MACALISTER, WILLIAM (1860-1936) was born in Scotland and came to Invercargill as a boy. His first employment, at the age of 14, was in Blackwood's wine store, where he worked long hours and rose to a responsible position. On the invitation of the Rev R. Fairmaid, he attended a revivalist meeting addressed by the Rev Dr Somerville which imbued him with the determination to prepare for the New Hebrides mission field. Studying hard during his short hours of leisure, he matriculated and, winning a church bursary, left for Dunedin to study divinity at Otago University. His passion for classics turned his thoughts from mission work to education as such, and he accepted a post under the Southland education board as head teacher at Wairio. While there (1885-89) he graduated B.A. (1888). Transferring to the staff of the Southland Boys' High School, he became acquainted with G. D. Braik (afterwards inspector), and together they became interested in the study of law. Macalister decided to read for his LL.B., and eventually took up law and accepted a partnership with his elder brother John (1896). From 1909 to 1925 he was crown prosecutor in Invercargill. He was a successful pleader and an authority on local body law, acting as counsel for many bodies and assisting in the drafting of legislation. He was president of the Southland law society. Macalister's passion for education never flagged. He and others instituted in the early nineties the collegiate classes association and in 1896 assisted to form the Southland technical classes association (out of which arose the Technical College). He was a member of the education board (1897-1914) and chairman (1899-1905); a member of the board of governors of the Southland High Schools (1897-1914) and chairman (1902-14); one of the founders of the Southland High School Old Boys' Association; and was on the council of Otago University (1912-13). Macalister served one term on the Invercargill borough council; was first president of the Greater Invercargill Association; a trustee of the Invercargill Savings Bank and for 25 years a director (10 years chairman) of the Southland Times Co.; foundation president of Invercargill Rotary; founded a society for the study of economics, and was keenly interested in the League of Nations Union.

Southland B.H.S. Reg.; Southland Times, 27 Jul 1936.

Reference: Volume 2, page 4

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