FERGUSON, WILLIAM (1852-1935), who was born in London, was a son of William Ferguson, a scientific chemist of note. He was an elder brother of Sir Henry Lindo Ferguson. Educated privately and at the Burton-on-Trent Grammar School, he was apprenticed in 1867 to Courtenay and Stephens, mechanical engineers, Dublin, and after completing his articles he entered Trinity College, Dublin (1873), graduating B.A. and first respondent (1877), B.Eng. (1879) and M.A. (1881). In 1881 he became an associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and in 1893 a full member. He was a life member of the Royal Dublin Society.

In 1880 Ferguson was appointed assistant to the professor of engineering at the College and in 1883 he sailed for New Zealand. In 1884 he was appointed engineer-secretary and treasurer to the Wellington Harbour Board. In his 24 years' service there the port became one of the most efficient and well equipped in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1890 he reported on and carried out plans for the drainage of Wellington. In 1907 he retired from the harbour board, but continued as its consulting engineer until 1913. Ferguson was managing director of the Wellington Gas Co. (1908-16) and chairman of the National Efficiency Board (1916-1920). A foundation member of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, he was president in 1919-20. He married (1890) Mary Louisa, daughter of William Sefton Moorhouse (q.v.). He died on 20 Jun 1935.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; The Dominion, 21 Jun 1935; N.Z. Times, 19 Oct 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

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