NAPIER, WILLIAM JOSEPH (1857-1925), who was born in Ireland, arrived in Auckland in 1862, and attended St Peter's Roman Catholic school and St John's College. He was called to the bar in New Zealand (1883), and in Fiji (1886), and in 1889 became adviser to King Mataafa of Samoa. He was also counsel to Sir George Grey until his death, and to Te Kooti and Rewi. From 1889 to 1902 (when he retired) he was member for Auckland City in the House of Representatives, and in 1901 he was chairman of the statutes revision committee. Napier was a member of the Auckland harbour board (1893-1907) and for a time chairman; a founder and president of the Navy League and the Victoria League in New Zealand and captain for nine years of the Devonport coastguard artillery. He was president of the English-speaking Union, a vice-president of the British Red Cross committee during the war of 1914-18; a member of the council of the Auckland Law Society; founder (and president for several years) of the French Club, and a founder of the Auckland Liberal Association. Napier married Henrietta, daughter of E. W. Mills (Wellington). He died on 29 Nov 1925.

NZ.P.D., 18 Jun 1926; Cycl. NZ., ii (p); Butt. Fort. Notes, 1925, p. 200; Who's Who NZ., 1908, 1924.

Reference: Volume 2, page 60

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