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about the end of the year 1911, after over forty years of faithful service to the Department. When we look back upon his early career the surveyors of to-day can perhaps best realize the hardships that had to be endured and obstacles to be overcome by those pioneers of early surveying, the strain of which may have helped to close a life earlier than otherwise would have been the case. The well-earned rest, however, to which he had hoped his retirement would have brought him, along with a share of renewed health and strength, was denied him. and he passed away on the lOth March. 11112. Mr. Sidney Weetman, another old and faithful servant, who. though Inning retired on pension at the beginning of the year 1902, has not been forgotten. He entered the Provincial Government service of Southland as a surveyor in 1863. and rose in later years to the position of Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands. In this capacity he worked in the Districts of Taranaki. Marlborough, and Canterbury. His death occurred during the year after a protracted illness. The death of another hardworking, thoroughly conscientious, and valued officer has to lie chronicled in the person of Mr. William Armstrong. In the year L 876 he entered the Provincial Government service, and at the beginning of 1880 joined the staff of the Otago District as surveyor. In December, 1883, he was transferred to the Gisborne district, and later on, in July, 1892, he joined the office staff at Napier. In 1899 he was promoted to be Chief Draughtsman and Receiver of Land Revenue at Blenheim. In April, 1909, he was appointed Chief Draughtsman at Dunedin, and received the well-earned promotion of Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki in May. 1911. In July of this year he was appointed on the Commission to deal with the electoral boundaries of the Dominion, and rendered valuable service. His death, which took place on the 26th January, 1912. was sudden and unexpected, and came as a great shock to all. W. 11. Pearson, an ex-ollicer of the Department, was for man" years Commissioner of Crown Lands for Southland. He retired on pension on the 30th September. 1884, and his death has been reported at Napier during the year. J. A. Montgomerie : This surveyor entered the Provincial Government service of Canterbury in August. 1867, as assistant and mining surveyor, which position he held till January, 1869. In 1871 he was appointed to the Public Works Department until March, 1874. In June, 1874, he joined the Nelson staff as assistant surveyor, and in 1877 was promoted to District Surveyor, a position he so creditably maintained till he was retired on superannuation, 31st March, 1909. His later years were spent in the private practice of his profession, and it was while thus enagaged that he met with a trap accident that caused his death during the year. In this report, which is the first I have the privilege of submitting as Surveyor-General, I would like to here mention on behalf of my predecessor, Mr. John Strauchon, his desire to thank heartily all officers of the Department, both the indoor and field staff, for their ready help that has always been extended to him, and which, along with the amicable relations that have always existed, has assisted him so much in the exercise of his duties. In this connection I ho;.e that the same spirit will still prevail and be extended to me so that I may look forward to and receive that hearty co-operation equally needed in my new position, and which so greatly assists to keep the Department up to its present high standard of efficiency. Mr. H. T. McCardell, Chief Draughtsman at the Head Office, reports as under : — One of the principal works of the year was the preparation of the maps for the Representation Commissioners in connection with the readjustment of the boundaries of the electoral districts of the Dominion. This work and the subsequent preparation and publication of the maps occupied the majority of the draughtsmen for several weeks. Seventy-six popular descrip tions of proposed electorates were made, also seventy-six detailed descriptions defining in technical terms the boundaries of the electoral districts as finally determined by the Commissioners. 433 large-scale maps —one set for the Head Office, one set for the Chief Electoral Officer, and one set each for the Legislative Council and House of Representatives—were made, and lithographed maps on a scale of sixteen miles to an inch, showing the names and boundaries of the districts, were published for the information of the public. These important duties were of a highly technical nature and, being performed at a necessarily rapid sp 1. it is gratifying to the Depart ment that no errors have been reported. In addition, about forty maps on a large scale were made for members of the House of Representatives. The. following plans were drawn for photo-lithography: The City of Wellington has advanced another stage, but, owing to the constant subdividing of properties, the compilation of this map