Tuomson.—Colonial Standard Survey. 101 
of unsympathy. The European only scans the surface, and he little knows 
the forces that act underneath. That there is powerful action though unseen 
has been often and too conspicuously proved. But were we to place 
Europeans under the same circumstances in relation to that we most prize, 
viz., our heritable lands, how would it be with us, with the rivers spreading 
over our fertile fields, the exuberant vegetation obscuring our pastures and 
hill plantations, so that the marks are obliterated, and with no mode of 
practical and legal settlement, would not litigation be rife, and bloody feuds 
also? Then may not our unfavourable estimate of the Hindoo be harsh ? 
But this paper is not intended as a discussion of social or political 
theories, so we must confine it to the narrow professional limits, and 
return to its subject. Here then in India we have a proof of (as it would 
be esteemed in New Zealand) an utterly worthless actual section survey 
authoritatively in operation alongside of geodetic operations of the highest 
class and refinement. And when we say so we may be asked how it affects 
the point under consideration? The answer is in this wise, that it brings 
us to a conclusion contrary to popular notions, viz., that great triangulation 
does not guarantee correct actual survey, and it will be shown hereafter that 
it may even deteriorate it. : 
So much by way of preface. The rest of this paper will be devoted to 
an exposition of our views in relation to what should be the professional 
nature of standard colonial survey, in which the settlement of the people is 
the paramount object. * 
At the outset of a Colonial survey it is of importance that the principles of 
the standard branch, should be at once determined on, and in this determi- 
nation it must be considered how far professional bias must give way to the 
immediate wants of the settlers. If a mode of operations can be devised 
that administers to these wants without involving actual—i.e., recognisable 
practical error, it is my opinion that it would be well to accept this. 
The basis of all trustworthy settlement or section survey is triangulation, 
of which there are three distinct systems, namely—primary, secondary, and 
tertiary. When I first took service in New Zealand I had the honour to 
advise the Government of Otago on this point, and I then suggested that 
primary triangulation, were it commenced in the Colony, must be executed 
by the General Government. + But I indicated no time when this should 
commence, my responsibilities being limited at that time to the Southern 
Province. 
* See my letter dated June 9th, 1856, to the Superintendent of Otago. 
+ Where contrary to the state of India above depicted our position is one of close 
sympathy with the people, who come here to seek new homes and settle themselves. 
