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Eeseaech Sections Administrative control of the Building Research and Radio Research Sections, located at Auckland University College, is vested in the Director of the Laboratories, and their activities are reported elsewhere. General Close liaison is maintained with the Dominion Physical Laboratory and every care is being taken to avoid unnecessary overlapping of activities. The Committee members are confident that this experiment will prove of great value to manufacturing industry, especially in the Auckland Province. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Director : Mr. M. Ongley Dr. J. Henderson, Director of the Geological Survey since 1928, retired in July, 1945. The period of his directorship was one of considerable expansion in the activities of the Survey. Dr. Henderson, during the whole of his service in the Geological Survey, maintained a high standard in all the work which was attempted, and enhanced the reputation of the Survey for the soundness of its achievements. Mr. M. Ongley, Senior Geologist, succeeded Dr. Henderson as Director. During the year there has been abundant evidence of the still expanding needs for further geological service from various Government Departments, municipal bodies, and mining companies. The pressure for service in the field of economic geology is such that, with the staff available, it has not been found possible to undertake much regional survey. A Volcanology Branch with headquarters at Rotorua was established during the year, and from this centre it is intended to develop all investigation surveys covering the Ruapehu - White Island volcanic region of the Dominion. At the inauguration of this station a conference was held in Rotorua, attended by representatives of various sections of the Department and the University, for the purpose of planning the development of investigations in this region. In order to make the best use of the personnel and facilities available a staff conference was held and, arising from this, recommendations were made that the work of the Survey should be organized under four district geologists with six field parties, seven coal-survey parties, and six geologists working on water-supply. At the Geological Survey Office, Wellington, complementary research and publications of specialized work would be undertaken. Coal. —During the year the coal resources and geology of the Huntly, Otorohanga, and Mangatangi districts have been surveyed and reported on. The field-work involved in the geological survey of the Greymouth coalfield has been completed and is now being assembled for publication in the form of a bulletin. In this field advice has been given to the Mines Department in connection with that Department's programme of coal prospecting by drilling and other methods. The survey of the Ohai Coalfield, in Southland, has been completed and reported on, and surveys of the Kaitangata, Mataura, and Hokonni fields are in progress. The Kamo Coalfield, in North Auckland, been mapped and reported on. Water-supply. —Water-supplies in the Cheviot and Picton districts have been surveyed .and reports submitted to the local authorities concerned. The water-table contours ■of parts of the Canterbury Plains in the Ashburton County have been mapped. Palaeontology. —Large numbers of sp3cimens have been collected during the year, particularly from the west coast and Southland, and from these valuable information has been obtained not only on local stratigraphic problems, but also concerning the

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