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direct same so as to fulfil conditions considered necessary in the public interests. The only way in which subdivisions of private towns come under the notice of the Department is when the plans are submitted for examination and approval in the Land Transfer branch, or when such plan is submitted for the approval of His Excellency the Governor, in terms of section 18 of " The Land Act, 1892." It has frequently occurred that this step has not been taken by the owners until the surveys have been completed and, in some instances, the lands offered for sale and disposed of. The Department has stood for the public interests, and used the limited powers provided by statute to insure reasonable compliance by private owners in this respect. It is not desirable that private persons should claim the right to add house to house and street to street in a haphazard manner, and increase the innumerable examples of the disastrous effects of such a method of extending existing cities and towns. It seems desirable that Government and municipal authorities should have a greater control in the matter. The following, amongst other considerations, apply to the designing and subdivision of town lands; but, of course, all cannot be applied to private lands. As far as possible it should be insisted upon that the streets are all well arranged and devised so as to fit in with the contiguous and surrounding present and future streets; no jogs or breaks in continuity, and no unnecessary or blind streets to be allowed, or extensive blocks without cross-streets ; while the main thoroughfares should be of extra width, to correspond with the requirements of through traffic, including tramways. There are many other requirements which cannot at the present time be applied in the case of freehold lands ; and the most essential of all— the choice of a site on account of its situation, geological formation, and suitability from the points of view of salubrity, drainage, lighting, water-supply, facility of communication, public convenience, &c. —hardly enters into the questions applicable to private towns. Nor does it seem possible at the present time to provide reserves for recreation, public buildings, and other purposes, or to leave open spaces about important centres, junctions of the main thoroughfares, or fronting the Government and municipal buildings. If these views meet with approval, it will be necessary to obtain additional legislative power to give effect to them. Miscellaneous. Several special surveys were put in hand during the past season —namely, (1.) That of the Piako Swamp, which the surveyors of the Roads and Survey Departments are jointly engaged upon with a view to obtaining full information regarding the character, quality, and capability of the lands, the practicability of fending off floods, and the carrying-out of a systematic system of drainage in order that the land may be ultimately made available for settlement, cultivation, and grazing purposes. (2.) A block of 8,000 acres was selected, surveyed, and allotted amongst troopers who took part in the South African war. (3.) Several blocks of land were set aside, and intrusted to surveyors for subdivision, to provide holdings under the improved-farm system for co-operative labourers engaged upon the North Island Main Trunk Railway and contiguous road-works. (4.) Another special survey comprised Kapiti Island, set aside under " The Kapiti Island Public Reserve Act, 1897," in order to furnish a topographical map and complete information to enable the intention of the Act to be given effect to. (5.) Waterfalls and rivers for the generation of electrical power ; In compliance with instructions, all procurable information regarding rapid-running rivers and the waterfalls of the colony was furnished by the field surveyors of this Department and forwarded for the information of the Government. The subject has been referred to the Public Works Department, in order that fuller information may be obtained for submission, it is understood, to electrical experts. In the meantime the Chief Draughtsman is preparing a plan showing the watersheds of the principal rivers, and also the positions of the chief waterfalls. Inspection of Surveys. Particular stress was laid upon this important duty in last year's report, and the Chief Surveyors were instructed to insure that it was duly attended to. The Auckland District Inspector (Mr. L. Cussen) reports upon four inspections, involving twenty-eight diagrams, which have reached the Head Office, showing that three surveyors' work was satisfactory, whilst that of the fourth had to be revised. Fourteen inspections were effected in Hawke's Bay ; the reports and details of five have been received, and indicate careful work.

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