CROWTHER, WILLIAM (1834-1900) was born in Lancashire. At the age of 19 he emigrated to Australia and worked on the Victorian diggings, mining and contracting. About 1862 he came to Otago and had several teams carrying to the Dunstan fields. The war attracted him to Auckland, where he took up army contracts and imported horses from Otago and Australia for army purposes. After the war he purchased in Melbourne ten buses with which he initiated services in the vicinity of Auckland, and eventually established the Victoria stables in Wellesley street. Retiring with a competence after twelve years, he devoted his attention to public service. He was a member of the City Council (1878-94) and mayor (1891-92), a governor of the Auckland College and Grammar School and a member of the council of Auckland University College, the city schools committee, the charitable aid board and the sailors home. He was a member of the harbour board and for one term chairman. In 1893 Crowther was elected to Parliament for Auckland City, which he represented till his death (15 Mar 1900).

Russell; Morton, p. 21; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 16 Mar 1900; N.Z.P.D., 22 Jun 1900. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 109

🌳 Further sources