SMITH, WILLIAM COWPER (1843-1911) was born in London, educated at the Royal Grammar School at High Barnet, and came to New Zealand in the Egmont (1862). He served through the Waikato war in the 1st Waikato Regiment, and in 1872 started business in Waipawa. A few years later he was a member of the Waipawa road board (1877-95), and for 14 years chairman. He was a member of the Waipawa county council (1879-95) and chairman (1886-95); a member of the Waipawa hospital board (1880-95) and chairman (1886-94). In 1881 (defeating Ormond) he was elected to the House of Representatives for Waipawa; in 1887 for Woodville, and in 1890 for Waipawa, sitting continuously to 1893, when he retired. He was Government whip under the Ballance ministry (1891-93). In 1895 Smith was called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat until his death (on 5 Mar 1911). He was chairman of committees 1902-03, 1905-06, and 1907-08. Smith moved in 1882 to increase the wages of railway servants. He several times carried a proposal to vote £6,000 a year to public libraries, and he moved the lease in-perpetuity clause in the land act.

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jul 1911; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z. vi (p); Otago Daily Times, 4 May 1926.

Reference: Volume 2, page 160

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