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tion, having passed in some of the subjects previously. At the March sitting ten candidates presented themselves, and of these four completed. The papers for the September examination were set by the New Zealand Board, while those for the March examination were set by the Tasmanian Board. Revised examination regulations were gazetted on the 7th August, 1913, and copies are available for distribution. The Board records with regret the deaths of the following surveyors reported during the year : James Orme Barnard, Auckland; Percy Bedlington, Whangarei; William Lowthian Forster, Auckland; Archibald Campbell Turner, Tauranga; Edwin James Campion, Gisborne; Captain James Dudley R. Hewitt, Palmerston North; George Mackenzie, Queenstown; William Archer Nalder, Briglitwater. Tidal Survey. During the year the work of tide-predicting has been carried on under the direction of Mr. C. E. Adams, Chief Computer. This work has comprised the predictions from the harmonic tidal constants already obtained of the times of high and low water for the ports of Auckland and Wellington, and the obtaining of the harmonic constants for Dunedin from an harmonic analysis of the hourly ordinates of the automatic tide-gauge records at that port." This work has kept two assistants going steadily. In addition to the principal calculations a considerable amount of check-computation work has been done to ensure accuracy, and the final predictions have repeatedly been checked by comparison with the latest available tide-gauge records, the results being most satisfactory and testifying to the care and accuracy with which the computations have been made. A full report by Mr. Adams will be found among the appendices, in which report he gives a schedule of the harmonic tidal constants for Dunedin from hourly ordinates during the year Ist July, 1911, to 30th June, 1912. In the report will also be found a reference to a tidepredicting machine on the designing of which Mr. Adams, in conjunction with Mr. W. S. La Trobe, M.A., has spent considerable time. Magnetic Observatory. Under the direction of Mr. H. Skey the work of the Magnetic Observatory at Christchurch has been carried on with the usual efficiency. During the year, in addition to the routine work, a large amount of data from past observations has been put into form for publication. The Milne seismograph No. 16 has been kept in continuous operation, and has recorded seventy-four earth-movements. The Adie mugnetographs have also been in almost constant and meteorological observations have been made and published daily. Among the appendices will be found Mr. Skey's report, illustrated by diagrams, which contains deductions as to the times of maxima and minima of declination and horizontal force and other matter very interesting to the student of earth magnetism. Hector Observatory. The principal work carried on at this observatory is the observing for, recording, and signalling the standard time for the Dominion. Though .the observatory is under the control of the Department of Internal Affairs, this important work has been carried on by Mr. C. E. Adams, Chief Computer in this office, who also fills the position of Government Astronomer, and who takes a very keen interest in the work. Under his direction also computations have been made in respect of pendulum-work, longitude of base stations, and time-signalling in connection with the Antarctic Expedition under the late Captain Scott. Conclusion. As I did not take up my present position as Surveyor-General till after the end of the financial year under review I have not entered into detail in this report. The usual full reports from the Chief Surveyors, Chief Computer (tidal survey, &c), Director of the Magnetic Observatory, and others, with illustrative diagrams and tables, will be found as appendices. My predecessor in this office, Mr. James Mackenzie, now Under-Secretary, who controlled the surveys of the Dominion for the period reported on, desires, on moving on to his higher office as head of this Department, to record his appreciation of the loyal and valuable support he received from both indoor and outdoor officers of the Department during the two years he held the position, and also wishes to thank the private members of the profession for their hearty co-operation during his term of office. E. H. Wilmot, Surveyor-General.