Arthur William Follett Halcombe
Arthur Halcombe was born at Highgate, London in 1834. He was educated at St Paul's School, London and Oriel College, Oxford.
In
1855, he and his brother, Christopher, emigrated to New Zealand, under the patronage of
William Fox, whose wife Sarah was his cousin. He became manager of
“Westoe”, William Fox's estate in Rangitikei, and in 1863
signed a six year lease for the property.
On 3 Dec 1863 he married Edith Stanway Swainson.
1862-65 inspector of schools in the Wellington province.
1865-72 elected to the Wellington Provincial Council.
1869-71 editor of the Wellington Independent newspaper.
1872
involved in the establishment of Scandinavian settlements
in
Manawatu, Wairarapa and Hawkes' Bay.
1872-81
attorney and agent for the Emigrant and Colonist's Aid Corporation
for the Manchester Block and Feilding district.
The Pines, 1878. Sketch by Edith Halcombe Ref 30955½
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa,
must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
A.W.F. Halcombe and Edith Halcombe, Photographer unknown, Ref PA2-2119
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand,
Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa,
must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
By 1874 he was living at “The Pines” in Feilding. He and his wife were pivotal figures in the establishment of Feilding, helping new settlers come to terms with their strange new environment and the success of the scheme was largely due to his foresight and ability. In 1881, the Halcombes left Feilding and became involved in the Paterere Land Co settlement scheme, but the scheme ran into financial trouble. In 1886 he retired to “Ferngrove” at Urenui, Taranaki where he died 3 Mar 1900.
Urenui c 1880, watercolour by William Fox, Ref WC-021
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand,
Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Sources:
Orange C. (ed) Dictionary
of New Zealand Biography Vol 2 1870-1900
Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, Dept of
Internal Affairs 1993.
Mingins D. and Pilkington D. Feilding
and the Manchester Block: The European Settler Families; Swamp,
Sandflies and Settlers.
Feilding
and Districts Historical Society, Box 42, Feilding, 2000.
The Myers Family History -A.W.F. Halcombe
Cathy Clarke, Wellington, New Zealand
email: catherine.clarke@clear.net.nz
Last updated: 9 Oct 2009
