WOOLLCOMBE, BELFIELD (1816-91) was born at Bellerton, Cornwall, the son of the rector, the Rev Henry Woollcombe, with whom he moved to High Hampton and Ashbury. At the age of 13 he entered the Royal Navy as a midshipman in H.M.S. Thunderer. He was in the West Indies in 1830 and served in the China campaign (1839-40). In 1841 he was promoted lieutenant, and in 1850 he retired on pension with the rank of commander, afterwards advanced to captain. Arriving in New Zealand in 1852, he joined Mallock, Lee and Lance in the New Zealand Woolgrowing Co., which had a large property at Mt Parnassus, north Canterbury. In 1857 he settled at Timaru, where he bought a small section and built himself a house. He was appointed Government agent charged with all official duties, including those of postmaster, resident magistrate, immigration agent, harbourmaster and registrar of births, deaths and marriages. With his naval experience he made an efficient survey of Timaru harbour. In 1878 he retired, after having brought into operation almost every government department in the town. He was then engaged in business with G. F. Clulee until his death (22 Jul 1891). Woollcombe was keenly interested in St Mary's Anglican church, being architect of the building and a churchwarden for many years. He contested the Timaru parliamentary seat against Turnbull, but was defeated (1879). He married (1861) Frances A., daughter of the Rev Henry Fendall, of Fendalton, Christchurch.

Roberts; Col. Gent.; Woodhouse; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Andersen (p); Timaru Herald, 23 Jul 1891.

Reference: Volume 2, page 268

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