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Wellington Land District (F. H. Waters, Chief Surveyor). Rural. —Mr. G. I. Martin completed surveys of Lots 1 to 5 of Bs, Lots 1 and 2 of 12s, and Lot 1 <:>' 225, Pihautea Settlement —a total of eight lots, of an area of 145 acres. Mr. W. G. Nelson completed surveys of Sections Ito 3, Tupurupuru Settlement; three sections, Haunui Settlement; four sections, Te Whiti Settlement; two sections, Cloverlea Settlement; two sections, Greystoke Settlement; three sections, Arawhata Settlement; three sections in Block 11, Hunua S.D. ; five sections in Block IV, Kaitieke S.D. ; two sections in Block IX, Hautapu S.D. ; two sections, Block I, Arawaru S.D.; and four sections in Block XVI, Manganui S.D.—a total of thirty-three sections, of an approximate area of 1,757 acres. Village and Suburban.—Mr. L. J. Poff completed a survey of scenic reserve, part Section 420, Block XV, Akatarawa S.D., an area of 31 acres. Town.- —Mr. L. J. Poff completed surveys of 138 sections, of an area of 55 acres, Hutt Valley Settlement, and 132 sections, of an area of 26 acres, Wilford Settlement. Mr. G. I. Martin completed surveys of 363 sections, of an area of 80 acres, Hutt Valley Settlement. Mr. W. G. Nelson surveyed thirty-five sections, of an area of 5 acres, Hutt Valley Settlement. Roads and Railways. —The Railway Workshops site, and area of 8 acres, was surveyed by Mr. L. J. Poff. Te Mutu Road, of 2J miles, and road access to Section 4, Block 111, Momahaki S.D., of 1£ miles, were surveyed by Mr. W. G. Nelson. Various minor surveys in connection with Hutt Valley Railway duplications were completed by Mr. L. J. Poff. Inspections. —An inspection of Mr. P. R. Earle's survey of Tokorangi Block (W.D. 3912) was carried out by Mr. W. G. Nelson. Topographical. —260 acres of topographical survey, Watts Peninsula, was completed by Mr. G. I. Martin. 117 acres, Hutt Valley Settlement, was completed by Mr. W. G. Nelson. Other Work.- —The fixing of Standard XC, Hutt Road, and report of Trig. 11, Watts Peninsula, by Mr. L. J. Poff. Investigation of boundaries, Branda Quarries; homestead-site, Block 11, Tiffin S.D. ; site for telephone exchange, Miramar ; fixing telegraph-lines, Hutt Valley Settlement ; redefinition of boundaries, Haruatai Block and Pukehou Block ; exchange of land for road, Metter's Block, Hutt Valley Settlement; redefinition of boundaries, Block-house site, Wallaceville ; redefinition of boundaries, Sections 25 and 26, Block IV, Kaitieke S.D.; and investigation survey of the course of Rangitikei River, Ohinepuhiawe Block, by Mr. W. G. Nelson. Office-work. —15 plans were compiled, 25 photo-lithographic tracings were prepared, 337 diagrams were endorsed on warrants, 384 diagrams on Crown leases, and 482 diagrams were endorsed on Native Land Court orders. In addition, the compilation of road record maps and 40-chain distant maps has been proceeded with, and the plan index completed. A large amount of miscellaneous draughting, tracing, and searching has been carried out. Crown and Native. —117 plans of 785 subdivisions of an area of 103,281 acres were received, and 114 plans of 1,059 subdivisions of an area of 31,733 acres were approved. Land Transfer Branch. —607 plans were received, 560 plans checked, 577 plans approved, 12 plans compiled, 34 applications were examined, 3,605 transfers and other dealings were examined, 130 titles amended, and 11,028 diagrams were endorsed on new certificates of title. In addition, items such as receiving, despatching, attendance on public, and general supervision, indexing, and recording have been attended to. Statutory Branch. —118 plans received, 128 plans examined, 1.08 plans approved, and 104 plans were sent forward for Proclamation purposes, 106 plans were recorded, 114 Proclamations gazetted and received, whilst final action was taken on 77 plans. Other work includes general and special searches, recording alterations to local bodies' boundaries, preparation of information for issue of title to closed roads, technical description of lands to be reserved or exchanged, preparation of information in connection with loading for roads in loan blocks, preparation of plans and documents and the obtaining of consents in connection with legalization work of this Department. Changes of Staff. —Mr. L. J. Poff, transferred to Auckland ; Mr. W. E. Potts, transferred to Dunedin ; Mr. F. H. Jennings, transferred to Head Office ; Mr. E. W. Harkness, transferred to Auckland ; Mr. J. M. Grant, transferred to Hokitika ; Mr. N. L. D. Smith, retired ; Mr. I. A. Cromie, resigned ; Messrs. J. D. Watt, J. Meale, F. Cooper, E. Ngahuia, and W. Lindsay joined the draughting staff ; and Messrs. Strawbridge and J. Fletcher joined the field staff during the year. Native. —67 authorities for 181 partitions, representing (approximately) an area of 12,214 acres, at an estimated cost of £2,532 ; 68 plans and duplicate tracings have been received from surveyors for 242 partitions, an area of (approximately) 30,874 acres, at a cost of £4,113 13s. 4d.; 694 diagrams were endorsed and forwarded to Native Land Courts ; 252 applications for chargingorders were prepared and forwarded ; 68 vouchers prepared, checked, and passed for payment, amounting to £4,113 13s. 4d. ; liens totalling £1,743 7s. 9d. have been received, and receipt forms made out for Receiver of Land Revenue. This entailed the preparation of 108 debit notes and notices of release of liens. Native Land Court plans have been forwarded to the various Courts. Attendance has been made at different Courts for the purpose of obtaining confirmation. In order to protect the Crown's interests, caveats have been lodged against titles where it is found that alienation is to be applied for. Under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act two purchases were completed. The acquisition by the lessees of the freehold in Taupo No. 2 Block (Plimmerton Extension, No. 4), which was acquired by the Crown, was also dealt with. There are forty lots in the subdivision and almost all lessees have completed their purchases. Balances were made for 1925-26. The actual accounting portion of the liens is now being taken over by the Accountant.