MATHEW, Felton 1801–1847

Born London, a cousin of George Felton Mathew who was a friend of the poet Keats. In 1829 arrived in New South Wales to take up appointment as Assistant-Surveyor of Roads and Bridges: 1832 his cousin Sarah, sister of George Felton Mathew, came out to marry him. 1839 was appointed Surveyor-General of New Zealand and in January 1840 came to the Bay of Islands with Governor Captain Hobson on the HMS Herald: he was on the Herald with Hobson in the Waitemata Harbour looking for a site for the future Auckland when Hobson had the stroke which almost incapacitated him. Made another exploratory trip, examining the Waitemata site, and was with the first party of officials to settle in Auckland September 1840; travelled down to Wellington and back with Hobson's party in 1841. Visited England 1845, his appointment having turned out to be a temporary one: after acting as Chief Police Magistrate decided to return to England but died in Lima where he had on account of his health had to leave the ship. Represented: APL, ACAG.