The remaining portion of the work is superintending the execution of the contracts, and seeing that the speci fications are strictly adhered to, This must be the business of overseers, who are constantly on the spot, and who can therefore be in direct communica tion with the chairmen of the local boards, and both give and receive as sistance as required. In the General Eeport, to which Mr. Whitcombe's is appended, the Pro vincial Engineer expresses his entire approval of the scheme as being much more effective, expeditious, and eco nomical than the system it was in tended to supplant. It is needless to say that at leant so far as economy is concerned, the probabilities in favour of it have since then been enormously increased. The following is the entire paragraph in which Mr. Dobson refers to the subject. We prefer affording space for the whole of it to having even the appearance of mutilating it, and selecting only what might suit our own views:—" It is difficult to over estimate the importance of keeping the engineering surveys of the province well in advance of the actual works, the possession of accurate data being essential to the preparation of effective and binding contracts. As the best means of effecting this object, I would recommend that the Road Surveyor should not confine his oper ations to the setting out of new road lines, but that he should take the entire charge of the engineering surveys re quired for the use of the public works department. There are many ad vantages to be derived from this ex tension of his duties, the principal of which is that contracts could be drawn up. from the data furnished by the Eoad Surveyor several months earlier than can be doce under the present arrangements; whilst at the same time the District Engineers would be re lieved from survey work, which greatly interferes with the efficient performance of other duties. At present the Pro vincial Engineer refers to the Chief Surveyor for the topographical surveys, and to the Eoad Surveyor for the road lines; and yet is dependent on the District Engineers and the Surveyors engaged under their direction for the levels and other data required for drawing up the contracts. 