THE LATE MR. H. C. FIELD, C E

By the death of Mr Henry Claylands Field, who passed away at his residence, River Bank, Aramoho, on Wednesday evening, at the ripe age of 87, Wanganui loses one of its most interesting links with the past, one who has been associated with the progress of this district ever since its early days, and who manfully bore his share of the ups and downs incidental to the worlc of the pioneer. Born at Holybourne, Hampshire, England, in 1825, Mr Field received his education at Stockwell Grammar School and the City of London School, and completed the scholastic portion of his life bv a course at King’s College, London. Being destined for the profession of a civil engineer, he was rticled to Sir John !<■ n nie, whose name is well-known ell over the world in connection with great r’,.-. of engineering, and who was the bnddeof the present London Bridge. At the age of 20 Mr Field entered the serve . . an c.nglish railway company, where mmeined for ten years. The colonies thn attracted him, and he came out to N. Zealand in the ship Simla, and proceeded to Wanganui. The young settlement was then governed by a Town Board, which anpointed Mr Field its clerk and engineer. Subsequently he acted also as engineer to the road boards of the district, and as consulting engineer to the Rangifik-ei Road Board. By the construction of good communications. Mr Field left’ his mark all over the district, being responsible for the construction of no less than 2090 miles of roads. His naum is perpetuated by Field’s Track from Wanganui Karioi, the half of which nearest to Wanganui now forms part of the Para para Road. This track has been and is still used bv thousands, and is known as one of the best surveyed and graded roadwavs in the country, even though part of it novnr got beyond the track stage. In 18Tt Mr Field retired from active purpits, but ho has ever since been a well-known figure. He published several works on scientific subiects. including “Perns of New Zealand,” which is recognised as a standard authority on this branch of the flora of New Zealand._ He was an ardent supporter and exhibitor of the Horticultural Society, and a prominent member of the old Harmonic Society. Mr Field was also active in church was a member of the Wellington Anglican Hiocesan Synod, and also of the General Synod, for many years. He also took a great interest in harbour matters and public affairs generally, and was a frequent contributor to the Press, his letters always commandin- attention. He was for some years a director of the Wanganui Chronicle Company. The late Mr Field, whose wife predeceased him, leaves six sons and five daughters, with whom widespread sympathy will be felt in their loss.