CRAWFORD, WILLIAM FITZGERALD (1843-1927) was born at Templemore, Tipperary, Ireland. Educated in Ireland, he came to New Zealand in the Statesman (1863) and spent two years in the employ of Robert Cashman, gumdigging at Awhitu, and in a grocery establishment in Auckland which was furnishing provisions to the troops. Attracted to the West Coast goldfields, he was manager of stores at Hokitika and Ross. Then he visited the diggings at Terawhiti, worked on a reclamation contract in Wellington and on the survey in Wairarapa, and eventually moved to the Thames goldfields, where he was storeman to C. Petschler at Shortland. Crawford prospected at Ohinemuri and Waitekauri, struck gold on Hapu creek and engaged in sharebroking. He married about this time and was then employed by the Albert brewery in Auckland (1871) and storekeeping at Onehunga. In 1874 he went to Gisborne in the Pretty Jane with the engine for the South Pacific Oil Co., which was set up at Waiongaromia. In 1875 he took charge of the brewery at Gisborne and when a company was formed in 1895 he became manager. Crawford was the first mayor of Gisborne (1877-78) and was a member of the harbour board. He was a keen amateur photographer.

Cycl. NZ, ii; Gisborne Jubilee.

Reference: Volume 1, page 108

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