LIGAR, CHARLES WHYBROW (1809-79) was born in Ceylon, where his father was stationed, and educated at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He received his commission in the Royal Engineers, but soon resigned and afterwards joined the field drafting department of the Ordnance Survey. He was serving in Ireland when he was appointed by the Colonial Secretary to be surveyor-general in New Zealand (1840). Ligar married (1839) Grace (1811-58), daughter of Thomas Hanyngton, of Dungannon, County Tyrone (a niece of Lord Charlemont). They sailed for New Zealand in the Prince Rupert, which was wrecked on the coast of Brazil, and they continued their voyage in the Antilla, arriving in Dec. In addition to his duties as surveyor-general, Ligar was a lieutenant-colonel in the Auckland battalion of militia, and served during Heke's war. He was a magistrate and land titles commissioner in 1846. In 1848 he was a member of the Legislative Council of New Zealand. In 1856 he retired from the position of surveyor-general, and proposed to take up a run in south Otago, where he had made extensive explorations. During this trip he reported to the Superintendent of Otago that he had discovered gold in the Mataura river at Tuturau. Ligar went on pension in 1857 and was afterwards surveyor-general in Victoria (1858-69). On retiring he settled in Texas as a cattle grazier, but without much success. He married (secondly) Marie, daughter of Captain Williams (of New Zealand). Ligar died in 1879.

Mennell; N.Z.C., 32; Ordnance Survey records; Pyke; Beattie, ii.

Reference: Volume 1, page 266

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