BOLT, WILLIAM MOUAT (1838-1907). Born at Lerwick in 1838 and educated in the parish school of Sandness, Bolt for some years assisted his father (Francis Bolt, 1805-98) in the village smithy and in working small craft and fishing. In 1855 he shipped at Liverpool in a vessel chartered by the Government to carry troops to the Crimea. After two voyages in this service and six years in sailing ships trading to North and South America and Australia, he landed in New Zealand from the Nelson in 1863.

On coming to Dunedin Bolt was employed for a short time lightering from Port Chalmers and then obtained employment with Bing, Harris and Co., whom he served as storeman for 30 years. Shortly after his arrival in New Zealand he attached himself to the democratic party. He was a close friend of Sir Robert Stout and Richard Hudson and often discussed with them a socialist scheme for a settlement on Stewart Island. He himself propounded a scheme of a co-operative settlement, upon which he lectured throughout the colony and published at least one pamphlet (Industrial Settlement). It was widely endorsed by Labour organisations and he brought forward in the Legislative Council resolutions dealing with it. Other pamphlets published by him were The Religious Conditions of Europe a Century Ago and Land and Labour, and in 1891 he published a telling reply to Dr Laishley's pamphlet on the economic depression. In later life he was interested in archaeology. Bolt was prominent in the free thought movement and was first secretary and sometime vice-president of the Dunedin society. He served on the Dunedin schools committee for four years (as chairman part of the time), was a member of the first trades council (later vice-president) and a member of the council of the New Zealand federated tailoresses' union. His political ideal was the gradual advance of the people in their collective capacity by means of general industrial co-operation.

Bolt was called to the Legislative Council by Ballance on 15 Oct 1892 and remained a member until his death, which occurred 29 Apr 1907. At that time he was president of the Dunedin Progressive society. He married in 1861 a daughter of Captain Lawson, of Lerwick.

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jun 1907; N.Z. Times, 17 Oct 1892; Otago Daily Times, 1 Nov 1892, 30 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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