SYMES, WILLIAM CHARLES (1845-1919) was the son of a Somerset farmer and was born at Bridgwater. He came to Canterbury with his parents in the Ann Wilson (1857), and proceeded to New Plymouth. Owing to the war he was sent to Nelson to school (1861). In 1864 the family went to Wanganui, and about 1873 to Patea. Symes obtained a block of 1,500 acres at Manutahi, where he bred shorthorns and Lincoln sheep and did a good deal of cropping. In public life he was 19 years chairman of the Patea West road board, and 19 years a member and 11 years chairman of the Patea county council, besides being on the Patea harbour board and licensing bench and the hospital and charitable aid board for the combined district. Symes's chairmanship of the county council was marked by the rebuilding of practically all the bridges. He was also chairman of the Patea Jockey club, a steward of the Egmont Racing club and vice-president of the Hawera Hunt club. He married (1886) a daughter of Peter Hume (Wairarapa). He died on 28 Nov 1919.

Cycl. NZ., vi (p); Taranaki Herald, 2 Dec 1919.

Reference: Volume 2, page 180

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