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Lake Taupo Fisheries. —This survey, for the Internal Affairs Department, was concluded during the year. The main work has been the traversing of rivers that flow into Lake Taupo, and marking the fishing reserves along these same rivers. There was also a survey of the Tongariro River. This survey located well-known fishing - pools, rapids, and islands in this river. Both banks were traversed and a special large-scale map prepared. In connection with the whole work there were 60 miles of theodolite traverse and 30 miles of rough measurements. The total cost was £2,142 16s. 3d., being at the rate of £23-8 per mile. Traverse Closures. —The mean traverse closures for the past year as supplied by staff surveyors show an error of 0-21 links per mile on the meridian and 0-51 links per mile on the perpendicular. Office and General Work.—Land Transfer Branch : A total of 242 plans were received for examination, and 267 plans were examined and approved, 1,793 deeds and other instruments were prepared, and 2,903 diagrams from plans were endorsed on certificates of title ; 53 tracings were made ; 10 new plans for recording thereon the position of areas covered by Land Transfer surveys ; and 242 plans were recorded. A considerable number of certified copies of old Land Transfer plans have been made during the year in order to preserve the information shown thereon. The accumulation of unchecked plans has been cleared off, and the plans on hand at present only represent a normal number. Additional officers are put on to this work immediately it shown signs of becoming in arrears. A considerable number of complicated diagrams have been compiled in connection with the issue of provisional Land Transfer titles in the conversion of titles from Deeds Registration to Land Transfer. Native Branch : A total of 104 plans were received for examination, and 104 plans were examined and approved ; 35 plans were compiled ; 180 survey costs examined and apportioned ; 544 Courtorders were endorsed ; 175 tracings and 35 sun-prints were made ; 66 authorities issued for surveys ; 29 caveats lodged ; 192 charging-orders obtained ; and 6 Native Land Courts attended. A considerable amount of work has been undertaken by this branch in the preparation of compilations, tracings, &c., for the Native Consolidated Land Commission. Roads and Crown Lands Branch : A total of 201 plans were received for examination and approval, and 174 plans were examined and approved; 68 plans were compiled and 103 sale plans prepared : 1,131 tracings made; 358 plans recorded; 120 Proclamations entered; 256 chain-lengths tested; 1,129 diagrams endorsed on titles ; 24 scheme plans dealt with ; 7 maps were drawn for standard publication ; and 41 survey blocks were comjdeted on the 20-chain record maps. The draughting staff employed on this work will be increased during the coming year and an effort made to bring the record maps up to date. A considerable amount of miscellaneous work has been completed during the year, consisting of searches of titles, investigations, preparation of reports, providing Field Inspectors with folding pocket county tenure maps, and plane-table sheets for topographical surveys. A special series of maps of the Borough of Hamilton and surrounding districts, for town-planning purposes, were completed during the year and forwarded to Head Office for reproduction. Proposed Operations, 1929-30.—One assistant surveyor will be employed on topographical surveys in the Rotorua County, and one surveyor for part of the time. A special survey over an area of about 35,000 square acres already completed is being carried out to show more detailed information with a view to utilizing some of the land for settlement purposes. I anticipate that the topographical survey of open land in the Rotorua County will, in addition to the special survey, be completed during the year. One surveyor will be employed on the Hauraki Plains on miscellaneous and rural surveys, levels, and engineering work ; also a standard traverse of certain Hauraki Plains constructed roads, with concrete reference blocks establishing boundaries. Three surveyors will be employed on miscellaneous work, comprising school-sites, road-deviations, new roads, railway land plan surveys, rural settlement, and Land Transfer and inspectional surveys. There is a large amount of the above class of work required in this district. Contract surveyors have in hand the survey of 16,596 acres of Native land. Gisborne Land District (E. H. Farnie, Chief Surveyor). Minor Triangulation. —No work of this nature has been executed during the year. I would again urge the need for a systematic revision of the minor-triangulation work throughout this district. The work is old and not up to the standard of accuracy required under modern conditions. Standard Surveys.—The only work carried out under this heading has been the raising of two iron covers to the new footpath level, owing to reconditioning of streets. Rural standard traverses of the main roads through the Poverty Bay flats should be undertaken when there is a surveyor available. At present many of these roads are being tar-sealed, and to preserve the old marks and pipes established, principally in connection with Land Transfer surveys, I have had these points offset with iron tubes. These points should now be connected by standard traverse as opportunity offers. Topographical.—About 11,500 acres of Native land has been covered by topographical survey for the information of the Native Land Court in connection with the Tuparoa consolidation scheme. Township Sections. —An area comprising 55 acres at Hicks Bay was subdivided into 21 sections, at a cost of £1-5 per section. Roads. —A total length of 15 miles of formed road was surveyed in various parts of the district, most of the work being in the nature of deviation surveys. Rural. —During the year 1,631 acres were surveyed by staff surveyors, comprising 16 lots in the Waioeka and Urutawa districts, and 1,051 acres by private surveyors.