Report for altered names:
Mount Eliott (spelling alteration from Mount Elliot)
Mount Gordon (spelling alteration from Mount Gorden) Above Landsborough River, Solution Range, Westland Land District
MAP1
NZTopo50-BY14, BY15 Crown Copyright Reserved
SUMMARY
The proposer is seeking to alter the spelling of two existing recorded names, Mount Elliot to Mount Eliott, and Mount Gorden to Mount Gordon. Westland Chief Surveyor Gerhard Mueller and explorer Charles (Charlie) Douglas named the two features in 1886-87 during a topographic survey of the Clarke River and Landsborough River valleys. The proposer contends that: - Mount Gorden is named for Henry A Gordon, then Inspector of Mines, and - Mount Elliot is named for Huntly J H Eliott, who was Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. Significant documentary evidence supports the proposals contextually, though there is no definitive piece of evidence. An analysis of senior government positions held 1876-1887 supports the proposer’s belief. The analysis strongly suggests that Mueller systematically named features in the area as a thematic set of Lands
1 Land Information New Zealand
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 1 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 and Survey officials. The evidence suggests the spellings of ‘Gordon’ and ‘Eliott’ are correct. Long term use would not outweigh the NZGBs statutory functions to correct spelling under s.10(1)(c)(ii) and s.11(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008. The proposer and Secretariat have requested comment from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, particularly to determine whether original Māori names exists for these features, but no comment has been received to date.
SECRETARIAT RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation 1 Accept the proposal to alter Mount Gorden to Mount Gordon and Mount Elliot to Mount Eliott, based on (i) the evidence provided by the proposer confirmed by the Secretariat’s research, (ii) the NZGB’s statutory functions under s.10(1)(c)(ii) and s.11(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008 to investigate and correct cases of doubtful spelling, subject to support from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and Notify as proposals to alter for three months in terms of Section 16 of the NZGB Act 2008.
OTHER OPTIONS
Option 2 Decline the proposal to alter Mount Gorden to Mount Gordon and Mount Elliot to Mount Eliott, based on long term use of the names, as depicted on authoritative maps.
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 2 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 SECRETARIAT ANALYSIS
The Proposal The proposer is seeking to alter the recorded names of two alpine peaks: Mount Elliot to Mount Eliott Mount Gorden to Mount Gordon The proposer regularly submits cases of doubtful spelling for consideration under s.11(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008. The proposal argues that Westland’s former Chief Surveyor, Gerhard Mueller, named the two features after government officials: - Mount Gordon for Henry Andrew Gordon, who was Inspector of Mines at the time, and - Mount Eliott for Huntly J H Eliott, then Under-Secretary for Crown Lands. Many of the features named by Mueller in the Landsborough River valley have been previously identified with government officials, eg: - Mount Percy Smith for the (then) assistant Surveyor-General Stephenson Percy Smith. - Mount McKerrow for the (then) Surveyor-General James McKerrow. The proposer has also submitted similar cases in the area previously. In 1998 the NZGB declined to alter Mount Strachan to Mount Strauchon, due to duplication with another Mount Strauchan immediately southwest, long term use, and for safety considerations. This feature was identified with John Strauchon, a Westland District Surveyor in 1887. The proposer has provided a body of contextual evidence to support his proposals, and quotes two sources in particular referring to Mueller’s naming practices in the Landsborough River Valley. Charles Douglas, quoted in John Pascoe’s, Mr Explorer Charlie Douglas: “The fact is that the N. Zealand Maps are over-named, why should every Knob in a Mountain have a separate name, outside of the Survey Office? Mr. Mueller’s Map of the Landsbro is a case in point, there has been no attempt to get out of the Browns and the Jones here. Now a