, at an average cost of 2 - 03s. per acre, have been returned. Of this area 43,819 acres were executed by staff