McILRAITH, HUGH, was born in Ayrshire, in 1836, and brought up to sheep farming. In 1855 he came to Australia, and the following year arrived in Canterbury, settling in the Malvern hills district. In 1864 he married a daughter of William Lyon, of Wellington. McIlraith moved to the Amuri district in 1876. He was chairman of the Amuri road board and for three years (1882-84) sat as member for Cheviot in the House of Representatives. He was an original and life member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral association, president of the New Zealand Trotting association and of the New Brighton club, and a Justice of the peace from 1865 until he resigned in 1896. He retired from farming in 1885.

Cycl. NZ., iii (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 12

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