Mr. Henry Trent , Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Marlborough Land District, was born in 1848, educated at a private academy in London, and finished at the Nelson College, New Zealand. Mr. Trent entered the Civil Service in August, 1863, as a survey cadet, under the Provincial Government of Nelson. In January, 1868, owing to the opening of the Buller goldfields, and the impetus thus given to public works, surveying, etc., on the West Coast, several officers were sent to Westport, which became the district office of the Nelson Southwest Goldfields. Among these, Mr. Trent was transferred, first of all in the capacity of draughtsman to the District Engineer, and later as Assistant and Mining Surveyor. In 1873, he was promoted to the position of District Surveyor for the Grey Valley district, with headquarters at Ahaura. This position he held until the abolition of the provinces, when, with other Provincial Government officers, he was transferred to the General Survey Department as Chief Draughtsman at Nelson. This position he held until the 31st of May, 1904, when he was promoted to the post he is now occupying, his present appointment dating from the 1st of June, 1904.