NELSON, WILLIAM (1843-1932) was born in Warwick, educated at Warwick College, and was engaged in gelatine and cement works. At the age of 20 he came to New Zealand in the Devonshire. He joined the militia, but by the end of the year began sheep-farming with his brother (Frederick Nelson) at Kereru, Hawke's Bay. After visiting England he farmed at Waipukurau (1866-69) and was flaxmilling at Mangateretere (1870-72). Later they had properties at Waipukurau and on the Heretaunga plains.

In 1875 Nelson returned to England and had experiments made at the gelatine works of Nelson, Dale and Co. which resulted in improved machinery for the preservation of meat and the preparation of tallow. In 1880, with J. N. Williams, they installed the machinery at their works at Tomoana, and two years later a company was formed to take over the business (which was under the management of Nelson). In 1884 three successful shipments were sent to England. In 1885 Nelson Brothers opened stores in Thames Street, London. To assist the sale the barque Prince of Wales was fitted up with refrigerating machinery and stationed at Plymouth as a distributing centre. In 1895 the distributing business was sold to the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Co., of which his brother (Sir Montague Nelson) was the chairman. William Nelson was chairman of the Clive river board and for some years president of the free association of employers (after the maritime strike). He founded the Heretaunga Boys School in Hastings and assisted to found Woodford House. He married (1865) a daughter of Henry Bicknell, Bangor, Wales, and died on 16 Nov 1932.

Critchell and Raymond (p); The Dominion, 15 Feb 1932; Hawke's Bay Herald, 17 Nov 1932 (p); Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, 7 May 1937.

Reference: Volume 2, page 61

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