MURISON, WILLIAM DICK (1837-77) was born at Alyth, Forfarshire, and got his education at the High School in Edinburgh. He came to Otago in 1856 in the Strathmore, with Dr Hulme, and after spending two years in and about Dunedin took up a run in the Maniototo with his brother James. They spent some months opening up the easiest way to approach the property through the Shag valley. In the spring of 1858 they were encamped at Swinburn, on the east side of the Maniototo plain, and established their homestead at the foot of Rough Ridge. The brothers went through many hardships, and the financial depression forced them to give up their property. William had a penchant for public life. In 1863 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Manuherikia, which he represented for 18 months. In 1864 he was a member of the executive for a short time. When he resigned in 1865 there was a suspicion that he had done so to permit F. D. Bell to be elected. The electors resented the supposed arrangement by proposing Macpherson, who defeated Bell at the poll. In 1866 Murison was elected M.H.R. for Waikouaiti; he resigned in 1868. He was interested in public affairs, and his right place was obviously in Dunedin. He was one of the small band who in 1865 guaranteed the fund for the Dunedin Exhibition. He strongly supported the establishment of Otago University. He was one of the promoters also of the Otago benevolent institution, and was a founder and first treasurer of the Otago Institute. As an intelligent observer of nature he was a valuable member of this learned society. In 1877 he read a paper on the wild dog of New Zealand, and in 1870 a paper on moa remains in Otago. He was constantly referred to as to his observations during his early days on the land. For a while he was president of the Acclimatisation Society, which he did much to develop. From the time of its formation Murison was a director of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Co., of which he was a large shareholder. During the absence of Vogel from the province he several times had control of the Times, and he succeeded Barton as its editor, becoming in 1871 permanent editor of both papers. In this post he showed great ability and natural capacity, giving to the papers "a large, liberal, and cultured intelligence, a most unbending integrity, and a most earnest desire to do the right always, and the right alone. Calm and temperate in the expression of his opinions, almost judicial in the extreme impartiality with which he expressed himself, he conveyed even to those who at times differed widely from him the impression of having formed his judgment after full and calm consideration." His gentleness of manner, sound judgment, urbanity, and kindliness endeared him to all. He was a prominent figure in the cricket field, but had to abandon the game about 1866 owing to ill-health. Murison died on 28 Dec 1877.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Trans. N.Z. Inst.; O.D.T. Diamond Jubilee; Evening Star, 29 Dec 1877; Otago Daily Times, 16 Jan 1875; 18 Jul 1890 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 58

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