WOODS, JOHN JOSEPH (1849-1934) was born and educated in Tasmania, and was for eight years a school teacher there before coming to New Zealand. He landed on the West Coast and spent some time in Nelson, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. He taught in private schools at Lawrence and Invercargill. He took a special interest in music, and played 12 instruments, but excelled with the violin. For many years he was conductor of the choir in the Roman Catholic church at Lawrence, where he was clerk to the Tuapeka county council. Woods is best known as the composer of the music to which Bracken's God Defend New Zealand was set. Bracken wrote the anthem in 1878, and dedicated it to the Governor (Normanby). The Saturday Advertiser then offered a prize for the best music, and a committee in Melbourne, consisting of Zelman, Zeplin and Siede made the award. Woods was a prominent cricketer and tennis player, and captain of the Lawrence cycling club.

Personal information from J. J. Woods; Cycl. NZ., iv (p); MS in Auckland Public Library; Saturday Advertiser, 27 Jul, 26 Oct 1878; Tuapeka Times, 20 Feb 1932.

Reference: Volume 2, page 268

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