RETIREMENT OF SURVEYORGENERAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 6

RETIREMENT OF SURVEYORGENERAL.

FORTY YEARS' SERVICE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Tuesday. Mr. J. W. A. Marchant, Surveyor-Gene-ral, is about to retire. He was appointed to the position of Surveyor-General in succession to Mr. S. Percy Smith,"- at the latter, end of 1901. Mr. Merchant's connection with the New Zealand Survey Department dates back to the early ''sixties." In]' January, 1870, he made a survey' of the goldfields boundary in Nelson in connection with the celebrated dispute between the. miners and the land selectors. During the same year he was appointed assistant-inspec- ; tor of surveys, and in 1875 he was appointed; deputy-inspector of surveys under the Native Land Act. When the General Go- J vernment took over the service in 1876 he. was appointed first geodesical surveyor.; Three years later he became chief surveyor of Wellington district, and Commissioner of Crown Lands in 1884. In 1891 he was transferred in the same capacities to Canterbury, and in 1896 again returned to Wellington, still in the same capacities, on promotion, and held this position until he was appointed Surveyor-General in November, 1901. The appointment of his sue- ; cessor has nob yet been decided, nor has the i exact date of his retirement been fixed. i