Dr Samuel Matthias Curl alias Dr Alan Carroll

Samuel Matthias Curl was the first medical practitioner in Tawa commencing practice there in 1855. He moved to the Rangitikei district in 1862 and practised there until 1887 when he eloped to Sydney with Annie Douglas. Besides practising medicine in New Zealand he farmed in both areas, was noted for his agricultural research and his work on several committees. In Sydney he assumed the name of Dr Alan Carroll and worked as an anthropologist and child health adviser. He died on the 17 April 1911 and left his estate in trust to establish two scientific bequests.