FRASER, WILLIAM (1827-1901) was born at Inverness, Scotland, and educated at the Academy there and at Edinburgh University. After serving articles to a solicitor in Inverness, he was two years in the office of Christie and Pagan, of Cupar (1848-50) and was admitted to the bar 1851. He married Elizabeth Horsburgh (d. 1906), daughter of the last hereditary sheriff clerk of Fifeshire. Soon after this he emigrated to Victoria, where he had some experience on the goldfields and came to New Zealand 1863 with Australian volunteers for the Waikato war. He served as captain in the first Waikato regiment, and was present at Te Ranga, Irihanga (Jan 1867), Whakamarama (Feb) and many other engagements, rising to the rank of colonel. Fraser was a member of the Provincial Council for Franklin (1865-69) and resident magistrate and warden at the Thames (1869-79). On retiring he became part proprietor of the Thames Advertiser. He was also M.H.R. for Thames (1884-90) and for Te Aroha (1891-93). He was five years mayor of Thames, a member of the county council and colonel of the Thames Scottish battalion. In 1894 he was appointed sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, a post which he filled until his death on 17 Sep 1901.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); Thames Star, 25 Jul 1927; N.Z. Times, 18 Sep 1901; N.Z.P.D., 17 Sep 1901; N.Z. Herald, 18 Sep 1901; Auckland P.C. Proc., 1865-70. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

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