DALDY, WILLIAM CRUSH (1816-1903) was born at Rainham, Essex, educated there, and went to sea in one of his father's colliers, the Mayflower. His father died in 1832 and he obtained a post as third mate in the transport Briton, sailing for Ceylon. He then tried a shore post, but found it advisable to return to the sea. For some time he commanded the schooner Shamrock, 85 tons, trading to Newfoundland and the Baltic.

In Dec 1840 he left Liverpool for Tasmania and he arrived in the Waitemata on 1 Jul 1841, the day on which the first customhouse was opened at Auckland. For three years he traded between Auckland and Sydney, varied by a voyage to Tahiti for cattle and an arrest there for using political language. In 1845 Daldy commanded the Bolina, taking home the first cargo of New Zealand produce, in the interest of Brown, Campbell and Co. Two years later he bought land near Auckland and started to work a timber station, for which there was a good market in Auckland. In 1849 the firm of Combes and Daldy, wholesale and shipping agents, was established. His partner died in 1869 and thereafter Daldy carried on alone.

In 1855 he contested the Northern Division seat in the Provincial Council without success, but in the same year he was elected to Parliament for City of Auckland, which he represented until 1860. Shortly after making his appearance in Parliament he was appointed a member of Fox's short-lived government (May-Jun 1856). In 1857 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Suburbs, but he lost his seat a few months later when the Council was dissolved. In 1861 he was again elected, for Auckland West, and he sat until early in 1864. During this time Daldy was an active advocate of the interests of the city, and in Dec 1862 he succeeded Pollen as provincial secretary. He carried through the Council the half million loan bill and the first fencing bill. When he visited England in 1865 he acted as emigration agent for the province, sending out some thousands of settlers, and he also purchased the first railway plant for Auckland and managed the provincial funds in London during the Overend Gurney smash in a most advantageous manner. He was a member of the harbour board (being chairman for the first seven years), captain of the fire brigade and for 30 years a justice of the peace (a post which he resigned in 1886).

Daldy was one of the promoters of the New Zealand Insurance Co., chairman of the South British Insurance Co., an auditor of the Bank of New Zealand and a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank. He was one of the first volunteers sworn in in New Zealand, being lieutenant of the Coastguards. During the Waikato war they were on duty at Miranda and Drury, and Daldy was under fire in carrying despatches to the head chief at Wairoa. From 1874 to 1876 he was a member of the City Council.

Daldy was a staunch Congregationalist and held many offices in that denomination from 1851 (including those of treasurer and Sunday school superintendent). He took an interest in many philanthropic movements. He married first (1841) the daughter of Captain Pulliam (Launceston). After her death (1877) he married Miss Hamerton (who was a leader in social and feminist movements, being a member of the New Zealand Women's National Council). Daldy died on 5 Oct 1903.

Parltry Record; Auckland P.C. Proc. and Gaz; Darroch; Cycl. N.Z., i, ii (p); Cowan, i; Morton; N.Z. Herald, 2 Jul 1881, 6 Oct 1903; N.Z. Graphic, 23 Jul 1892 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 112

🌳 Further sources