21

a—4

excellent specimen of lithography. The projection is the polyconic—the middle line being the meridian of 172° 30' E, and the two maps will be of the same size. The scale and form have been adapted to the size of the steam litho. machine, in order that great numbers may be printed quickly. Messrs. Kemp and McCardell have been engaged chiefly on 1-mile district maps of Marlborough, Nelson, and Canterbury. Nelson and Marlborough have been completed, and the maps are capable of being joined into a complete map of that part of the Middle Island. When engaged on the compilation of the map of the Middle Island now being drawn on stone, it was found that the existing maps, compiled from Admiralty charts, showed the position of the West Coast about the Steeples to be drawn about 6' of longitude too far east. The maps of land advertised for sale during the past year have been printed in colours, denoting the various modes of disposal, and they seem to have answered the purpose of bringing each class of land clearly before the public very well. The work done in the Photographic Gallery and in the Litho. Printing Office has not been so great as last year, and consequently two printers have been dispensed with. In the Record Office the work done is partially represented by the statement that 7,341 letters were received and despatched during the year. This office and that of the Accountant's have had their duties increased by the correspondence and accounts of the expenditure undertaken to open up lands for sale by means of the construction of roads, &c. Payments on this account to the amount of £32,580 3s. 10d. have been passed during the year. In January last, in accordance with your instructions, I visited the Chatham Islands, and reported on certain disputes as to roads, and generally as to the state of the country. The islands contain about 192,000 acres, and of this probably 45,000 acres are in the hands of Europeans, but the Crown does not possess in freehold a single acre there. Wool is the principal production; the extent-of agricultural land does not, I believe, exceed 20,000 acres. The action now being taken by Parliament will stimulate the progress of the community; and if the Natives can be induced to sell their lands for settlement, or even give fixed leases, the prosperity of the islands would be greatly increased. At present, being followers of Te Whiti, the Maoris do not deal with their possessions in any form. A. Barron, Office Surveyor.

Lithographic Printing executed from July, 1880, to June, 1881.

Maps mounted, Tarious sizes, from 18 in. x 18 in. to 6 ft. x 6 ft., 1,370. "Woek on hand 30th June, 1881, 21 plans, in 38 colours, giving 17,370 impressions and 29,920 pulls.

Photographs.

Woek ON hand 30th June, 1881, 7 plans, 9 plates 16 in, x 16 in

Department. No. of Separate Printings. No. of Impressions By By Hand. Machine. Department. No. of Separate Printings. No. of Impressions By By Hand. Machine. Public Works ... Surrey Telegraph Geological Native Customs Railway Registrar-General Property-tax Marine Annuities Education Justice 22y 374 39 24 26 48 15 18 33.914 33.523 10,000 7,100 2.255 2,960 2,725 1,105 i,530 940 2,400 5,87O 3,935 136,780 102,775 9,900 35)335 Patent Treasury Printing Architect Inspector of Prisons Defence Exhibition Commissioners Legislative Council Colonial Secretary Crown Lauds ... 11 \3 3 4 1 i>45° i,495 435 200 3° 250 300 5° 1,002 205 3,600 1 3 10 8 63 56 1.15° 2,200 1 1 '7 4 967 Totals ... "3.734 291,740

No. of Plates Taken during the Year. No. of Plates Taken during the Year. Survey ... 3 ublic Works 'atent ... telegraph Marine ... JoTernment Printer 121 80 8 Eailway Customs 1 '3 '9 2 1 12 Total Ferrocyanide prints Silver ,, 257 41 1,083 luseum