MITCHELL, WILLIAM MURRAY (?-1851) held a captain's commission in the 84th Regiment, with which he served in India. He came to New Zealand on furlough in 1848 in search of suitable land, and travelled overland from Auckland to Wellington with H. W. Petre (q.v.). After visiting England in 1849, he returned to New Zealand and, with E. Dashwood, explored for a suitable stock route between Wairau and Port Cooper (1850). Travelling by the Waihopai valley, they reached the Plains in May; John Tinline and Impey using the Awatere route. Mitchell returned to India to sell his commission, intending to settle on his property at Mount Grey, but died at Madras on 25 Jun 1851.

Acland; C. A. Macdonald; Godley, Letters; N.Z. Spectator, 7 Jan 1852; The Press, 14 Feb 1925.

Reference: Volume 2, page 46

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