Being regarded from a scientific rather than a practical point of view, and being left almost in the hands of specialists uncon trolled, Commissioners have formed a low opinion of the real utility of a large proportion of the work done. There has, been a serious waste "of money in useless surveys, which is proved by the failure of the land bo sur veyed to Bell, thus enabling a few- men to secure sections which form the key to the rest, and so monopolise large blocks. Some land has been surveyed, so as to render it impossible to fence, and .this bad system is still being carried on. The surveys are far in advance of present requirements, and the present evils if unchecked will increase. Practicable road lines have mot been laid off, but are mere paper lines, and the instructions issued aa to grades, &0., in road lines have been ignored. We would Bnggest a saving by not subdividing "rough pas-: toral country into small sections, and by allow ing owners of adjacent properties to agree jointly on the dividing lines, thus relieving the depart ment of sectional survey. We hope that the department will no longer be subjected to outside pressure to prepare for sale land for which there is an imaginary demand, now that the eager speculative demand for land has subsided. We do hot wish to throw discredit on the officers of the department, who worked under the disad vantages arising from outside pressure and com plicated land laws. We are: confident that if proper responsibility is thrown on. them they will willingly and efficiently carry out reform. The evidence forcibly brings out that the value of the remaining unsold Crown land has been greatly over-estimated. '.':..*•'■ '.' „ In the Customs Department there has been great reluctance to reduce any existing staff which the removal of business from a port has left left little to do. At some ports expensive officers are maintained needlessly, and they should be utilised for other duties. The returns of import values are unreliable, because they are supplied by merchants who are irresponsible, and have a tendency to over-estimate. Any quanti fies should be stated, aud the values worked out by the Customs on the basis of the ordinary market prices. 