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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. I. Nugent Wood
Mr. I. Nugent Wood has been well known as a Goldfields Warden in Otago for over forty years. He was born in Middlewick, Cheshire, England, in 1826, and attended school at his native place. As a lad he went to sea for a number of years, and landed in Australia in 1849. For some years he followed pastoral pursuits at Mount Gambier, South Australia. In the early days of the Victorian gold fields, Mr Wood became clerk to “Bendigo Mac,” Warden of the Bendigo goldfield. In 1861, Mr Wood came to Otago with Major Croker, to assist in organising the official staff, on the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully. In the following year he was appointed Warden, and was stationed at Fox's (Arrowtown). From that time onward Mr Wood acted as Warden on most of the Otago and Southland goldfields, and Queenstown was his last station. Owing to a severe buggy accident, he was compelled to retire at Easter, 1891. Mr Wood was married, on the 9th of February, 1854, to Miss Susan Lapham, the daughter of the late Mr Samuel Lapham, of Tasmania. Mrs Wood, who was known as a pleasing and versatile writer of prose and verse, died in 1880, leaving two sons. She was a highly valued and very popular contributor to the Otago Witness in the early sixties, and published a small book of poems, which attracted favourable notice throughout New Zealand, and is still treasured in many a bookcase.
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Mr. I. N. Wood.
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The Late Mrs Nugent Wood.