C—l.

are scattered about, and often in very inaccessible localities, which cause the surveyor to make long journeys to overtake them at different times. They cannot bo compared, as to cost, with any block surveys, and yet they are of very great importance to the gold-miner, as defining in a legal manner the ground which he can hold as his own in searching for tho rich deposits of gold or gold-bearing quartz which he has previously prospected. Boad, Bailway, and Water-race Surveys. —Of this class of work a total of 37-J miles has been surveyed, at a cost of £9 9s. 6d. per mile. This includes 3J- miles of an engineering survey by Mr. Strauchon of the extension of tho Tokanui Gorge road towards Waikawa Harbour, and live miles done by Mr. Wihnot to open up Crown lands for settlement at the head of Lake Wakatipu. There are also 21-J miles of water-races included in these totals. Bun-Improvement Valuations, do. —The valuation of improvements on runs took three surveyors about a month each in the middle of summer, being the time when they could be least spared from triangulation on hand. This, together with reporting on pastoral deferred-payment sections and other Crown lands office work, was done at a cost of £230 7s. Bd. Other Work.- —This includes a survey for tho Marine Department of a lighthouse site at Waipapapa Point, a considerable amount of work for the Wardens in the district offices, and of work for the Colonial Secretary's Office, the Defence Department, Native Department, and Tuapeka County Council. Survey Parties and Inspection. —As previously stated, twelve survey parties have been at work and one private party during the year. Sixteen inspections of parties and offices have been made by me, and four checks on iield-work have been sent to the Head Office. The surveyors generally have been careful and efficient in their work, the pegging and the grading of roads being well attended to. Several surveyors have had to shift long distances to new work, and three of them have been transferred to other districts. As a rule, the maps sent in by the surveyors are neatly drawn, the best being those of Messrs. Strauchon and Langrauir. Mr. Cadet Calder continues to improve his drawing, and produces exceedingly creditable plans. Mr. McLean's office at Lawrence is distinguished by tho very systematic and neat arrangement of its plans and records. Dunedin Office Work.- —The returns of work put through this office for the past year by Mr. Skey and the staff of assistants is not much short of that of the previous year, and all have made fair progress in tho amount and stylo of work turned out. We have still some arrears to make up, including the drawing of new copies of such Crown record-maps as have been very much damaged by being handled for many years by the public. There will also be the making of Land Transfer index-maps this year. Mr. Skey, Chief Draughtsman, has prepared and passed 72 Crown grants, 266 certificates of title, 135 perpetual leases in triplicate, 189 pastoral licenses in duplicate, 130 deferred-payment licenses in duplicate, and 43 occupation licenses in duplicate. Mr. Thompson has checked and passed 128 plans sent in by the staff, 50 road and railway plans, 35 agricultural leases, and 54 gold-mining leases. Mr. Browne has prepared and recorded in duplicate 58 mining leases, 37 agricultural leases, 5 exchange leases, and 10 miscellaneous leases, in addition to the usual routine work of compiling, &c. Mr. Wadie has done all the work connected with the new run maps and preparation of plans for licenses, besides other duties. In the Eoad Office Mr. Fynmore has recorded 55 new roads and roads to be closed on working plans, on road district and county maps, reported on 41 road matters, taken out areas of new roads and railways, and prepared tracings and examined maps in connection with lithographs being prepared at Head Office. Mr. Euncie, the Accountant, has received and entered 310 plans, copied 884 vouchers, and recorded 4,550 letters and reports, besides attending to all the ordinary correspondence and keeping accounts, &c. A considerable part of my own time this year was devoted to valuations for the Property-Tax Department, along with the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Land Transfer Work.—ln this branch of office-work Mr. Thompson has checked and passed 45 plans, Messrs. Treseder and Mackay 92 applications, 1,393 transfers, 992 mortgages in duplicate, 1,194 draft certificates, 88 leases in duplicate, 907 plans put on certificates in duplicate. Besides these, Mr. Treseder has had a great part of his time engaged in searches, and work in connection with these, for the information and guidance of the District Land Registrar. Lithographic Branch. —Mr. Percival has reduced and lithographed 51 block-maps and 2 photolithographs, from which 13,710 copies have been printed, besides numerous circulars or forms. Mr. Ross, Lithographic Printer, has printed from 53 block-maps transfers, 2 of which were photolithographs, 13,710 copies, also 3,000 forms. The photo-lithographs are produced by Mr. Ross at his private studio, and are very successful works of art; indeed they leave nothing more to be desired. Besides other duties, Mr. Bain has mounted 440 maps. Proposed Operations for 1884-85. —A number of blocks still remain to be laid off in sections of the areas reserved out of runs lying in Kawarau, Lower Wanaka, Blackstone, Maniototo, Teviot, Benger, and Waikawa districts. These will be overtaken by the ordinary staff. Spotting surveys and mining claims also continue to accumulate from time to time, and there are a good many on hand at present. In tho work of triangulation, Rockyside and Lome maps have to come in, and in the Hawkdun district the unfinished work, which has been interrupted by winter, will bo completed by Mr. Barron. As a preliminary to the future triangulation of the Tautuku Bush, I would suggest that an exploration be made this year round the mountain-tops on the north side of the bush, where trig, stations have been established, and continued by boat from Port Molyneux round to Waikawa Harbour. By this means a rough map may be got ready, which would be of great use, and much information coulcFbe got as to the quality of the bush, the soil, .and open land (if any), as well as regards-the possibility of tJpenmg up the country by roads or bush-fram ways. I should also be glad to have more exploration sanctioned to the west of the Te Anau Lake, similar to Mr. Hay's modo further south during last year. I feel sure, from conversations I have had with explorers about the Te Anau, that a fairly good road can be found either to George, Caswell, or Bradshaw Sounds, while the distance does not exceed twelve miles. W. Abthub, Chief Surveyor.

45