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Mr. Ross, whose appointment only dates from March, has marked off the subdivisions of the Waihua and Nuhaka Blocks.

Mr. Burton, while on the paid staff, has made detail surveys of the Waihuna, Ohinepuka, Potutu, Turiroa Block, and has since then marked off by contract the subdivisions of the Potutu and Ohinepaka Blocks.

Mr. Turley, who until very recently acted under Mr. Locke, has marked off a good many sections on the North Ruataniwha Block, and has made a traverse survey of the Te Aute, Middle, and Pekapeka-roads.

Mr. Locke, who resigned his appointment in January last, had until then been principally employed in the boundary survey of lately acquired Native Blocks.

Mr. Fitzgerald has laid out by contract the Town and Suburban Sections of Clyde, Te Wairoa.

Mr. Bousfield has staked out by contract 4000 acres applied for on Mr. R. Collins’ run, and about the same quantity in the Tautane Block, and cut up into smaller sections about 400 acres of the Eparaima Bush.

Mr. Ellison has marked off by contract 3000 acres at Tamumu, 1000 acres on Mr. T. P. Russell’s run, 1500 on Mr. Abbott’s late run, and about 2000 acres in detached pieces in the Mohaka and Petane Districts, besides several smaller selections in the Tikokino Block.

During the present financial year provision had only been made upon the Estimates for one Draughtsman, with an assistant for about 6 months, but as not only the office work has greatly increased by the selling of numerous Town, Suburban, and smaller Agricultural Sections, for which Crown Grants with plans will have to be made out in triplicate, but principally, as all the surveys made within the Province under the "Native Lands Act" will from now not only have to be checked in this office, but laid down upon our maps, it will be indispensable that provision should be made for a second Draughtsman.

CHARLES WEBER,
Chief Provincial Surveyor.

Survey Office, Napier,
June 15, 1866.

LETTER ON ARTESIAN WELLS.

SIR,—I am sorry that I have to inform your Honor that up to this date I have been unable to receive any offer for boring for Artesian Wells in Napier, which I could recommend for your acceptance.

Specifications, with tracings showing the position of Napier and the surrounding district, have been forwarded to the two principal firms in Canterbury (giving at the same time all other information in my power bearing upon the subject), but one declined entering upon the undertaking, being fully engaged for some months to come, and the other offered to send two men with the necessary plant to Napier, charging at the rate of £2 2s. per day, the Provincial Government paying all travelling expenses, loss of tools etc.; in fact, being saddled with an expenditure of £2 2s. per day for an indefinite period, and bearing all risk of ultimate success.

I am now in correspondence with Mr. Crawford, assistant in the Provincial Engineer’s Department, Christchurch, who has kindly undertaken to see the different firms likely to undertake the boring here at a fixed rate per foot, taking all risks, etc.

From what I can gather, I am under the impression that the principal cause for the Canterbury people declining to come here, and undertaking the necessary risks, is their fear of having to bore through rock, for which they are not prepared, as they have only drift to pierce in the Canterbury plains.

I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHARLES WEBER,
Provincial Engineer.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Napier.