THOMAS, JOSEPH, who was born in 1803, served in the army in India, being at one time aide-de-camp to Sir John Malcolm. He arrived in Port Nicholson in the Adelaide (Mar 1840), and in 1841 he joined the Company's survey staff and was engaged in the survey of the Wanganui lands. Previous to this he had built a schooner at Otaki, which ran ashore, but was refloated. Retrenchments in the Company's staff caused his dismissal in 1843. In the following year, with H. S. Harrison, he made an exploration overland to Hawkes Bay and later worked on the Otago survey.

Thomas returned to England in the middle forties and applied to the New Zealand Company for employment. He got into touch with the Canterbury Association and was about to be sent out as its agent when the New Zealand Company took the responsibility and he was engaged for survey work. Thomas was appointed to choose a block of a million acres, and to prepare it for the arrival of settlers. Arriving in Wellington by the Bernicia (1848) he inspected lands in both islands on behalf of the Canterbury Association. In Dec he wrote recommending the site at Port Cooper as the best, though Governor Grey at the time favoured Manawatu or Rangitikei. Grey and Selwyn approved the selection in May 1849 and in Jul Thomas began the survey of the Canterbury block. On the advice of William Deans he fixed the site for the capital on the plains instead of Lyttelton, and he laid out Lyttelton and completed the survey of the rural lands. No labour being available, he obtained 120 Maori workmen from the North Island. By Apr 1850, when Godley arrived, he had spent some £20,000 in surveys, roading, bridges and buildings for the reception of the emigrants. Godley had to suspend his operations owing to lack of funds. He considered Thomas a rough, vigorous, determined man and was not impressed by his work. J. L. Stokes, on the other hand, spoke very highly of his maps, which were better than any he had seen south of the line. Thomas's route for the Sumner road was approved by the Government engineer in 1852 and his line of road was adopted in 1914 for a motor road. There can be no doubt as to his ability and competence and the land purchasers eulogised very highly his judgment, energy, skill and perseverance. He was succeeded as surveyor in Jan 1851 by Cass and proceeded to England a few months later.

NZ.C. (Canterbury Association papers); Cant. O.N.; E. J. Wakefield; Arnold; Godley, Letters; The Press, 16 Dec 1909, 12 Dec 1925.

Reference: Volume 2, page 193

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