C.—lA.

Field Inspections.—A number of field inspections were carried out during the year, and generally the standard of surveys inspected was quite good. In one or two cases, however, the standard of work was definitely poor, and the surveyors concerned were called upon to correct their work. As, however, it has been possible only to inspect surveys the quality of which was regarded as doubtful, on examination of the plan the percentage of poor work was not unduly high. In the coming year I hope to carry out more frequent inspections, as it would appear that periodical inspection of surveyors' work has a good effect on the quality. Survey Operations for the Coming Year. —It would appear that the present staff will be fully engaged during the coming year and that it will be impossible to undertake many desirable surveys owing to the amount of current work in hand. My thanks are due to the field staff for the keen and efficient manner in which they have carried out their duties during the past year, which has been a most strenuous one for the whole staff. Office Work. The present staff consists of seventy-four at District Office and thirteen at Land Transfer Office The return of office-work shows some increase on the work of the past year. I have to report as follows on the various branches of the office. Plan-examination Branch, Land Transfer Office. —The work of this branch has been considerably in arrear for most of the year, but appears to be more up to date at present. This is no doubt due to the increased experience of several officers recently transferred to that branch. Examination Branch, District Office. —Here, again, the work of the branch has been in arrear for most of the year owing to shortage of staff and the inclusion in the staff of the branch of a number of officers without previous experience there. Arrears of work, however, are being slowly overtaken. The work of this branch has proved increasingly difficult during the year owing to the intricacy of many road-deviation surveys and the indifferent quality of many early surveys, which new surveys must respect. Native Branch .—Again the staff of this branch has been fully engaged, principally on investigation in connection with petitions. The position has been much relieved by the transfer of Mr. P. B. Wright from Gisborne to this office, permitting the officer in charge, Mr. 0. A. Darby, to devote almost the whole of his time to Native investigation. Mapping Branch. —The staff of this branch has been again reduced, officers being transferred to other branches to cope with the current pressure of work. Two officers of this branch are engaged wholly on work for the Valuation Department—one on loan to the local Valuation office and the other fully engaged in this office. The Valuation maps for the Whangarei County were prepared during the year by this branch. Working-plan Branch. —The work of this branch has been very considerable during the year, a large amount of data being prepared for the Housing Department, while almost all staff surveyors' plans have been drawn by the branch. A number of officers are gaining experience in this branch, which naturally affects the efficiency. General Draughting Branch. —Again this year it has been impossible to detail an officer of some seniority to assist in this branch, the staff consisting mostly of junior officers amd cadets. Again the work of this branch shows an increase. Staff. It is with regret that I have to record the loss by death of Mr. S. T. P. Kennerley, a most promising officer. In conclusion, I wish to place on record my appreciation of the services of the whole of the staff, both field and office, for the loyal and efficient manner in which they have carried out their duties during a most difficult year.

GISBORNE LAND DISTRICT. (J. S. Stkawbridge, Chief Surveyor.) Fibld-WOBK. The year has been a favourable one for survey work. A comparison with the previous year shows a slight decrease in land-transfer and Native surveys, which has been compensated for by an increase in rural surveys and in surveys of land to be taken for roads and other public purposes. The increase in the last-mentioned class of survey is expected to be maintained during the present year, as a number of road-deviation surveys are in hand and the survey of the Gisborne section of the Gisborne-Napier Railway was commenced in the latter part of the year under review. Triangulation Surveys.—The third-order triangulation covering the Poverty Bay flats and surrounding country was completed early in the year. An area of 410 square miles was covered at a cost of 14-635. per square mile. Standard Surveys. —During the year the rural standard traverse over the Poverty Bay flats was extended a further 22§ miles, making a total of 56| miles completed to date. This work is being carried out during intervening periods between more urgent surveys. It is now nearing completion, as only 7 miles remain to be traversed. Rural Surveys. —The work dealt with under this heading consisted of a number of small surveys in various parts of the district. Altogether an area of 3,785 acres was subdivided into thirteen sections at a cost of Is. Id. per acre.

5