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survey of this necessitated, practically, a resurvey of about 4,000 acres of old work contained inside of the selection. The remainder of the work was distributed over the south, extending from Hokitika to Okuru, a distance of upwards of 190 miles. The extreme distance to be travelled in overtaking this class of work adds greatly to the acreage cost. Town Section Survey. —The only work in progress under this heading was the standard survey of Greymouth by Mr. Lord. During the greater part of the year he has been engaged in carrying out this work, which has now 7 been completed on the ground, subject to further inspection. This will prove a great benefit to the Corporation of Greymouth, and will be a guarantee of future accuracy in land-transfer surveys. Gold-mining Surveys, —The area surveyed for mining purposes was even more limited than that of last year, only five licensed holdings and special claims having been taken up during the period. All the best ground has been secured in the old fields, and until a fresh development takes place there will be only a limited number of areas of this class taken up. The English syndicate referred to in my last report has so far done nothing towards the development of the large area granted to it during the previous year. Boad Surveys. —The principal work carried out in connection with roads was the survey of a new line from the main road near Stafford to the proposed Waimea Eailway-station. This road will give direct access to the railway to the residents of that locality. The remainder of the road surveys do not call for any remark, as they were merely portions of deviations and road-traverses. In reference to the several proposed routes and tracks in the Karangarua Valley and towards the " Hermitage," I would refer you to Mr. Harper's report. (See Appendix No. 6, " Explorations.") Proposed Operations for 1895-96. —1 propose that Mr. Murray continue as long as possible at the revision of the old magnetic surveys, as until these have been overtaken they will prove a constant source of worry and expense. Mr. Wilson is now engaged in redefining the positions of sections lately taken up for settlement at Okuru. These sections were surveyed many years ago, and before the adoption of the more modern system of survey, hence they are less accurate than newer work; while the pegging, which was also carried out on a different method then, has practically disappeared. The settlers who now take up the land naturally require their boundaries redefined, so that what amounts to the cost of a new survey has to be again undertaken. I mention this for the purpose of showing that our limited staff can be fully employed for years at revision work, although there may appear to be a very limited turnout of new surveys. I strongly advocate the prosecution of this work as much as possible, and principally for the purpose of giving accurate certificates of title. I need hardly add that if the Midland Eailway Company reservation were removed our surveyors would have to leave revision work to overtake the applications likely to bo made. Explorations, &c. —Mr. Douglas, who has been carrying on this work for some time along with Mr. Harper, has become incapacitated from doing any walking by a severe attack of rheumatism. I regret this very much, both for the work and himself. Mr. Douglas is a born explorer, and has, I understand, undergone extreme privation in carrying out his duties. He is a man considerably beyond the aveiage. His attainments as a botanist and geologist would have placed him in a much better position were it not for his retiring habits. For twenty years he has led the life of an enthusiastic explorer, and is undoubtedly the first bushman on the coast. He has frequently gone for months, without cutting a track, or the assistance of a comrade, up the untrodden denselytimbered inland valleys of Westland, traversing the rivers and streams, scaling peaks, determining geological features, patiently tracing mineral belts, making sketches of the scenery, and afterwards sending up plain good maps, replete with information of the greatest interest and importance. He is most painstaking in his work, and his reconnaissance surveys, when afterwards checked by the positions of peaks determined by the Westland triangulation, have proved to be remarkably accurate. He conducted the pioneer surveys of the Main South Eoad from Mahitahi to Haast Eivers, when he rendered invaluable help in traversing alternate routes and determining the heights of the numerous saddles, &c, intervening. The topographical and geological survey of the wild inland country from the Kokatahi to Lake McKerrow, the exploration of the coalfields of Paranga and Bullock Creek, the mineral belts of Mount Argentine, and the copper-lodes of the Matakitaki Eange, are all due to his indomitable perseverance. Mr. Harper has also done good work, and his report with the necessary photographs will, I trust, not only find a place in the annual report,* but will also supply a valuable addition to the interesting explorations in connection with Mount Cook. There is certainly no better authority than he on the complete surroundings of this mountain, as seen from all points of view. These photographs should be specially interesting just now, in view of the book, I understand, Mr. Fitzgerald is about to publish, in connection with his travels in that locality. After Mr. Harper has mapped all the data obtained by him and Mr. Douglas, it is not intended to continue these explorations further in the meantime. David Barron, Chief Surveyor.

CANTEBBUBY. Bural and Suburban Surveys.—Mi-. T. N. Brodrick's surveys comprised the definition of areas sold by my predecessor, and situated principally on the Hunters Hills, the Brothers Eange, and Mount Nessing. Mr. G. H. M. McClure's include part of the Cheviot Estate surveyed the previous season, and some scattered surveys in North Canterbury. Mr. L. O. Mathias's also includes the return of his portion of the Cheviot surveys, and an instalment of the surveys now in hand of

* See Appendix, " Explorations."