WHITCOMBE, JOHN HENRY (d. 1863) came from Devonshire. He was trained as a civil engineer in the Great Western railway under Isambard K. Brunel, and in 1854 went to India to take up an appointment. In 1857 he came to New Zealand in the Blue Jacket, and was appointed provincial surveyor for Canterbury. In May 1863, with Jacob Lauper (q.v.), he crossed what was named Whitcombe's pass, from the head of the Rakaia to the west coast. Encountering bad weather, and weakened by cold and hunger, he was drowned in crossing the flooding Teremakau river.

Cant. Gaz., vol. x, No. 10; Cycl. N.Z., i, 1023; Dobson; Harrop, Westland; Lyttelton Times, 11 Jul 1863.

Reference: Volume 2, page 250

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