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Rural. —Under this heading an area of I 1,735 acres is returned at a cost of l'o6s. per acre, and included in this area is the Wither Settlement survey. An area of 27,464 acres, being Land Transfer survey of Kekerangu Run, has been separated from work done in connection with departmental settlement operations. Town and Village. —Under " Towns," 66 sections, including llillcrsden, Wairau Valley, and Golden Bar, containing 23 acres, were surveyed, at a cost of Is'7(is. per section. Under " Village," 23 sections, containing 196 acres, were surveyed, at a cost of 2645. per acre. Roads and Railways. —Okoha - Endeavour Inlet Lioad, Gore Survey District (4 miles), is the only work done under this heading. Gold-mines Surveys. —Nil. Native Land, Surveys. —An area of 1,308 acres was subdivided into 8 sections by private surveyors at schedule rates. Other Work. —The expenditure under this heading represents Hie cost of 0 small isolated surveys by Mr. Hunt, amounting to 26 acres, and a quarter-mile of road-surveys, costing £51 135.; 6 inspection surveys, £18 12s. 6d. ; subdivision of block of Crown land, Wakainarina district, £17; and resurvey of Hapuku River land, £6 15s. .'id., were executed by office staff. Traverse Closures. —The mean closing errors in 10 circuits, with a length of 25 miles—3B9 stations—are 0"79 and 129. The work is all in hilly country, rough in places. Proposed. Operations for 1915-16, —'ihe settlement surveys throughout the season will be in the Wakainarina and Tennyson districts, where Mr. Hunt iias in hand a block of 6,570 acres ami 1,025 acres of scattered applications. In anticipation of the forest, reserve in the Upper Opouri Valley (at present being milled by the Marlborough Sawmilling Company) being cut out, Mr. Hunt will then proceed with the survey of a block of about 4,000 acres, for which there are numerous inquiries, so that when the reservation is uplifted the land can be immediately disposed of. Office-work. —Examination of plans, ike. ; The total number of plans received in the ordinary Survey Branch was 48, with 71 traverse sheets, comprising 1.5 departmental plans, containing an area of 62,900 acres; 2 Native Land Court surveys, with an area, of 1,306 acres; 14 computed plans; 7 tracings prepared for photo-lithography; 285 tracings made; 17 plans of road-surveys; 293 diagrams placed on Crown leases. Land Transfer Branch; 41 plans and 110 traverse sheets were .received, covering an area of 61,240 acres; 495 diagrams placed on certificates of title. Changes in Staff. —Mr. Bui us, Chief Draughtsman, was promoted to a, similar position in Nelson, and Mr. Thomson, District Surveyor, Nelson, was appointed in his place. Mr. Couch, draughtsman, joined the Expeditionary Force in August. I have to thank the staff for their co-operation and assistance at all times. H. G. Price, Chief Surveyor. WESTLAND. Minor Triangulation.—\ have nothing to report under this heading during the past year. Topographical Survey. —Comprises 6,450 acres in Wainiea and Ahaura Survey Districts preparatory to settlement-work. Rural Surveys. —Amount to 9,555 acres in 48 sections, mostly selected in isolated positions, under the special regulations for Westland and Karamea. This class of work entails heavy expense in moving camp, though I try to minimize it as much as possible by holding up surveys till several can be done in one district. Village and Suburban. —Amount to 284 acres in 18 sections, being small area taken up under Part VIII, (fee, of the Land Act. Road Survey. —Comprise seven miles, at a cost of £1523 per mile. These roads were laid off to give access to isolated sections. Gold-mining Surveys. —Comprise 1,142 acres, in 9 areas, the cost of which was borne by the applicants. Survey Inspections. —Several inspections have been made by myself personally, and I am glad to state that the result showed that the works had generally been carried out well up to the regulations. Proposed, Course of Operations for the coming Year. —Since Mr. Harrop came into the office my field staff has been, two below the normal, and I have not yet. been able to do anything in connection with the Bruce Bay surveys, On my list awaiting survey there are about 22,000 acres, and this will be augmented by fresh applications during the current year. It is therefore essential that the field staff should be strengthened. T would also recommend that Mr. Morison should be provided with a cadet, to be trained in the particular class of work in this district. Other Work. —Amounts to £72, details of which are given in the schedule; it includes miscellaneous reports and inspections on flood damage, &c. Office-work. —At the beginning of the year there was a shortage in the draughting staff, which was increased by the departure of Mr. E..A. Ingram, who joined the Expeditionary Force in August, and the absence through severe illness of Mr. Staveley for half the year. The total number of plans received for examination was 93, with 225 traverse sheets, comprising—Crown surveys, 50; Land Transfer, 20; mining, 8; and plans for local bodies, &c, 15. There were 584 diagrams placed on deeds, comprising 306 on Crown leases and 278 on Land Transfer titles. 302 tracings of all descriptions were made, including those for survey data,