BARNICOAT, John Wallis 1814–1905

Born in Falmouth, England: trained as an engineer. Arrived in Nelson 1842 and worked as a surveyor for the New Zealand Co. In 1844 visited the east coast of the South Island searching for a suitable site for the new settlement, Dunedin. On returning to

– 34 –

Nelson took an active part in local politics: was Member of Nelson Provincial Government until the abolition of provinces, Member of the Legislative Council 1893–1902. In March 1864 Barnicoat was a companion of the painter J. C. Richmond on an exploratory tour down the West Coast and up the Buller River and tributaries. A drawing is reproduced in James Cowan's The New Zealand Wars 1922. The manuscript of his journal, illustrated, is in Turnbull, copies of pencil sketches of Dunedin in 1844 are in Hocken.