ADAMS, WILLIAM (1811-84) was born at Upton, Herefordshire, the son of Miles Adams, a lawyer. In 1850 he came to Nelson in the Eden, and shortly afterwards went to Marlborough and took up the Redwood run in the Avondale valley. A leader of the separation movement, he was elected to the first Marlborough Provincial Council for Wairau Valley, which he represented till 1862. Adams was the first Superintendent of the province, but resigned the superintendency to accept the post of commissioner of crown lands. He continued a member of the executive until Jan 1862 when, his salary having been reduced by the opposition party in the Council, he resigned and left the province to practise law in Nelson, where he founded the firm of Adams and Kingdon. He represented Picton in Parliament (1867-68). He retained his pastoral run on the north bank of the Wairau river, where he died in 1884 (see W. A. B. ADAMS).

Marlborough P.C. Minutes and Gaz.; Cycl. N.Z. v (p); Buick, Marlborough

Reference: Volume 1, page 19

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