stranger to the country looking at that Map, would conclude that the long line of illustrious names which decorate it from Sefton to Brewster represents so many daring colonials who ascended these towering Peaks. He would never dream that sheer bad taste and poverty of Invention, put such everyday names on the country, never imagine that Government Clarks and Survey apprentices, supplied the illustrious names and that the towering Peaks don’t tower at all, but are simply knobs on a Mountain Mass bearing about the same proportion to it that the teeth do to a Saw.” 2 John Pascoe’s, Great Days in New Zealand Exploration: “The only regret is that in naming the many impressive peaks on the Main Divide, Mueller chose those of New Zealand surveyors. However deserving these be might be, it is a matter for dismay to find such a procession as Mounts Trent, Fraser, Dobson, Kitson, Jackson, Baker, Clarke, Percy Smith, Humphries, Arthur, McKerrow, Hopkins, Foster, Spence, Montgomerie, Burns, and the rest. Perhaps with a dash of some of the most notable of these surveyors with a backing of more imaginative names might have contended posterity.”3 On 21 March 2016 the proposer forwarded reference to an additional
2 John Pascoe (1957), Mr Explorer Charlie Douglas, A W & A H Reed: Hong Kong, p.142 3 John Pascoe (1959), Great Days in New Zealand Exploration, A W & A H Reed: Wellington, p.132
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 3 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 piece of evidence, Charlie Douglas’ hand drawn geological roll map Okarito to Big Bay. The Secretariat had already considered this evidence, as it available digitised from Archives New Zealand.4
Historical Maps, Mount Eliott Plans First named on maps by Westland Chief Surveyor Gerhard Mueller in 1887. The spelling change to Mount Elliot appears to occur with the depiction of the name on NZMS mapping, and is consistently depicted as ‘Elliot’ thereafter. Year Map/Plan Depicted/Named 1864 Map of the Province of Canterbury Not depicted, not named 1874 Province of Westland Not named 1884 Map of the Middle [South] Island - Not named Mining district, Westland 1887 SO 8701 (Roll Plan 1/11) Mount Eliott Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Clarke Country 1887 SO’s 5688 and 5689 (Roll Plan 1/11A) Mount Eliott Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Clarke Country 1887 Topographical Plan of Landsborough Mount Eliott and Clarke Country Lithograph accompanying SURVEYS OF NEW ZEALAND. (REPORT FOR 1886- 87.), AtoJs, 1887, Session II, C-02 No date SO 8703 (Roll Plan 1/13) Depicted but not named 1894 SO 8819 Landsborough River (Roll Plan Mount Eliott 2/13) 1897 Topographical Plan of Landsborough Mount Eliott and Clarke Country – route from Ohau to Paringa Lithograph accompanying DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, C-01 1903? Geological Roll Map – Okarito to Big Mount Eliott Bay 1919 1st ed. NZMS 15 Westland County s.6 Mount Elliot 1950 3rd ed. NZMS 15 Westland County s.6 Mount Elliot 1963 1st ed. NZMS 177 S88 Mount Elliot 1971 1st ed. NZMS 1 S88 Landsborough Mount Elliot 1978 2nd ed. NZMS 1 S88 Landsborough Mount Elliot 1991 1st ed. NZMS 260 H37 Mount Elliot 2009- NZTopo50-BY14 Mount Elliot Current
4 http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11951470 last accessed 24/03/2016
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 4 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Mount Gordon First named on maps by Westland Chief Surveyor Gerhard Mueller in 1887. The spelling varies between Gordon or Gorden on different versions of Mueller’s reconnaissance survey of Clarke River and Landsborough River, and subsequent maps. The proposer has not identified this discrepancy, as it is unlikely that he would have access to survey plans in Landonline, and the original Roll Maps are at Archives New Zealand, Christchurch. Two versions of the same map drafted by J E Pfiefer (Hokitika Survey Office) in the same year differ in spelling, suggesting an error. ‘Gordon’ is not recorded on maps or plans after 1950. Year Map/Plan Depicted/Named 1864 Map of the province of Canterbury Not depicted, not named 1874 Province of Westland Not named 1884 Map of the Middle [South] Island - Mining Not named district, Westland 1887 SO 8701 (Roll Plan 1/11) Mount Gorden
Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Clarke Country
