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Office-work, dec. —The Chief Draughtsman reports as follows: The number of plane checked during the year was 45, comprising 65 sections, embracing an area of 10,726 acres; miles of mads taken and closed, and 1J miles of railway land plans, besides 8 sheets of subtriangulation and other miscellaneous computations. In the early part of the year some assistance was rendered to the Head Office by the preparation here of a large drawing of the mountains of the South Island. This, with a similar map of the North Island already forwarded, was done to enable the Bead Office to republish the standard map of the Dominion. Some work was also added to a map of Thames County, for photo-lithographing early in the year. lam pleased to state that additions liave been made to the number of Land Transfer record-maps of this office, two of the larger survey districts having been compiled, and three ''hundred" maps —viz., Oreti, Aparima, and Jacob's River. All the surreys that have passed through the local Transfer Office during the last decade and earlier are now fully recorded on these maps, which greatly assists the work of this office. ll would appear that in the past this work has been in some way retarded, while the surveys under the Land Transfer system passing through this office have largely increased in number, and 1 triisi that opportunity will be found in the work of the oiliee during the coining year to extend the preparation of these maps. There were 49 lithographic tracings for sale-plans made, 195 workingtracings for surveyors and others, and 249 miscellaneous tracings; 74 Land Transfer deposited plans were traced for the Valuation Department; investigations were made into areas and number of persons in the landless Native blocks, and proof-sheets of them were compared with original lists. Other work consisted of compiling maps and lists of sawmill areas held, preparation <>! return of all reserves in the district, taking measurements, preparing plans, and attending Supreme Court and Magistrates' Court in connection with various cases. A new index for roads taken and closed was procured, and considerable progress has been made in recording therein particulars of road transactions. This work has involved a good deal of searching and investigation of titles in the Deeds Office, but the results obtained well repay the time spent in obtaining this information. There were 23 schedules in duplicate prepared for expenditure of "thirds" by local bodies. Diagrams were drawn as follows: Crown leases, 134 in quadruplicate, 59 in triplicate, I' l in duplicate. 26 single copies; certificates in lieu of grants, 93 in triplicate; 170 lithographs and plans were mounted, and diagrams drawn on 19 Native Land Court orders in duplicate. One new record-map and 3 new application maps were compiled. E. H. Wilmot, Chief Surveyor.