POWDITCH, WILLIAM (1793-1872), in 1821 commanded the Royal George, 500 tons, chartered by Alexander Berry, which brought Sir Thomas Brisbane to assume the governorship of New South Wales. He was living in Valparaiso, Chile, in 1825, when he had several children, and afterwards came to New Zealand, where he commanded the brig Bee. In 1831 he was at Bay of Islands, where he made up mails for New South Wales. Between 1835 and 1839 he purchased over 4,000 acres of land round Whangaroa harbour.

Powditch was settled at the Bay of Islands before the arrival of Busby, and took part in most of the public affairs of the settlers. In Aug 1841 he was gazetted a magistrate of New Zealand. Later in the forties he removed to Auckland. He was a commissioner for the Epsom East ward of Auckland in 1851, and an alderman of the first Auckland municipal council in the following year. In 1853 Powditch was elected to the Provincial Council for the Pensioner Settlements, which he represented 1853-56 and 1857-61. He represented Onehunga 1861-65, being defeated by O'Rorke and Kirkwood on the separation question. From 1857 to 1865 he was speaker. He was also for some time clerk and librarian to the Council. In 1866, as the provincial government could not grant him a pension, it revived the vacant office of deputy-auditor for the Auckland province, and appointed Powditch (1 May 1867). He died on 22 Aug 1872. His widow died on 5 Nov 1882, aged 83.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z. Archives, B.R.1; Ramsden; Marsden, L. and J.; N.Z. Herald, 4 Sep 1872.

Reference: Volume 2, page 94

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