(Draughter J E Pfiefer) 1887 SO’s 5688 and 5689 (Roll Plan 1/11A) Mount Gordon
Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Clarke Country
(Draughter J E Pfiefer)
1887 Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Mount Gordon Clarke Country
Lithograph accompanying SURVEYS OF NEW ZEALAND. (REPORT FOR 1886-87.), AtoJs, 1887, Session II, C-02
No date SO 8703 (Roll Plan 1/13) Depicted but not named 1894 SO 8819 Landsborough River (Roll Plan Mount Gorden 2/13)
(Draughter F J Harrop)
1897 Topographical Plan of Landsborough and Mount Gordon Clarke Country – route from Ohau to Paringa
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 5 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Lithograph accompanying DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY (ANNUAL REPORT ON). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, C-01 1903? Geological Roll Map – Okarito to Big Bay Mount Gordon 1949 3rd ed. NZMS 15 Westland County s.7 Mount Gorden 1950 3rd ed. NZMS 15 Westland County s.6 Mount Gordon 1959 4th ed. NZMS 15 Westland County s.7 Mount Gorden 1963 NZMS 177 S88 Landsborough Mount Gorden 1971 1st ed. NZMS 1 S88 Landsborough Mount Gorden 1978 2nd ed. NZMS 1 S88 Landsborough Mount Gorden 1991 1st ed. NZMS 260 G37 Mount Gorden 2009- NZTopo50-BY14 Mount Gorden Current
Location/Extent of Mount Eliott, 2355m, is located on the ridgeline on the north side of Feature Landsborough River. Grid Reference NZTopo50-BY14 410465. The feature is southwest of the more distinct Mount Strachan (2561m) and northeast of the more distinct Mount Dechen (2643m). The feature is flanked by Edison Glacier on the north side and Strachan Glacier on the south. On early plans Mount Eliott is depicted at the highest point of a rocky or ice free ridgeline, between Dechen and Strachan Glaciers. Strachan Glacier is depicted as a glacier with a long tongue flowing southeast almost to Landsborough River – with Mount Eliott positioned at the western high point of Strachan Glacier where the long tongue begins, ie different to its current position. Edison Glacier is also depicted as being to the north of Dechen Glacier, not in its current position. John Pascoe notes in Great Days of New Zealand Exploration that Mueller’s topographic survey was mostly accurate, with only a few marked errors.5 However, distortion may exist as the surveyor did not necessarily traverse and survey the whole area. Eliott for example, has no recorded height:
SO 5689 (1887) Crown Copyright Reserved
5 Pascoe, Great Days, p.132
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 6 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 The glacier tongue has retreated significantly, as evident from map to map, and as described in scientific journals.6 On the latest aerial photography the glacier tongue is almost entirely gone:
NZMS 1 S88 (1971) Crown Copyright Reserved
NZTopo50-BY14 Crown Copyright Reserved
The original position is possibly the marked position here, but it is uncertain:
6 P. Wardle (1973), Variations of the Glaciers of Westland National Park and the Hooker Range, New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany, 11:2, 349-388, DOI: 10.1080/0028825X.1973.10430286 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1973.10430286 accessed 02/03/2016
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 7 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466
While the NZGB may wish to consider moving the current position of Mount Eliott this would require further investigation.
Mount Gordon, 1880m, is located on the same ridgeline as Mount Eliott, on the north side of Landsborough River. Grid reference NZTopo50-BY14 374428 The feature is immediately northeast of Upper Otoko Pass, and south of McCardell Glacier. The feature is the smaller of two peaks, the higher one being at 1915m. Early maps and plans depict Mount Gordon northwest of the source of Pass Creek, however this does not reconcile with modern topographic mapping:
Okarito to Big Bay (1901) CC-BY 3.0 Archives New Zealand
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 8 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 NZTopo50-BY14 Crown Copyright Reserved The depiction of Pass Creek relative to the flat (now Kea Flat) and Jackson Creek at its confluence with Landsborough River does not appear to differ between original and current maps. It is possible that Pass Creek was originally the stream in the next valley northeast.
