PEARSON, WILLIAM FISHER (1854-88) was born at Christchurch. Educated privately, he entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand under Coster (q.v.) and in three years was stationed successively at Christchurch, Palmerston North, Nelson and Lyttelton. In 1873, when Coster went to London to inaugurate the ocean services of the New Zealand Shipping Co., Pearson went as his private secretary. On his return to New Zealand a few years later he was appointed manager of Studholme and Russell's Raglan estate (Auckland). He soon afterwards returned to Canterbury, taking up a farm at Fairfield; and was chairman of the Oxford road board. In 1880 (with H. Brettagh) he took up the Worlingham estate. Next year he was elected M.H.R. for Ashley, which he represented until his death (3 Jul 1888). During part of the time he was a whip for the Atkinson Government. Pearson was one of the earliest New Zealand-born parliamentarians. His father (Joseph Pearson) came to Canterbury in 1851 as manager for Hawdon, and took up Burnt Hill.

Acland; The Press and Lyttelton Times, 4 Jul 1888. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 83

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