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Field Inspections. —Five inspections were carried out during the year—three Land Transfer, and two Native. Other Work.—Under this heading there is an amount of £136, made up of principally of inspections, measuring up scrub-cutting areas, redefinition surveys, &c. Work in Progress.—At the present time the staff surveyor has the subdivision of the Waimarama Crown Lands in hand, and access road to same. The survey will be undertaken shortly of the redefinition of the coast-line along the beach at Pourerere, survey of four small road-deviations in the Wairoa district, and a topographical survey of the Tatara-o-te-Rauhina Block of Crown lands (5,000 acres), about 25 miles north of Napier. The lease to this expires in March next, and it is proposed some time subsequent to that date to offer the land for selection. Office-work. —Land Transfer Branch : During the year 186 plans were received for examination ; 181 plans, comprising 602 lots and containing an area of 32,687 acres, were approved ; 247 traverse sheets were examined ; 1,885 instruments of transfer, lease, and mortgages, &c., have been examined and reported upon to the District Land Registrar ; 3,543 have been placed on certificates of title and examined ; 195 plans have been recorded and 6 new plans made for record purposes under the new Act. Diagrams in connection with this branch were endorsed by the technical staff as a whole. Townships for approval under the Land Act: 6 plans were received and approved. Native Land Court surveys : During the year 33 plans, consisting of 101 lots and containing an area of 2,917 acres, were received and approved ; 30 traverse sheets were examined (the above includes 9 compiled plans) ; 33 tracings were made for the Valuer-General; 330 diagrams were endorsed on Court orders ; 37 authorities for survey were issued, and comprised 3,438 acres ; amount of outstanding survey costs collected, £1,772 ; 33 certificates of costs were prepared for an amount of £611. Statutory plans : 27 statutory plans, having 66 lots and 18| miles railway, and containing an area of 518 acres, were approved ; 66 traverse sheets were examined ; for the examination of plans and for tracings, &c., local bodies have paid £139 7s. lOd. Crown plans : 20 plans, containing 40 lots and comprising 3,625 acres, were approved ; 36 traverse sheets were examined ; 101 diagrams have been endorsed for recording on settlers' files ; fees from sales of lithographs, £57 ss. 6d. ; 4 new district maps in course of construction ; miscellaneous tracings for Valuer-General, 1,412 (gazetting purposes, settlers, Field Inspectors', and general purposes) ; sun-prints, 41 ; 7 tracings were prepared for sale posters ; reductions for district lithos and other purposes, 416. Future Operations.—There are some large areas in this district which have been purchased from the funds of the Native Land Settlement Account, but which cannot be dealt with for some time owing to the purchases being subject to leases of varying periods. Standard Lithography. —Good progress has been made during the year with this work, and it is hoped to do still better during the current year. Routine work, however, is steadily increasing, and it is very often found necessary to divert the officers usually undertaking this work. The cadets and junior draughtsmen are making excellent progress, and are becoming very useful. Three of them are now able to undertake district litho drawing, and this work should now progress rapidly. lam anxious that the new Borough of Napier drawing be completed at an early date. There is still, however, a lot to be done by way of completing the 1-mile district maps. This work is of great urgency, owing to the old county drawings being incapable of further revision. To date 12 new district drawings have been completed, and, on account of their being entirely up to date, have been a great boon. Land Transfer Index Maps. —It has not been found possible to make much progress with this class of map. Twenty-three maps have been drawn, and Heretaunga maps are now in the course of construction. The maps of this district are most urgently required, owing to the preient large roll maps falling into disrepair. It is expected that good progress will be made during the current year. General. —In a general review of the work it will be seen that it has been well maintained throughout the year. This is principally noticeable in regard to the office-work. Present indications are that the technical staff will be called upon to meet a further increase during the year. The large amount of intense subdivisional work was done by contract surveyors on requsiition from the Native Land Court. Staff. —During the year Mr. C. B. Hodge succeeded in passing the Computor's Examination (second grade). The staff have carried out their duties in a most satisfactory manner, and generally have given efficient and loyal service. I have pleasure in mentioning the high standard maintained throughout, and I particularly refer to the progress made by the cadets and younger officers, and their keenness to become efficient and useful officers. Cadet Cunningham joined the staff during the year. Taranaki Land District (W. D. Armit, Chief Surveyor). Standard Surveys. —The standard survey of the Borough of New Plymouth has been continued by Mr. Haase, acting under the direct control of the Surveyor-General. A start is shortly to be made with the drawing of the new standard plans. The need for rural standard traverses has been stressed during the year by the local branch of the Institute of Surveyors. There is no doubt that this work is much needed in this district, owing to the great amount of tar-sealing which has made redefinition work difficult. Owing, also, to the nature of the country in the more settled areas, plantations have caused many of the trigs to have become useless, so that it is hoped to have something in the nature of rural standard traverses done in the near future. Topographical Survey. —For selection : 6 sections, comprising 666 acres, were surveyed. General: The general topographical survey of part of the district was continued by Mr. Adams, who returns