Generic term and The NZGB’s Frameworks guideline for generic terminology states that geographic feature ‘Generic components in geographic names should be uniform wherever type possible’. Both features are peaks on the ridge north of Landsborough River, and may be better described as ‘peak’ rather than ‘mount’. Whittow7 defines: Peak as: ‘The pointed top or summit of a mountain’ Mount as: ‘A portion of the land surface rising considerably above the surrounding country either as a single eminence or in a range or chain. Some authorities regard eminences above 600m as mountains, those below them being referred to as hills’. However, ‘Mount’ is consistent with most surrounding feature names and has been in long term use. Mueller named the majority of similar features in the vicinity ‘Mount’, with few ‘Peaks’. The Secretariat does not recommend altering the generic term.
New Zealand Both features are listed in the New Zealand Gazetteer as unofficial, Gazetteer and recorded names. Duplication The NZGB’s card index does not have an entry for either name, with any spelling. There are no other ‘Gorden’ names in the Gazetteer. There are numerous Gordon names in the Gazetteer including: - Gordon Falls approximately 17km northeast, and - Gordon Creek approximately 33km north of the proposal. The Secretariat has not determined whether there is any association between these two names and Mount Gorden. - Gordon Falls is shown on plans as early as 1895, on SO 135. - Gordon Creek is shown on plans as early as 1899, on SO 4009. Mount Elliot is duplicated approximately 190km southwest, above Jervois Glacier near the head of Arthur River, and approximately 220km northeast, above Ahaura River, immediately east of Lake Ahaura.
7 John Whittow, (2000), The Penguin Dictionary of Physical Geography. Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd: Auckland
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 9 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 An Elliot Bay is located south of Whangamumu Peninsula in North Auckland Land District. There are no Eliott names in the Gazetteer. There are also two Elliott Streams and a Mount Elliott, all located in the northeast South Island. These duplicated names are unlikely to cause issues for emergency services because of either their distance from the proposal or the difference in the generic feature type.
Research/History/ There is no reference to the names in the NZGB’s card index, Johannes References Anderson’s Card Index at Alexander Turnbull Library, Reed8, Wises New Zealand Guide9, or in various published histories of Westland exploration. The Secretariat was unable to locate any of Mueller or Douglas’ field books relating to their reconnaissance survey of the Clarke River and Landsborough River. If they exist, they may have the first record of ‘Eliott’ and ‘Gordon’. Charles Douglas’ geological roll maps, available digitally from Archives New Zealand, should be specifically noted.10 Okarito to Big Bay, 1903, is in Douglas’ own hand, and spells the names Gordon and Eliott. The earlier maps listed above were drafted by Lands and Survey staff, introducing a degree of separation. Huntly J H Eliott was Under-Secretary for Crown Lands from 1878 to 1891. He was also [acting?] Under-Secretary for Goldfields and Mines from 1884 to 1891, after the Under-Secretary Oliver Wakefield died from injuries sustained in a tram accident.11 In 1891 he was permanently appointed as Under-Secretary for Mines following the department’s split from the Department of Lands, until his retirement in 1905. Henry Andrew Gordon was appointed Inspecting Engineer (of Mines) from 1882, a position he held until his resignation in 1896. Both men were well known to Mueller, and to one another in their official capacities, being senior government officials in the Department of Lands and Survey: - Mueller was also a Commissioner of Crown Lands, Eliott the Under- Secretary. - Gordon as Inspecting Engineer reported to Eliott as Under-Secretary of Goldfield and Mines. There may also have been some association between Henry Gordon and Charlie Douglas, as Henry Gordon ultimately owned 33 of Douglas’ sketches.12 Hewitt and Davidson13 refer to ‘Gordon’ and ‘Elliot’: ‘It then turns abruptly to the south-west and beyond the Mueller Pass reaches the peaks of Strachan (8,359') and Elliot above the Edison tributary, ... Dechen, Gordon, Gow, Matheson and Mathers are peaks accessible from the Otoko Valley.’ To investigate the probability that the features relate to Henry Gordon and Huntly Eliott, the Secretariat conducted a holistic analysis of the names. This analysis compared features named on Mueller’s
