VETERAN SURVEYOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 3

VETERAN SURVEYOR.

STILL WORKING AT NINETY.

MAP OF THAMES GOLDFIELD.

One of the oldest surveyors in New Zealand and one who had much to do with the introduction of the present system of land'transfer in New Zealand is Mr. George Mclntyre, Sandilands, Christchurch, who is now approaching his ninetieth birthday. Mr. Mclntyre was born at Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on April 9, 1844, his father being the incumbent of the parish. Ho later went to England and then to Tasmania, where his father became incumbent of Deloraine. Ho completed his education at Launceston and entered the Survey Department, later being transferred to the Land Transfer Office as draughtsman. Finding little scope in Tasmania, he went to Canterbury in 1860, and joined the staff of Mr. S. Hewlings, who held a contract from the Provincial Government for the survey from time to time of all the Crown land sold between the Rangitata and Waitaki rivers. Mr. Mclntyre had studied shorthand while he was in Hobart, and when the New Zealand "Hansand" was inaugurated in 1807 by the Hon. E. W. Stafford, he was appointed a member of the staff, returning to his work in South Canterbury for the recess. He served on the staff for five sessions. In 1809 Mr. Mclntyre was appointed to the staff of the Engineer-in-Chief for the Thames goldficlds, where he made the first map of the field, about six feet by five feet, showing all mining leases, etc. During 1870 the Land Transfer Act was passed, and it come into operation in January, 1871. Mr. W. Softon Moorhouse was tiie first RegistrarGeneral of Land, and Mr. Mclntyre was appointed his secretary. The Land Transfer Act did away with the cumbersome process of drafting deeds, and as it was similar to the Torrens Act, which was in force in Tasmania, Mr. Mclntyre was well acquainted with the working of that system, and he had a great deal to do with putting the Land Transfer Act into force. In 1874 Mr. Mclntyre was appointed a member of a board set up to examine applicants for surveyors' licenses, the other members being Mr. T. Cass, a former chief surveyor, and Mr. S. Healings, chief surveyor. In the same year Mr. Mclntyre was gazetted as surveyor-in-charge of plotting and compiling maps, but lie resigned from that office in 1876 and entered into private practice. From that year onwards he has practised in Canterbury and Marlborough. Mr. Mclntyre was elected a fellow of the Institute of Surveyors in 1925.