MR. THOMAS HUMPHRIES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 44, 30 August 1928, Page 14

MR. THOMAS HUMPHRIES

"FATHER OB' MODERN SURVEY" The death occurred this morning of Mr. Thomas Humphries at his residence in. Lower Hutt. The late. Mr. Humphries, who was just completing his eighty-seventh year at the time of

S. P. Andrew, Photo.

his death, was for some years SurveyorGeneral for Now Zealand, having held in addition several appointments such as that of Commissioner of Crown Lands. At the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Institute of Surveys, held in New Plymouth a week or two ago, tribute was paid to Mr. Humphries, one of the- institute's founders} lie was described as the father of modern survey. ' Bom in London in 1841/ Thomas Humphries was the eldest son of Dr. E. L. Humphries who, after seeing Tarauaki during a trip round tho world and being favourably impressed with the countrj', brought his wifo and family to Now Zealand in 1850. Tho voyage was . made in the GOO-ton barque Sir Edward Paget, Auckland being reached after over 100 days' sail. After spending a month in tho northern town, Dr. Humphries settled in Now Plymouth, where young Thomas went to school and incidentally learnt much about farming. In 1857 Thomas Humphries entered tho Survey Department as 'a cadet. In those days there were no horses, all survey work having to bo done 0)1 foot. During the wars with tlio Maoris of 1860 and 1861 Mr. Humphries was employed at the front by tho military authorities making surveys of localities of engagements and of general operations, in addition to taking part in the actual warfare. Survoy.work being at a standstill owing to hostilities, Mr. Humphries joined the famous "bush party 1' formed by Major (lato Sir Harry) Atkinson, his

/ ■ . two brothers also being members. Later lie received a- comurissioii in the militia. By dint of systematic study, Mr. Humphries quickly made a mark for himself in his profession as surveyor, and by 1861 was promoted to the position of Assistant Surveyor. He was promoted to be Chief ■ Surveyor of Taranaki in 1870, and under his supervision settlement surveys of the country were made from lugfcwood through dense- bush to Hawera and round Mount Egmont by way of Opunake. In 1877 he was appointed Chief Surveyor under the General Government, and in 18S5 became Commissioner of Crown Lands in Taranaki. From 1885 to 1906 Mr. Humphries held the offices of Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Land Districts of Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Nelson, nnd Canterbury. Finally, in 1906, he was appointed Surveyor-General for tlio Dominion, retiring in 1909 after G2 years' service. The late Mr. Humphries had a decided gift for mathematics and wrote a brochure on astronomy in connection with survey work which is still used by students. In conjunction with tho late Dr. Adams ho carried out longitude determination between Wellington and New Plymouth, and his work in this direction, as with all his survey work, has stood tho tost of time, proving to bo remarkably accurate. His interest in astronomy was very keen, and he made important observations at tho time of the total eclipse of the sun in 1885 and at "the time of tho transit of Venus. Even up to his eighty-first birthday ha derived great enjoyment iv setting mathematical problems for the Australasian survey examinations, his keen faculties being in no way impaired by advancing years. Tho deceased, who is survived by his widow and Several children, did not eonrino his.attentions only to his work. Ho took a keen interest in various sports, church work, music, and otlicisocial activities. He won many prizes for rifle- shooting, once tying for the Championship Belt.