8 Reed, AW & Dowling, P (ed.), (2010). Place names of New Zealand, Penguin Group: North Shore 9 E S Dollimore, (1952), The New Zealand Guide, H Wise & Cc: Dunedin 10 https://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=15007619 11 Press, Volume XL, Issue 5790, 3 April 1884, Page 2 12 Pascoe, Great Days, p.308 13 LR Hewitt & MM Davidon (1954), The Mountains of New Zealand, AH and AW Reed p.106
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 10 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 reconnaissance survey against the names of senior government officials in office 1887 and immediately prior. - The comparison produced nearly 40 matches, including every current and former Commissioner of Crown Lands, Chief Surveyor, Assistant Surveyor-General, Surveyor-General from 1876-1887. The proposer provides further matches against Lands and Survey officers. - This strongly indicates that Mueller systematically named features in the river valley. - The Under-Secretary of Lands and Inspecting Engineer would further complete this set of names. - Refer Appendix A for further discussion, a list and map. Other possibilities The Secretariat has not identified any other particularly noteworthy for ‘Eliott’ Eliott’s, Elliot’s or Elliott’s in New Zealand on or immediately before 1887, who would fit within Mueller’s naming theme. In an account of the eclipse in Surveys of New Zealand, Report for 1885-8614 that the proposer has provided an extract from, there is reference to a 4ft refracting telescope made by the Elliot brothers, owned by Mr. Thomas Humphries. - Of the names mentioned, the following in bold overlap with features named by Mueller: Acland, Adams, A Barron, Beverly, Bull, E Gell, H A R Farquhar, H A Gordon, M Grant, J D R Hewitt (possibly Mount Howitt), Humphries, Malings, J McKerrow, McCardell, Taylor, Watt. - A specific ‘eclipse’ theme for naming is possibly, with McCardell Glacier and McKerrow Creek in immediate proximity. - However, the inclusion of a feature named for a telescope brand is unlikely. Other possibilities The Secretariat has not identified any prominent ‘Gordens’ on or Gordon immediately before 1887. Two ‘Gordons’ that the feature may relate to, and for whom the arguments made by the proposer would apply to a lesser extent are: Arthur Hamilton Gordon, 11th Governor of New Zealand 1880-82: - was Governor of New Zealand during the Parihaka crisis in Taranaki, - however had already left New Zealand, and was serving as Governor of Ceylon in 1887, - there are no other matches for Governors (ie Normanby, Robinson, Prendergast, Jervois) on Douglas and Mueller’s survey. William Francis Robert Gordon, cartographer in the Office of the Surveyor General and cartoonist: - this possibility follows Charlie Douglas’ and John Pascoe’s comments regarding Mueller’s naming practices after Survey Office men and Government ‘clerks’. - the timeframe of his employment is difficult to discern, though it is clear he was working during James McKerrow’s tenure as Surveyor- General. Documentary evidence better supports that the name relates to Henry Gordon. In any case, this would not affect the proposal to alter the spelling.
14 SURVEYS OF NEW ZEALAND. (REPORT FOR 1885-86.), Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1886 Session I, C-01a http://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1886-I.2.1.4.2&srpos=1&e=------10--1------0eclipse+gordon-- last accessed 24/03/2016
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 11 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466
Spelling - Eliott Eliott’s surname is continuously misspelled ‘Elliott’ or ‘Elliot’, and his first name is misspelled ‘Huntley’ in documents, even in his obituaries in newspapers. Signed NZ Gazette notices confirm the spelling of Eliott’s name, and his probate records ‘Huntly John Harry Eliott’. The probate includes his signature, spelled Eliott:
Spelling - Gordon The Secretariat has confirmed the spelling of Gordon’s name by his publications on mining techniques, and NZ Gazette notices, which are spelled and signed ‘Gordon’. Obituaries also use ‘Gordon’. The Secretariat has been unable to locate Henry Gordon’s probate for an official record.
