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from the New River triangulation and as the blocks of that district are all finished and plotted, it would not be advisable to alter it. A note on the block maps to the effect that the meridian of the Winton District varies 3.30" from the Oreti triangulation, will prevent any future period, any question from arising as to the difference of the meridian between the triangulation and the block surveys.

The calculations of the Oreti triangulation are not sufficiently forward for me to be able to state the difference in the closure with the Winton triangulation; but as all the triangles are well conditioned I do not contemplate that there will be any considerable difference.

The only part of the triangulation to complete is the closure with Mr. Mueller’s Matanra triangulation; this will be a work of considerable difficulty, as the two surveys are separated by a long strip of bush, on the east side of the Oreti River, commencing opposite Hillend Creek, and running south, parallel to the river, forming the Winton and Forest Hill Bushes.

This closure will be very desirable, if not absolutely necessary. It will be a check on the two principal trigonometrical surveys of the Province; they have both been carried on independently of the old Otago surveys, which have been closed with and checked, at every possible point.

A good closure between these triangulations will be an absolute guarantee of the correctness of both, as they have been started on the same meridian in two different parts of the Province, the base lines have been chained with the same chains, and the instrumental work has been done with the same theodolite.

To make a closure between these two surveys, it will be necessary to clear the top of the Woody Knoll, which will probably take three weeks to accomplish.

These two surveys if connected, will form a continuous chain of triangles from the Matanra River, the eastern boundary of the Province, to the Waiau Plains, from which any triangulations may be carried to the northern parts of the Province.

The total area of the country triangulated by me this summer will be about 150,000 acres, and the cost, including the closure with Mr. Mueller’s triangulation, will slightly exceed 1¼d. per acre.

Not having any field notes in town, I cannot give a detailed account of the nature and character of the ground, soil, &c. &c. In the Aparima Hundreds the country under the Woody Hills, between Scott’s and Raymond’s Gap, is very good and will probably find a ready sale when thrown open for application.

The country round Woodlaw and round to Mr. Martin’s station is not so good, being uneven and full of crab holes.

The terraces between W Head, Waicola, Wairio, and Opio creeks, are very rough at the south end of them, but improve as they go north, and at the northern boundary of the trigonometrical survey the ground is very good.

The land on the ridges to the north of Ray’s Bush, is of a very superior quality, and well adapted for agricultural purposes, as is the Aparima River Flat to the north of the Aparima Hundreds.

The principal roads through this district will be the Riverton road to the Lake, the road through Raymond’s Gap, to the lower Waiau plains, and the road to Messrs. Martin’s, Holt’s, and Reinecker’s runs.

The road to the Lake through this district passes up the Aparima River Flat; and with the exception of one place, where a swamp forces the road into the Aparima River bed, is on good sound ground, and will not offer the slightest difficulty to any surveyor, in laying it out.

The road to the lower Waiau passes through several small swamps, but the generality of the ground is hard and sound, and with a very little trouble a good line of road may be laid out through Raymond’s Gap. The road up the Waicola terrace to Mr. Martin’s station is a very fair line of road except where it crosses the Opio River Flat, which is always more or less flooded during the winter months.

The general character of the Oreti Plains is very rough and uneven, with crab holes, but the country will greatly improve when burnt off and stocked. The plain is intersected with several small swamps but they are of no great extent.

There will be several blocks of fine land on the east side of the Aparima, round about Heddon Bush.

The Oreti Flat on the west side of the river above Winton, is very superior agricultural land, and easily accessible from the North Road.

I found an excellent line of road leading from Ray’s Bush, down a stony flat towards Winton; this road will be of great importance some day, as it will save at least 8 or 10 miles in the distance from Ray’s Bush to Invercargill, and un-