Thomas Cass (surveyor)

Thomas Cass
Born	1817 Yorkshire, England
Died	17 April 1895 Christchurch, New Zealand
Resting place	Barbadoes Street Cemetery
Occupation	Surveyor
Known for	Chief Surveyor of Canterbury (1851–1867); politician
Spouse(s)	Mary Cass

Thomas Cass (1817 – 17 April 1895) was one of New Zealand's pioneer surveyors.

Cass was born in Yorkshire in 1817. He received his education at the Royal Mathematical School, which is part of Christ's Hospital in Horsham District, West Sussex, England.

He left England in 1841 on the Prince Rupert to take up survey work for the New Zealand Company, but the ship was wrecked at the Cape of Good Hope and Cass lost most of his gear. He continued his journey on the Antilla and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, in December 1841. He helped with the survey of parts of Auckland, and then surveyed Kororareka, before laying out roads in Northland. He returned to Auckland and surveyed North Shore, and then went back to the Bay of Islands. He was laid off by the New Zealand Company towards the end of 1844 as part of their downsizing.

Cass was then employed at sea and became chief mate on the brig Victoria. He was back in Northland for the Battle of Kororareka on 11 March 1845, and participated in action against Te Rauparaha in the following year. He also transported robbers to Wellington who had ambushed the Greenwood brothers of Purau.

Cass returned to England in 1847 to obtain compensation for his dismissal as a surveyor. He was hired by the Canterbury Association and was made one of the assistant surveyors of Joseph Thomas. Together with Charles Torlesse, they sailed on the Bernicia to Nelson, and from there to Wellington. They reached Lyttelton Harbour on 15 December 1848. Cass undertook trigonometrical survey in the Christchurch, Lincoln and Ellesmere districts. When Thomas was sacked in January 1851 by the agent of the Canterbury Association, John Robert Godley, he became chief surveyor and held that role until his retirement in early 1867.

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