Consultation with The proposer has included a copy of a letter to Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio iwi and others (a Hokitika based rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu), but has not included a response. The Secretariat has also requested comments from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (TRONT) on the proposal, and whether they know of any original Māori names for the features. TRONT has not responded.
NZGB Act 2008 The NZGB has a statutory function to investigate and correct cases of doubtful spelling in terms of s.10(1)(c)(ii) and s.11(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008. The NZGB has a responsibility to consider a proposal seeking to alter the name of a feature by correcting its spelling, in terms of s.15(1)(b)(ii) of the Act.
Policy from the Spelling standards: A name that has been in long term use may take NZGB’s precedence over any proposal to alter spelling. However, subject to Frameworks safety concerns, the Board may alter the spelling if the correct or version 7 original version is discovered. The evidence provided by the proposer and the Secretariat’s research supports that the original spelling of ‘Gordon’ and ‘Eliott’ are correct, and that the features were likely to have been named after Henry Gordon and Huntly Eliott. As minor features, long term use would not outweigh the NZGBs statutory functions to correct spelling under s.10(1)(c)(ii) and s.11(1)(b) of the NZGB Act 2008. Spatial extents of geographic features: The Board will consider the spatial extent of a geographic feature on a case-by-case basis, and where possible will determine those extents. Mount Eliott and Mount Gordon may have moved positions when first depicted on NZMS mapping. The NZGB may wish to consider determining the correct position of the features, however further
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 12 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 investigation may be required.
Emergency The alteration of both names is unlikely to cause confusion for Services emergency services due to little phonological difference between Gordon and Gorden, and no phonological difference between Eliott and Elliot. Both features are known to Mountaineers and referred to in the New Zealand Alpine Journal. Mount Gorden is a landmark above Upper Otoko Pass, crossing between the river valleys. Altering the spelling and assigning the names as official may aid identification of the features to emergency services, by ensuring the official names are used in official documents.
Media It is unlikely that there will be any media attention as both features are a remote ridgeline.
New Zealand Sign Both the ‘official language’ NZSL and New Zealand’s obligations under Language the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Dictionary (UNCRPD) provide a basis for the NZGB to recognise the existence and importance of geographic names as they are expressed in NZSL. There is no standardised New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) sign for Mount Eliott or Mount Gordon in the online Dictionary, just for ‘Mount’:
The NZGB may consider recommending that Mount Gordon and Mount Eliott be added to the NZSL dictionary, should the names be altered and become official.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
1. Proposal received 3 September 2015 2. SO 8701 (Roll Plan 1/11) 3. SO’s 5688 and 5689 (Roll Plan 1/11A) 4. SO 8819 (Roll Plan 2/13) 5. Appendix from W R Jourdain Land Legislation and Settlement in New Zealand
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 13 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 APPENDIX A
The Secretariat has investigated the top positions in Lands and Survey from the dissolution of the Provinces in 1876 through to 1887, to check for matches with features named by Mueller. The Secretariat has found matches for every single serving and former Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief Surveyor within this period. Where relevant, some subsequent officers have been noted. The Secretariat is not stating that these matches are definitive, but as a large and complete set, that a systematic naming of features likely exists. This would also for example, explain both a Mount Baker and a Bakers Peak, with two Chief Surveyors Baker in 1887. The full executive structure of the Department of Lands and Survey is completed with further matches for Surveyor Generals (and Secretaries for Crown Lands), Assistant Surveyor Generals, and Under-Secretaries for Crown Lands. However, Henry Harry Atkinson, Donald Reid, and Charles Edward Haughton who varyingly acted as Secretaries or Under-Secretaries for Crown Lands prior to James McKerrow and Joseph Giles, are not represented. At this time, the Department of Mines was under Lands and Survey following the death of Oliver Wakefield, Under-Secretary for Goldfields and Mines. Huntly Eliott also served as Under-Secretary for Goldfields and Mines. There are matches for both the Inspecting Engineer and Inspector of Mines (Gordon and Gow *potentially). These names are also in close proximity. The position Commissioner of Crown Lands was amalgamated with Chief Surveyor in 1884, though existing Commissioners appear to have served out their terms. Members of the Westland Land Board have been included as there is a cluster of matching named features in close proximity. The Westland Land Board is highly relevant to Mueller in his position as Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Chairperson Bevan is strangely, not represented to complete the current five members of the Board in 1887. Dates have been compiled from, W R Jourdain’s Land Legislation and Settlement in New Zealand15, Te Ara Encyclopaedia Biographies, Gazette Notices, The Pioneer Land Surveyors Of New Zealand16, newspapers, etc Names can also be compared against the 1892 New Zealand Handbook17; bar some deaths, the level of overlap five years later is extensive.
