COWLISHAW, WILLIAM PATTEN (1839-1903) was born in Sydney and educated there, graduating M.A. at the University of Sydney. He served his articles with Rowley, Holdsworth and Garrick, and was admitted to the bar in 1863. In the same year he came to Canterbury and entered into partnership with E. F. Harston, but in 1864 Garrick (q.v.) came into the partnership in place of Harston. They continued to practise together for many years, with the addition in 1883 of J. B. Fisher (q.v.). In 1865 Cowlishaw married Helen, daughter of John Bossley, Edensor Park, New South Wales.

Cowlishaw was the first solicitor to the board of governors of Canterbury College and was at different times solicitor to the education board, the City of Christchurch and the drainage board. He was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council (for Avon 1865-66; for Heathcote 1870-74) and was provincial solicitor and a member of the executive (1864-66 and 1871-74). He was a fine debater and once contested the Stanmore seat in Parliament (against Pilliet). Cowlishaw was a director of the Christchurch Gas Co., the Press Co., and Ashby Bergh and Co., and some time chairman of Manning and Co. He died on 27 Mar 1903.

The Press, 28 Mar 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 106

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