MR H. A. FIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5740, 7 December 1896, Page 4

MR H. A. FIELD.

Mr Henry Augustus Field, the new 1 member for Otaki, is the eldest son of Mr H. C. Field, C.E., of Wanganui. He was born at Wanganui on May 27, 1852, and is therefore forty-four years of age. He has spent the whole of his life in the colony. ; In 1868 Mr Field entered the Government servico as a cadet in the Survey Department. He qualified as surveyor in 1872, and in conjunction with his cousin, Mr D. ' H. Monro, of Chriatchureh, immediately on 1 the close of the last Maori (or To Kooti) war, undertook, on behalf of the Government, the trigonometrical survey of the Waiuiarino and other country in tho Upper ' Wanganui and Taupo districts. These two L i gentlemen were tho first Europeans to ! enter this country, and they were accomJ panied by none but Natives, though the country was then in a most troublous and unaffected state, and the country through ■ wfcachthey passed had only just been the scene of war, rapine and murder. Mr Monro at t?i *° Wan gan«i in a few months, and ► 7, ■ bLe V remained two years completing ■ SpiT^h • Tho cx Pe«ence gained by Mr . f 1{ :Z m and more recent surveys of his > the ""^je parta of the colony rendered him one of the most valuable witnesses ex- ' amlU^ n b ; y . th ? M am Trunk Central Eail, his eviaence that the present route was adopted. Mr Field was obliged to relinqmsh Ins Permanent engagement with the Government m 1878, ovria R to severo rhouniatxsm contracted by long exposure to wet ; and cold while on tho survey He still ■ however, practises his profession as smv ' veyor and engineer in his own distriot.

Since 1878 he kas been sheep farming at Waitanae, on the West Coast of the North Island. Mr Field is a licensed 'Native interpreter, is a thorough Maori scholar, and an expert in Native customs. He enters Parliament as a Government supporter.