WOOD, READER GILSON (1821-95) was born at Highfields, Leicestershire, and educated at the Merchant Taylors' school, London, after which he was a pupil for six years of William Flint, architect and surveyor. He then came to Australia, and in 1844 to New Zealand. Heke's war breaking out shortly afterwards, he held a commission in the volunteer artillery and served at Ohaeawai (being mentioned in Despard's despatch). After the war he practised his profession in Auckland, and in 1848 was appointed government inspector of roads; in 1849 permanent architect and inspector of public works; and in 1852 deputy Surveyor-general for New Ulster. He had charge of road construction and controlled a great number of native labourers. In 1850 he married Mary Jane (d. 31 Aug 1898), daughter of George Holland (London).

When the waste lands were transferred to the General Government (1856), Wood retired to practise his profession and sharebroking. In 1857 he was returned to the Provincial Council for Auckland Suburbs, which he represented until 1861. He was an eloquent speaker and showed considerable political sagacity. Contesting the parliamentary seat for City East (1858), he was defeated by Forsaith, but in Jan 1861 he defeated Heale for Parnell, and six months later he was Colonial Treasurer in Fox's government and Commissioner of Customs. His success in charge of these portfolios was marked, and he administered the same offices until Nov 1864 (in the Domett and Whitaker-Fox ministries). He put forward a scheme of land settlement which involved the raising of £3,000,000, and at the end of 1864 he resigned his portfolios and went to England, where he raised £1,000,000. On his return to the Colony he resigned his seat in Parliament and devoted himself to his private affairs, which were prejudiced by the removal of the seat of government to Wellington. In 1870 he was again elected to Parliament by Parnell, which he represented until 1878, when he resigned again to visit England. In 1873 Wood re-entered the Provincial Council (for Parnell), remaining there until the abolition and being a member of the executive for a few months in 1875.

In Parliament Wood opposed the borrowing policy of Vogel, and found himself definitely within the Liberal camp. When the Grey Government was defeated at the polls (1879) he was close in Grey's confidence, and the leader wished him to accept the treasurership or even the premiership. This he declined firmly, and when it was clear that Grey was determined to retire Wood consulted with other Auckland members (Swanson, Hurst and Colbeck), and they agreed to give their support to Sir John Hall on the understanding that he would use the majority thus assured to further manhood suffrage, to defend the existing system of secular education, and to grant to Auckland what they believed to be due from recent loans. Wood was now representing Waitemata (having defeated J. S. Macfarlane in 1879). At the dissolution in 1881 he was defeated by Tole for Eden. He stood once more unsuccessfully and then retired from politics. He was chairman of the Auckland Gas Co., and a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank.

Wood was a man of great ability, a pungent and facile speaker and a financier of no mean order. He secured the abolition of the old civil service pensions by a resolution in 1871, and proposed a graduated scheme of salaries in preference to a 10 per cent cut all round. He and Gillies were the most determined critics of Vogel's borrowing policy in the seventies. Wood died on 20 Aug 1895.

Cycl. N.Z., i, ii; Saunders, ii; Reeves; Rusden; Gisborne; Cox; N.Z. Herald, 18 Jun 1881, 21 Aug 1895. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 268

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