ROUT, WILLIAM (1830-1909) was born in Essex and managed his mother's carpet and furniture business before coming to Nelson by the Maori in 1853. He was engaged in building at Richmond for 18 months, and then took up farming at Massacre Bay, but soon moved to Nelson and became a manufacturer of furniture and builder. In 1862 he established a land, estate and commission agency. He represented Nelson in the Provincial Council (1873-75) and was in the executive as provincial treasurer (1874-75). He was government valuer for land tax in Nelson for some years, and on retiring removed to Cambridge (1894), where he founded the technical school. Rout died on 20 Aug 1909.

Nelson P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 133

🌳 Further sources