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Surveyor is appointed, as che inspections* surveys, and supervision of over a hundred different roadworks, scattered over 280 miles, demand much time and close attention. Mr. Douglas will continue his explorations and delineation of coastal country at present terra incognita. On the 31st December last Mr. J. N. Smyth " passed ahead," and the Department lost one of its most conscientious servants. He was connected with the survey of Westland almost from its inception, and experienced for many years all the discomforts connected with the pioneer work of this rough, wild country, through which he was especially skilful in piloting roads. Ever eager to push on with his work, he returned to field-duty before he had recovered from an attack of influenza, and in a few days died from a relapse. When the "Lives of the Surveyors" is written, the name of this soldierly surveyor will stand high on the list. G. J. Roberts, Chief Surveyor.

CANTEEBUEY. Rural and Suburban Surveys.— An area of 19,871 acres is returned as completed work, divided into 131 sections, at l'22s. per acre. The surveys include 18,582 acres of land acquired for settlement, of which area Mr. Broderick surveyed 4,668 acres comprised in the Puhuka Hamlet, and in the Eccleston, Maytown, Baincliff, and Eapuwai Settlements. Mr. McClure prepared the subdivision scheme of the Lyndon No. 2 Settlement, surveyed 10,000 acres, arranged the adjustment of boundaries with the abutting freeholders, and took general supervision of the field-work, Mr. Mathias assisting and surveying the northern portion : the plan of the latter not being completed, the area is carried forward to next year. Mr. Mathias takes credit for 3,914 acres, 50 acres comprising the Kapuatohe Hamlet surveyed this year, and 3,864 acres included in the Kohika Settlement: the fieldwork of the latter was finished during February of 1901. The balance of the total area, 1,289 acres, comprises scattered surveys done by Messrs. Broderick and Mathias of rural sections, reserves, mining, river-bed, and half-caste lands. Town Section Survey. —The only survey under this heading was done by Mr. McClure, being the subdivision of the acquired block of land, part of Bural Section 98, situated to the south of Sydenham, now known as the Tarawahi Hamlet. Road Surveys. —Mr. Brodrick graded and made an engineering survey of the road to be formed through the Pareora No. 2 Settlement, 1 mile 38 chains, and through the Puhuka Hamlet, 28 chains in length; Mr. McClure, 54-J- chains through the Tarawahi Hamlet, and 2| miles of roads through the Lyndon No. 1 Settlement; and Mr. Mathias surveyed 60 chains of new roads to be exchanged for old roads near Lake Ellesmere for the benefit of Crown tenants. Other Work. —The expenditure of £503 ss. 2d. represents the cost of miscellaneous surveys and other duties performed by the surveyors, the principal items being as follows : Mr. Broderick— Bepairing and restoring trig, stations in the Waimate District; surveys and attending the Courts in connection with civil and police cases ; lowering standard stones, and marking off the buildingline for the Customhouse in the Borough of Timaru ; inspecting various bridges and supervising road, drainage, and other works in the South Canterbury settlements; inspecting Mount Cook Road ; marking off tracks for formation up the glaciers, and supervising the restoration of the Hooker Bridge ; defining position of proposed bridge across the Tasman Eiver, and reporting re shortening the route to The Hermitage, &c. Mr. McClure—Survey and report on the drainage of the dairy factory at Cheviot and encroachment of shingle on sections; further survey in connection with access to Mrs. Vanstone's land, Pigeon Bay; survey and attending Supreme Court re the Eyreton murder case; inspecting the Waipara-Cheviot Road contracts; supervising the removal of obstructions from the Tarawahi Hamlet streets ; shingling part of Mackworth Street, Tamai Hamlet; lowering survey-stone 162 in Selwyn Street, Sydenham, &c. Mr. Mathias— Inspected and checked the Land Transfer survey of part of the Eaincliff Estate ; inspecting and reporting on settlement lands offered for sale to the Crown, and on the drainage of the Eoimata Settlement; inspecting and reporting on various roads in the North Canterbury District, &c. Arrears of Mapping. —The completed field-work, not mapped, nor as yet returned, consists of the Kaimahi Settlement, extension of the Hanmer Springs Township, and the northern portion of the Lyndon No .2 Settlement, a total area of about 6,085 acres; and 11 miles 35 chains of standard traverse survey in the Christchurch and Timaru suburbs, the cost chargeable against which at the present date being £548 15s. It is anticipated that the whole of this mapping will be finished in about two months' time, with the exception of that of the standard traverse. Land Transfer Work. —Mr. D. H. Monro, a zealous officer of twenty-eight and a half years' service, twenty-two and a half years of it in charge of the Land Transfer Branch, died, I regret to say, on the 28th of July last, after a brief illness of one week. His successor, Mr. Davis, who took charge on the 23rd of the following month, reports that the number of plans and instruments of title dealt with during the year exceed those of the previous one by about 10 per cent. ; but that, by the able and willing assistance rendered by his assistants in that branch, he has been enabled to bring the records and current work up to date. I have arranged for Mr. Davis to undertake occasional field inspections of Land Transfer surveys, which he will be able to perform without interference with his other duties. I notice in his report that he speaks in the highest terms of the work done by his predecessor, whose demise was without question a great loss to the service. The work done during the year includes 263 plans deposited and checked; 1,098 deeds and other instruments examined as to areas and descriptions, and passed or reported on to the Eegistrar as found necessary ; plans placed on forty-three single copies of certificates of title, on 1,509 in duplicate and on 100 in triplicate, making a total of 3,361 plans drawn on certificates, of which number 1,579 copies were done by contract. There were also six miscellaneous plans compiled.

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