XXK Appendia. 
its doing so, but renders it impossible that, in the Provinces lying furthest 
from his bases such as Auckland and Otago, the detail survey should be 
overtaken by the triangulation for many years. 
Major Palmer recommends that, in the meantime, the system known as 
“poling” should be adopted. (See his report, page 25.) This system con- 
sists simply of erecting the permanent stations to be used in the triangu- 
lation and requiring detail surveys to be tied to them. (I shall hereafter 
call the system of triangulation recommended by Major Palmer “ Standard 
Triangulation,” to distinguish it from Minor Triangulation.) 
By this system (viz., that of “ poling’’) when the standard triangula- 
tion is ultimately completed, and the lengths and direction of the trig lines 
ascertained, it will be easy to discover the errors which have been made in 
the detail survey, executed many years previously, and affecting titles which 
have been long issued. 
This appears to my mind very like making a provision for locking the 
stable door after the steed is stolen. 
What is really needed is not a system which will enable us to discover 
error, but one which will render its occurrence impossible. 
There are many other serious objections to the adoption of the system 
known as ‘ poling,” besides the one which appears to me altogether fatal to 
it of leaving the detail survey utterly unchecked and uncontrolled ; but, if 
the introduction of such a system were seriously contemplated in the face 
of this objection, others of a smaller magnitude could no doubt also be got 
over, and it will be unnecessary for me to occupy your time with a consider- 
ation of these. Unless, therefore, all settlement is to be brought toa stand- 
still, or the detail surveys to be conducted, as unfortunately they have 
already been conducted in many of the Provinces, without proper and 
efficient check, we must adopt a system of triangulation other than that 
recommended by Major Palmer. 
The system of survey introduced into this Province by Mr. J.T. Thomson 
is one which I consider with very slight modification suitable for adoption 
by the entire Colony. 
This system is very fairly described in pages 18, 19, and 20 of Major 
Palmer’s report, who, whilst admitting the general reliability of the work 
performed under it, points out that the great advantage of a triangulation 
such as he advocates being carried out, will be to gather up and bring the 
whole together with the various triangulations in such Provinces as Welling- 
ton within the grasp of one comprehensive system, referring everything to 
a single standard of length and a single starting point. 
I quite agree with Major Palmer as to the very great advantages which 
would follow the work of a Standard Triangulation, thus gathering up the 
