PILLIET, WALTER HYPPOLYTE (1835-85) was born in France and brought up in England. He came to New Zealand in the late forties as a cadet on the Flaxbourne station of Clifford and Weld, who were relatives. Not finding this suitable, he was in business in Invercargill as a surveyor and land agent, spent some time on the marine survey and became private secretary to Donald McLean as Native Minister. In 1856 he was appointed sub-collector of customs at Picton, and later warden and magistrate on the Marlborough goldfields; at Kaikoura (1869) and Akaroa (1872).

Pilliet was member of the Canterbury Provincial Council for Bays (1874-76). He was elected M.H.R. for Stanmore in 1881 but unseated on petition. Elected again in 1882, he sat till 1884, when he was defeated. He married in 1864 Mary Ann, daughter of David Johnston (Nelson), and in 1872 Agnes, daughter of Ebenezer Hay (Pigeon Bay). His death occurred on 30 Nov 1885.

Civil service records; Guthrie Hay; Lyttelton Times, 1 Dec 1885. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 87

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