MARCHANT, JOHN WILLIAM ALLMAN (1841-1920) was born at Belgaum, India, the son of Dr Allman, surgeon of the 4th Regiment. Educated at Queenswood College, in Hampshire, after his father's death he adopted the name of his stepfather, with whom he was engaged on railway works in Brazil. In 1860 he joined the survey staff in Victoria and, having passed his examinations in 1862, he came to New Zealand the following year and practised at Invercargill. In 1865 he joined the lands and survey department, and surveyed the boundaries of the Nelson goldfields. In 1875 he became deputy inspector of surveys under the native land acts; in 1876 geodesical surveyor; in 1879 chief surveyor in Wellington province; in 1884 commissioner of crown lands and in 1902 surveyor-general. He retired in 1906 and died on 22 Dec 1920.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Jourdain; N.Z. Times, 23 Dec 1920.

Reference: Volume 2, page

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