e.—ia.

Photostat Machines. —The photostat machines installed in the Auckland and Cliristchureh district offices are proving useful and economical. The Auckland machine is in daily use, with a consequent large saving in draughting costs. The installation of photostat machines in some of the district offices would facilitate' the work of the Department. Draughtsmen at present employed on detailed tracings would be released for other urgent and important work. General. —During the year eighteen cadets were appointed to the draughting staff. These appointments have only partially supplied the need for experienced officers, due to the non-appointment of cadets during the depression. The draughting staff have carried out their duties during the past year with credit. Routine work has generally been kept up to date, but this has only been possible by the depletion of the staff employed in cadastral map-drawing. REPORT OF THE SURVEY BOARD FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1937. Secretary and Registrar. —During the year, owing to an alteration in the finances of the Board, the office of Secretary and Registrar to the Survey Board was added to the duties of the Chief Draughtsman, Head Office. This office has been held for twenty-two years by Mr. M. Crompton Smith, in which capacity he had rendered loyal and faithful service. The Board, while accepting his resignation with regret, recorded its sincere appreciation of his services and assistance. Son of the late Mr. Percy Smith, Surveyor-General from 1889 to 1900, Mr. M. Crompton Smith has worthily upheld the honoured name of his father. He will be remembered for many years hence by surveyors for the kindly and helpful advice given during student days. Surveyors' Examinations. —These examinations, held in March and September each year, are carried out simultaneously with the Australian States, papers being set in turn by the various State Boards and the New Zealand Board. The papers set by reciprocal arrangement between these Boards are as follows : — Written Papers — (1) Laws and regulations affecting surveys. This paper is set independently by each Board to cover the various State and Dominion laws governing surveying in its various spheres. (2) Plotting and plan drawing. (3) Physics, geology, and forestry. (4) Computations A. (5) Computations B. (6) Engineering surveying. (7) Astronomy and geodesy. (8) Land surveying design. (9) Preparation of field notes and plan therefrom. (10) Town planning. Oral and Practical — (11) Field practice. (12) Adjustment and use. of instruments. (13) Practical field astronomy. (14) Practical levelling. Besides these papers each candidate must submit, with his application for examination, plans and field notes of five surveys carried out by him, namely — (1) Survey of rural area (not less than 40 acres). (2) Survey of town lots (showing buildings). (3) Engineering survey of a road, railway, or drainage work. (4) Survey of a base-line and connecting triangulation. (5) Topographical survey (not less than 1 square mile). The examination rules provide that the candidate must obtain 60 per cent, of the marks allotted for each subject. Subject to the approval of the Board, certain exemptions can be claimed by the candidate on the production of the equivalent University examination qualifications. At the examination held in September, 1936, set by the West Australian Survey Board, twenty candidates presented themselves for the whole or part of the examination, final passes being granted by the Board to the following : — R. C. Davies (Auckland. W. J. Larkin (Wellington). A. G. Longley (Auckland). At the examination held in March, 1937, set by the New South Wales Survey Board, eighteen candidates presented themselves for the whole or part of the examination, final passes being granted by the Board to the following : — R. Congreve (Wellington). K. 11. Lazarus (Wanganui). S. A. Tetzner (Auckland). Articles of Indenture. —Before a candidate can present himself for examination he must supply evidence of having passed the Matriculation Examination and must be under articles of indenture to a registered surveyor for a period of four years. At the end of two years he may present himself for examination in the first four written subjects. During the year the following cadets were registered under articles of indenture to registered surveyors, namely— C. C. Brebner (Auckland). ' T. McNeight (Westland). R. G. Grant (Otago). R. 11. Logie (Otago). G. McWilliams (Wanganui). C. Thorpe (Auckland).

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