FIELD, HENRY AUGUSTUS (1852-99) was born in Wanganui, the son of Henry Claylands Field, C.E. (1825-1912), who arrived in the Simla (1851), practised as a civil engineer in Wanganui and published a book on New Zealand ferns (1890). He was educated by the Rev C. H. S. Nicholls. In 1868 he entered the Survey department as a cadet and in 1872 qualified as a surveyor. With his cousin, D. H. Monro, he undertook the survey of the Waimarino country just after the conclusion of the war, and spent two years in the difficult task of ascertaining the best lines for road and railway between the upper Whanganui river and Taupo. The information gained in this period was of great service to the North Island main trunk commission, before which he gave evidence.

Field was an accomplished Maori linguist, an original thinker and a wide reader. In 1878 he was compelled for reasons of health to retire from the service and he settled at Waikanae, where he farmed and practised his profession for the remainder of his life. In 1896 he defeated Newman for the Otaki seat in Parliament and in 1899 retained the seat against C. B. Morison, but died a few weeks later (8 Dec). He was for some years a member of the Wellington land board and president of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. He married a daughter of Thomas Wilton (Waikanae).

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Woon; N.Z.P.D., 22 Jun 1900; N.Z. Herald, 26 Nov 1892; N.Z. Surveyor, Dec 1899; N.Z. Times, 11 Dec 1899, 1 Mar 1912. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

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