FANTHAM, ARTHUR ALBERT (1842-1904) was a native of Buckinghamshire and came to New Zealand with his parents in the Duke of Portland (1852). They settled in Canterbury and the son was educated at the Boys' High School and the Commercial School. He became a farmer, having a property near Christchurch on which he established his pedigree herd of shorthorn cattle.

In 1877 Fantham moved to Cambridge. There he took a leading part, as a member of the South Auckland cattle board, in devising and enforcing measures to combat pleuro-pneumonia. In 1880 he received a presentation in Auckland in recognition of his public spirit and disinterestedness. In 1882 he removed to Hawera, where later he was manager of the Egmont Farmers' Union. In Canterbury he was a member of the Spreydon road board and at Cambridge he was on several road boards and the cattle board. He was chairman of the Hawera road board and later of the county council.

Fantham married a daughter of John McWilliam (Canterbury). His death occurred on 16 Jan 1904.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); N.Z. Herald, 13 Nov 1880; Taranaki Herald, Jan 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

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