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fords on this road, all of which are good when the rivers are not flooded." This leaves, say, about eleven miles of road to be laid out and formed from Taumaranui to head of proposed navigation to complete communication. John T. Stewabt, Chairman, Wanganui River Trust.

APPENDIX No. 13.

SKETCH OF THE OFFICIAL CAREERS OF MR. J. S. BROWNING, OF MR. H. J. BAKER, AND OF MR. G. W. WILLIAMS (DECEASED), LATE COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS AND CHIEF SURVEYORS OF NELSON, WELLINGTON, AND SOUTHLAND RESPECTIVELY.

Me. J. S. Beowning, late Commissionee op Ceown Lands and Chief Sueveyoe, Nelson. Mr. John S. Browning, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor at Nelson, retired from the public service on the Ist October last after a service of thirty-nine years. Mr. Browning went to India in September, 1844, as a sailor, and in 1856 came to New Zealand as captain of a vessel trading from Australia. He entered the New Zealand Government service in 1857, his first appointment being in the Public Works Department in Canterbury, as Assistant Surveyor and Draftsman. In 1859-61, as Engineer at Timaru, he graded and supervised the construction of and opened for traffic the Timaru-Waimate inland dray-road. In 1862, the Canterbury Public Works Department being broken up, he entered the Survey Department as Assistant Surveyor. In 1863 he gave evidence on a Commission to report on the best means of making Port Lyttelton a safe and commodious harbour ; and a plan which was submitted by him, and afterwards by the Government, to a commission of engineers in England, was recommended with a very slight deviation. That plan was adopted, and the work carried out as it now exists. In consideration of his services the Government gave Mr. Browning an appointment on the Marine Board, and he was appointed Warden of the Ports of Lyttelton, Akaroa, and Timaru, and notified to take up his residence in Lyttelton. It was found, however, that the Marine Boards Bill had been disallowed, and Mr. Browning returned to his duties as Assistant Surveyor. In 1864-65 he was sent to explore the passes of the main range between Canterbury and Westland for road-lines, when gold was discovered on the West Coast. His success here was recognised by his being appointed District Surveyor on the West Coast, with nine or ten assistant surveyors,.and he supervised the initial survey operations among some thousands of miners who rushed to the coast. In 1876 Mr. Browning received the appointment of Chief Surveyor from the Nelson Provincial Council, and when the provinces were abolished he carried out the present General Government system of survey organized by the late Mr. Thomson. He also assisted in the astronomical work necessary in laying down the true meridian required in the Nelson circuits as Geodesical Surveyor. In 1891 Mr. Greenfield was appointed Magistrate and Warden, and Mr. Browning took over his work as Commissioner of Crown Lands; and he has continued to fulfil the duties of Commissioner and Chief Surveyor up to his retirement. Me. H. J. Bakes, late Commissionee of Ceown Lands, and Assistant Sueveyoe - Geneeal, Wellington. Mr. Baker commenced his official career as a cadet in the Provincial Government Service of Canterbury in January, 1858. After serving in that capacity for three years, he was appointed Assistant Surveyor on the Southland staff in May, 1862. In June, 1865, he was appointed Chief Surveyor of that district, and retained that position until the union of Otago and Southland, when he was appointed Inspecting Surveyor of the same district. In January, 1877, on the abolition of provinces, he was selected by Mr. J. T. Thomson, who was then organizing the various provincial departments into one service, to be Chief Surveyor of Canterbury. In 1884 Mr. Baker also took over the duties of Commissioner of Crown Lands of the same district. In 1891 he was transferred to the Wellington District in the same capacity, and on the Ist March, 1892, he was appointed Assistant Surveyor-General, whilst still retaining the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wellington District. Owing to failing health he retired from the service in June, 1896, after a service of thirty-seven years. Me. Geoege Watkyn Williams (deceased), late Commissionee of Ceown Lands and Chief Sueveyoe foe Southland. Mr. Williams joined the General Government Survey Department in Auckland in 1862, and in 1865 he was despatched to Taranaki to assist in surveying the military settlements in that province. In April, 1866, he went to the Patea district and aided in the survey of the military settlements there, a work which was accomplished under exceptional difficulties and dangers, owing to the hostile attitude of the Natives, through which the surveyors engaged had several narrow escapes of losing their lives. On the termination of this work Mr. Williams paid a visit to the Old Country, and on his return to the colony went into business as a mining agent at the Thames. He re-entered the service in 1871 as District Surveyor at Patea. Subsequent to 1874 he was appointed Inspector of Surveys under the Native Land Court Act for the Wellington District. Whilst holding that office he accompanied the late Major-General Scratchley when surveying the different sites chosen by him for the permanent defences of the colony. He was next removed to Auckland as Field Inspector; and in May, 1887, he was appointed Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for Hawke's Bay. In 1891 he was transferred to Invercargill in the same capacity. He died suddenly on the 3rd November, 1896, after a faithful service of thirty years.

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