596

The chief discrepancies now amended are errors in length amounting to —

1259 th. minus, in the Jacob’s River District surveys and — + in the Waimatuku Triangulation, 1111 in the Waitotara triangulation, and an error of meridian varying from 3’ to 4’, which runs in a very perplexing manner through several of the old Triangulations, and which has frequently been a source of great trouble and delay to surveyors.

The advantages to be derived from the Triangulation now nearly completed are not confined to the elimination of these small errors; the reciprocal proof afforded by these numerous closures conclusively establishes the absence of all other error, and they enable me to assert with confidence that there is not within the Province, a road line, or the side line of a section, which varies more than 4 minutes from its stated bearing, or of which the given length is in error beyond 12 links or —— in a mile, and that the ordinary range of inaccuracy is far within these limits; moreover the certainty now attained, is such as to render any further check unnecessary; and the Triangulation can be carried forward from the stations now established, to the extremities of the Province, without any further recurrence to the prime meridian, or without making any new base, except one of verification, at some future period, probably near Te Anau Lake.

As described in former reports, the size and form of the Province, rendered it unnecessary to treat the surface other than a plane; to avoid however some inconveniences, I have arranged that for the future, the latitude and longitude of the principal Trigonometrical stations, and the convergences of their meridian, with that of the Bluff, (to which all the surveys primarily refer), shall be calculated and properly tabulated, and be noted on the maps.

This will, I think, make these surveys as perfect as it is practicable or desirable that colonial surveys should be, looking at the necessity of keeping down expenses, and of preserving the greatest simplicity possible. For this perfection, I desire to take no credit, beyond that of having carefully followed out the excellent system I found established by Mr. J. T. Thomson, but to the value of that system and the importance of maintaining it intact, I am bound to add my testimony at all times, and especially when I am about to cease to conduct the surveys of the Province.

The importance of certain accuracy in surveys, is apt to be only felt from its absence, and none can fully appreciate it, but those who have witnessed the hopeless confusion which arises from a bad system, and who are aware of the difficulty of rectification. Not the worst evil which flows from a bad system of survey, is the effect produced on the surveyors themselves; the loose system of humouring, inevitable where surveys are conducted by men traversing and plotting, soon creates an inaptitude, for that accuracy which must be habitual with one who has to test the closure of all his work by calculation, and who knows that any discrepancy will be noted, and must be explained.

The present disposition of the personnel of the staff, is as follows:—

1. Mr. Baker, assistant surveyor, having as before stated all but finished his Triangulation, and his presence not being required constantly at Woody Knoll, will under any circumstances, be chiefly at the survey office for some weeks, finishing his calculations, tabulating the results, and completing his maps. While absent, I should trust to him to exercise any supervision required on any portion of the survey work, a duty to which he is in every way equal, and should I find it necessary to leave the department, I would beg earnestly to recommend his claim on the Government.

Some time ago, Mr. Baker, with my sanction, and the consent of the His Honor the Superintendent, took as an articled pupil, Mr. M. Pugh, a gentleman of university education, and possessing particular aptitude for the profession of a surveyor.

Mr. Pugh has now completed the term of his pupilage, and I hope that it may be possible at any early period to employ his services in a better capacity. It might be desirable that he should have some employment in the office before being appointed as a field surveyor.

2. Mr. McArthur, assistant surveyor, is engaged in carrying on the Triangulation up the Valley of the Oreti, and laterally over the Hokanui Hills and the Moolight Ranges; the valleys being level, and likely ere long to be occupied by a settled population, it is intended to keep the triangles of moderate size, and of the best possible condition in the flats, and to carry much larger triangles over the hills, which are suitable for pastoral purposes only.