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O'Reilly, Wellington; C. L. Purdie, Wellington; H. B. Randrup, Auckland; W. Rochfort, Christchurch (Hospital Ship, New Zealand Medical Corps) ; H. L. Wake (cadet), Hawke's Bay (6th Reinforcements); E. H. Whiting (cadet), Wellington (Main Force) ;J. Pegram, Napier; A. 0. M. Sicely, Napier ; J. D. Clapperton (cadet), Auckland; A. D. Folley, Hokitika; T, G. Phillipps, Invercargill. Clerks. —R. W. Cooper, Head Office (Samoan Expeditionary Force and sth Reinforcements) ; W. H. Ellis, Auckland.; C. S. Girdlestone, Wellington (Samoan Expeditionary Force) ; T. J. Lang, Head Office (Sergeant, 2nd Reinforcements); W. B. Quennell, Otago; H. P. Seeker (cadet), Head Office (Signal Corps, Main Force) ; W. N. Sievers, Wellington (Samoan Expeditionary Force and Sergeant, 6th Reinforcements). Crown Lands Ranger. —D. M. McDonald, Canterbury (Sergeant, Mounted Regiment, Main Force). Forester. —W. A. Fraser, Tapanui. In addition to the above, numerous members of survey parties and other employees have responded to the Empire's call. Casualties. Mr. William Brian de Laval Willis, a son of Archdeacon Willis, of Cambridge, who died of wounds sustained at the Dardanelles, was a young and promising officer of the Lands and Survey Department. He was educated at St. John's Collegiate School, Auckland, joined the Department on the Ist February, 1906, as a draughting cadet, and became a member of the College Rifle Volunteers. Two years later he was transferred to the field under District Surveyor R. S. Galbraith, and three years later joined the staff of Mr. J. Langmuir, Inspector of Surveys. After obtaining the necessary experience he sat for and passed the examination of the Federated Surveyors' Boards of Australia and New Zealand in March, 1912, and was then promoted to be an Assistant Surveyor as from the Ist May, 1912. Since that time he has been carrying out surveys in the Auckland District, and, in common with many other officers of the Department, volunteered for service with the Expeditionary Forces. Unassuming, hardworking, and conscientious in the performance of his duties, the late Mr. Willis was a young officer of much promise, and his death is a loss not only to the Public Service, but to the Dominion. Holger Bro Randrup, Draughtsman, in the Auckland Office, was reported as killed at the Dardanelles on the Bth May. The late Mr. Randrup joined the Department as a draughting cadet on transfer from the Post and Telegraph Department on the Ist November, 1906. At first he was stationed in the Wellington. District Office, but was transferred to Auckland on the Ist August, 1911. During his official career he proved himself to be an energetic, capable, and trustworthy officer, who was most favourably reported on by his superior officers, and was highly throught of by all with whom he came into contact. Unassuming in his demeanour, honourable in his conduct, and reliable in his official capacity, his loss will be much felt by all his brother-officers. Messrs. S. T. Seddon, T. S. Couch, N. A. Middlemas, and E. A. Ingram have been reported as wounded, and Mr. G. J. B. Cairnie has been reported as missing. Head OfficeCorrespondence : During the year 25,443 letters, telegrams, &c, were received, and 27,744 letters, telegrams, &c, despatched, being a gross total of 53,187. The correspondence has been steadily on the increase, and during the last three years has risen from 42,590. This mass of correspondence has necessarily thrown great strain on the records, correspondence, and, in fact, every branch in the Head Office. Cemeteries : At the present time there are under departmental control 522 cemeteries, there being five new ones added for the year. Two cemeteries were vested in local bodies during the year, and forty-one warrants issued for existing cemeteries. Domains : The number of domains now administered by the Department amounts to 561, there being an addition of twelve for the year. A report on their progress will be found in a separate parliamentary paper. Land Guides : Four quarterly issues of the Land Guide were published, there being 7,000 copies printed for distribution. These guides form a very valuable reference to the lands opened for selection, and are available for reference at all prominent centres and institutions. Land-sale Posters : To illustrate and afford the necessary information regarding the Crown lands opened for selection during the year, 169 sale-plan posters were issued, no fewer than 112,650 copies thereof being printed and distributed widespread throughout the Dominion for

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