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ngaroa County, 2,900 acres; Bay of Islands County, 49,000 acres, including 24,000 acres national endowment; Hokianga County, 17,000 acres, including 11,000 acres national endowment; Hobson County, 1,000 acres, national endowment; Whangarei County, 6,200 acres, including 3,800 acres national endowment; Otamatea County, 5,100 acres, including 3,200 acres national endowment; and 1,400 acres, balance Bickerstafie Settlement; Rodney County, 1,100 acres; Waitemata, 6,600 acres, including 1,700 acres national endowment; Kawhia County, 21,000 acres; Awakino County, 8,000 acres; West Taupo, 30,000 acres; Waitomo County, 13,800 acres; Waikato County, 7,800 acres, including 6,400 acres national endowment; Ohinemuri County, 8,800 acres; Tauranga County, 8,000 acres, comprising 3,000 acres national endowment and 5,000 acres land for settlement; Matamata County, 20,300 acres, including 2,300 acres national endowment; Rotorua County, 10,000 acres; East Taupo, 4,600 acres, including 3,000 acres national endowment; Whakatane County, 3,000 acres; Opotiki County, 52,000 acres, including 20,000 national endowment. Accounts. —Mr. David Smith, Accountant, reports that the number of vouchers which passed through the books for the year amounted to 3,061, for an expenditure of £85,498 19s. sd. 2,404 vouchers, representing an expenditure of £49,545 12s. 6d., were paid from Imprest Account by 2,876 cheques; while 657 vouchers, for an expenditure of £35,953 6s. lid., were sent to Wellington for payment direct from the Treasury. On Official- Account 1,229 cheques were issued for an expenditure of £16,626 3s. lOd. Under the Public Works Fund advances amounting to £2,740 17s. 3d. were made to the settlers on improved-farm settlements, while £1,085 2s. Bd. was expended on the purchase of stock for the settlers. Transfers, &c. —The field staff has been augmented by means of transfer and new appointments by eleven officers. Mr. R. S. Galbraith, Inspecting Surveyor, was promoted to be Chief Draughtsman at Invercargill. Five draughtsmen resigned and eight new appointments were made, being a net increase of three. Five draughting cadets were also appointed. Conclusion. —The work passing through the office still shows an increase, and it is very difficult to keep the current work sjoing and. also satisfy the public on the present staff. The increased volume of w r ork in field and office can only be met by additional draughtsmen, which are urgently required, and the question of the increased accommodation necessary is also brought under your consideration, I have to thank the officers, both field and office, for their unremitting efforts during the year, which has been an exceedingly arduous one. 11. M. Skeet, Chief Surveyor.

HAWKE'S BAY. Minor Triangulation. —An area of 56,823 acres of this class of work was executed during the year for the purpose of controlling sectional surveys. Owing to the stress of work surveying land for settlement, it has been impossible to execute any more of this class of work than was absolutely necessary, although the triangulation in this district is in a bad state, and requires a thorough revision to bring the triangulation in various parts of the district executed on different units of measurements into unison, and to agree with the Imperial standard. Topographical Survey for Selection. —Although nothing has been returned under this heading, a good deal of preliminary topographical work was done on the Sherenden and Waihau Settlements in order to provide a scheme of roading and subdivision for approval before the execution of the final survey, the cost of which will be included in the sectional survey. Rural. —The work executed during the year consisted principally of four blocks situated in the Survey Districts of Takapau, Patoka, Tutamoe, Runanga, Heruiwi, Porangahau, and Tautane, and comprised an area of 70,098 acres, at an average cost of o'BB of a shilling per acre. Of this area, 57,035 acres was executed by contract surveyors, at an average cost of o'B2 of a shilling per acre; while the balance of 13,063 acres was executed by contract surveyors, at an average cost of Tlss. per acre. Included in the 57,035 acres is an area of 50,683 acres representing the Pohokura Block, situated in the Runanga and Heruiwi Survey Districts, and surveyed by Mr. 11. E. Walshe. Ihis block, lies in the Auckland Land District, and though surveyed by one of the Hawke's Bay sjaff on account of its being more easily worked from this district, it has to be returned in the table for the former district. This leaves the total portion for the Hawke's Bay District to stand at 19,415 acres, at an average cost of L73s. per acre. The 4,900 acres surveyed by Mr. J. Roddick is a subdivision of two small grazing-runs.. Town Surveys. —Only 231 acres was executed under this heading, in eight lots, at a cost of 103525. per acre. Village and Suburban. —Ninety-five lots were laid off, containing 3913 acres, at a cost of 77985. per acre. Native Land Surveys. —The total area surveyed by the staff was 14,91356 acres, at a cost of 20'53d. per acre, in 58 subdivisions, all in small lots with the exception of Tutaekuri No. 1, 12,500 acres (Maori Land Board subdivisions), in 25 lots, and Kohotea West, 1,598 acres, in 2 subdivisions (Native Land Court). The area surveyed by licensed surveyors was 28,879 acres, at a cost of 24d. per acre, and comprised 28,847 acres for Native Land Court and 32 acres for Maori Land Board. Roads. —A length of 17*90 miles was surveyed under this class, nearly all in short lengths, to gives access to blocks being subdivided; average cost, £18"81 per mile. Other Work. —Nearly half this amount was incurred in the Gisborne office as general departmental work; the balance consists of miscellaneous duties, such .as minor surveys, inspections, reports, &c.