HUMPHRIES, THOMAS (1841-1928), son of E. L. Humphries (q.v.), was born in London and came to New Zealand in 1851. He was educated privately in New Plymouth and in 1857 joined the Taranaki survey department. He subsequently rose to the position of chief surveyor and commissioner of crown lands for Taranaki, Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Nelson and Canterbury and in 1906 became Surveyor-general. Serving with Atkinson's Forest Rangers, he took part in the Maori war in the sixties and became a good rifle shot.

Humphries was interested in astronomy in relation to surveying and wrote a text book on the subject. He officially observed the transit of Venus in 1882, and photographed the eclipse of the sun in 1885. He was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and of the Institute of Surveyors, and a member of the Government Life Insurance and Public Trust boards of investment, and of the miners' and surveyors' boards of examiners. Retiring in 1909, he died on 30 Aug 1928. In 1864 he married Martha Ann, daughter of the Rev Robert Ward (q.v.).

Cycl. NZ, 1; Who's Who NZ, 1908, 1924; Evening Post, 30 Aug 1928 (p); The Dominion, 31 Aug 1928 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 227

🌳 Further sources