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would appear to be fairly reasonable, especially in view of the fact that permanent concrete bench marks were set up at half-mile intervals along the line of these levels. ■ Miscellaneous work which cannot be grouped under any particular heading is also comprised in this division. Office and General Work.—-Land Transfer Branch : 931 plans were received for examination, 889 were examined and approved, 5,894 deeds and other instruments were passed, and 10,759 plans placed on certificates of title. On account of the operation of the compulsory Act, the amount of diagram work has considerably increased during the year, with the result that the number of plans awaiting approval is considerably greater than at the end of last year. Steps are being taken, however, to reduce the number of unapproved plans. This return is for the Auckland and North Auckland Districts combined. Native Branch : 114 plans were received for examination, and 107 were examined and approved ; 407 survey costs were examined and approved ; 6 Native Land Courts attended ; 30 plans were compiled, 115 tracings made, 95 authorities issued, and 912 Native Land Court orders were endorsed. Crown Lands Branch : 189 plans were received, and 206 were examined and approved ; 42 plans were compiled, 681 tracings made, 281 plans recorded, 35 sale plans drawn for photolithography, 318 chain-lengths tested, 156 Proclamations entered, and 20 town schemes dealt with. Proposed Operations, 1926 27. —Two assistant surveyors have in hand the topographical survey of Rotorua County. This work will probably require a large portion, if not all, of next season, to complete. The country under survey, is, on the whole, generally difficult of access. Five staff surveyors have in hand the .survey of 27,401 acres of land for settlement ; 22 miles of road, mostly giving access to Crown land under survey ; and 295 town sections, of which the greater number are in Te Aroha Borough. Contract surveyors have in hand the survey of 147,150 acres of Native land and 4 miles of road for Native Land Court purposes. Gisborne Land District (E. H. Farnie, Chief Surveyor). Triangulation (Subsidiary).—4B square miles executed to govern surveys of scattered Native reserves on the shore of Lake Waikaremoana in connection with the Urewera consolidation. Town Standard Surveys. —The whole of the original plans and photostats of the Borough of Gisborne have now been received, together with traverse reductions and field-books. The traverse sheets have been checked and compared with the plans and the photostats delivered to the Borough Council, who will now pay the balance of £200 owing. Rural and Suburban.—During the year 6,351 acres of rural land were surveyed, comprising twenty-nine sections, being mostly resubdivisions of existing sections in the Ohuka and Glencoe Settlements and isolated sections in the Waioeka ; also 39 acres of suburban land, subdivided into fifteen sections. Native Land Court Surveys. —Under this heading 15,513 acres, comprising 138 subdivisions, were subdivided by staff and contract surveyors, at a cost of 3-7825. per acre, total cost being £2,933 lis. lOd. Roads and Public Works surveyed during the year totalled 5| miles, and an area of 6| acres was surveyed for Public Works purposes. Work in Progress.—The periphery and topographical survey of the Poroporo and Tangihanga Blocks, of about 16,000 acres, in which the Crown has acquired about two-thirds of the Native interests, has been completed, and a provisional plan prepared. It is considered that the Crown's portion will be defined and the land subdivided and thrown open for settlement during the year. With regard to the Tuparoa consolidation, embracing (roughly) 93,000 acres, in which the Crown has interests amounting to about 7,000 acres, most of the exchanges and field-work in connection wherewith have bsen completed, and it is expected that the remainder will be completed this year and the Crown land opened for selection. Survey of the surrendered area of 3,850 acres in Small Grazing-run 71 has been completed, and the plan is in preparation. Subdivision of Small Grazing-run 38 and part 37, comprising 11,800 acres, mostly bush with road access thereto, is at present under survey, and the field-work is expected to be completed about the end of June. Office-work. —Land Transfer Branch : During the year 73 new plans were received for examination and 71 were approved, containing 243 lots, of an area of 8,689 acres ; 101 traverse sheets were examined, and 1,228 diagrams endorsed on certificates of title, and 47 leases and Proclamations were examined. Native Land Court plans : During the year 49 plans were received and 53 examined and approved, comprising 138 subdivisions, of a total area of 23,158 acres ; 7 plans were compiled in the office ; 125 traverse sheets were examined, 472 diagrams endorsed on Court orders and examined ; 45 authorities were issued to surveyors, 2 to staff and 43 to contract surveyors ; 43 certificates of cost were issued. Statutory plans : During the year 19 plans were received and 21 were approved, representing llf miles of roads and 14 lots with a total area of 143 acres ; 14 traverse sheets were examined. Five of the above plans were compiled in the Survey Office. Crown plans : Under this heading 24 plans were received and 27 approved, comprising 73 lots with an area of 15,769 acres 3 roods 37 perches ; 96 traverse sheets were examined. Six plans were compiled in the Survey Office. Record maps : The majority of the maps prepared under the above heading are of the part of this district formerly included in the Auckland Land District. During the year 30 maps on the 20-chain scale were prepared, 7 on the 10-chain scale, and 3 of the Town of Opotiki on the 2-chain scale. Maps mounted : During the year 166 maps were mounted. Miscellaneous tracings for Valuation Department, &c.: During the year 222 ordinary tracings were prepared, the majority being valuation tracings ; 7 poster tracings for photolithography were prepared.