Land District/Province Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered
Auckland Commissioner of Crown Lands [1871-1888] Daniel Austin Tole Mount Tole 1
Chief Surveyor [1873-1877] Daniel Austin Tole “
Chief Surveyor [1877-1888] Stephenson Percy Smith Mount Percy Smith 2 Percy Creek
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1888] Stephenson Percy Smith “
Chief Surveyor and Commissioner for Crown [1889-1891] Thomas Humphries See below Lands
Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown [1891-1904] Gerhard Mueller See below
15 W R Jourdain (1925), Land Legislation and Settlement in New Zealand, Department of Lands and Survey: Wellington 16 C A Lawn, (1980) The Pioneer Land Surveyors of New Zealand, N.Z. Inst. Surveyors: Auckland 17 https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1892-official-handbook/1892-official-handbook.html last accessed 29/03/2016
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 14 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Land District/Province Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered Lands
Taranaki Commissioner of Crown Lands [1874-1885] Charles Douglas Whitcombe Whitcombe Peak 3 Whitcombe Creek Whitcombe Glacier
Chief Surveyor [1870-1889] Thomas Humphries Mount Humphries 4 Humphries Creek
Commissioner for Crown Lands [1885-1889] Thomas Humphries “
Commissioner for Crown Lands and Chief [1889-1892] Sidney Weetman Mount Weetman 5 Surveyor (District Surveyor in 1886-87)
West Coast District Commissioner of Crown Lands [1880-1884] Charles Allen Wray Mount Wray 36 (short lived land office under West Coast Settlement (North Island) Act 1880 for Taranaki confiscations)
Hawke's Bay Chief Surveyor [1877-1888] Horace Baker Hawkes Bay Glacier 6 Baker’s Creek Mount Baker
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1876-1883] John Thomas Tylee Mount Tylee 35
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1883-1887] Horace Baker See above
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief [1887-1891] George Watkyn [Watkin?] Williams Mount Williams 7 Surveyor Williams Creek
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief [1891-1902] Thomas Humphries See above Surveyor
Wellington Chief Surveyor [1865-1879] Henry Jackson Jackson Creek 7 Jackson Glacier Mount Jackson
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1870-1884] Joseph Godfrey Holdsworth Mount Holdsworth 8
Chief Surveyor [1879-1892] John William Allman Marchant Mount Marchant 10
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1884-1891] John William Allman Marchant
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief [1891-1896] John Holland Baker See below Surveyor
Nelson Chief Surveyor [1876-1896] John Spence Browning Mount Browning 11 Browning Creek Browning Glacier
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1876-1889] Alfred Greenfield Mount Greenfield 12
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 15 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Land District/Province Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1889-1896] John Spence Browning See above
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief [1896-1902] Thomas Humphries See above Surveyor
Marlborough Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown [1862-1892] Henry Gostling Clark Mount Clark 13 Lands Clarke Glacier (presumably) 1879 gazette post-provinces has Henry George Clarke, which is corrected by a corrigendum later that year with Gostling Clark
Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown [1893-1897] Sidney Weetman See above Lands (District Surveyor in 1886-87)
Westland Commissioner of Crown Lands [1878-1884] Joseph Giles Mount Giles 14
Chief Surveyor [1871-1891] Gerhard Mueller Mueller Pass 15
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1885-1891] Gerhard Mueller “
Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown [1891-1893] John H Strauchon Mount Strauchon 16 Lands (District Surveyor in 1886-87)
Canterbury Commissioner of Crown Lands [1876-1884] John Marshman Mount Marshman 17
Chief Surveyor [1877-1891] John Holland Baker Baker’s Peak 18 Baker Glacier
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1884-1891] John Holland Baker “
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1884] Walter Kitson (temporary during Mount Kitson 37 Baker’s leave of absence, but gazetted)
Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown [1891-1896] John William Allman Marchant See above Lands
Otago Commissioner of Crown Lands [1876-1901] James Pillans Maitland Mount Maitland 19
Chief Surveyor [1878-1885] William Arthur Mount Arthur 20 Arthur Glacier
Chief Surveyor [1885-1897] Charles William Adams Adams Peak 21 Adams Creek
Southland Commissioner of Crown Lands [1861-1884] Walter Henry Pearson Mount Pearson 22
Chief Surveyor [1877-1891] John Spence Mount Spence 23 Spence Glacier
Commissioner of Crown Lands [1884-1891] John Spence “
Commissioner of Crown Lands and Chief [1891-1896] George Watkyn Williams See above Surveyor
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 16 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Land District/Province Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered
Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered
Surveyor General and Acting Surveyor General [1867-1875] Theophilus Heale Mount Heale 35 Crown Lands Surveyor General [1876-1879] John Turnbull Thomson Mount Thomson 24
Surveyor General and Secretary for Crown [1879-1889] James McKerrow McKerrow Glacier 25 Land Mount McKerrow McKerrow Creek
Secretary Crown Land [1874-1879] Harry Albert Atkinson X
Assistant Surveyor-General [1862-1904] Gerhard Mueller See above
Assistant Surveyor-General [1873-1879] James McKerrow See above
Assistant Surveyor-General [1882-1891] Stephenson Percy Smith See above
Assistant Surveyor-General [1892-1896] John Holland Baker See above
Under-Secretary Crown Land [1877-1891] Huntly Eliott Mount Eliott 26
Under-Secretary Crown Land [1891-1896] Alexander Barron Barron Peak 27 (Office Surveyor in Office of Barron Creek Surveyor General 1887)
Mines Under-Secretary for Goldfields and Mines -1884] Oliver Wakefield X
Under-Secretary for Goldfields and Mines [1884-1891] Huntly Eliott See above (acting?) [1891-1905]
Inspecting Engineer [1882-1896] Henry Andrew Gordon Mount Gordon 28
Inspector of Mines Appointed 1886 John Gow Mount Gow 29 *The NZGB card index, presumably from New Zealand Alpine Club VI, records Gow as being after the first Presbyterian minister in Hokitika, a different John Gow.
Inspector of Mines [1881-1884] S H Cox X
Under Secretary Public Works [1871-1883] John Knowles Mount Knowles 30
Under Secretary Public Works [1883-1890] C Y O’Connor X
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 17 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 Land District/Province Office Tenure Person Feature Numbered
Westland Land Board Chair Westland Land Board Serving [1885-87 John Beven X
Westland Land Board Serving in 1886-87 Leonard Northcroft Mount Northcroft 31
Westland Land Board Serving in [1886- Andrew Matheson Mount Matheson 33 87
Westland Land Board Serving in 1886-87 Paterson Mount Patterson 32
Westland Land Board Serving in [1886- James Kerr Kerr’s Peaks 33 87
Commissioner Westland Land Board Former member James Chesney Mount Chesney 34 [1878- early 1880’s
Westland Land Board Former member Henry Lee Robinson X 1880-1884-?
Westland Land Board Former member Patten X
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 18 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466 NZTopo250-21 Haast Crown Copyright Reserved
NZGB Meeting 20 April 2016 Page 19 of 19 Linzone ID A2334466