ROWE, WILLIAM (1819-86) was born at St Ann's, Cornwall, educated there, and was employed for many years in the Cornish mines. He came to New Zealand in the forties under engagement to the Great Barrier Copper Mining Co. Later he engaged in carrying in and about Auckland, and was for a few years employed in the Waikato coalmines until the opening of the Thames goldfield (1867). Rowe stood for the Suburbs seat in the Provincial Council in 1855. In 1861 he was elected for Newton, which he continued to represent until 1868, when he moved to Thames. He was a member of the provincial executive during 1867-69. Rowe's first appointment at the Thames was as manager of the Kuranui mine, and he was afterwards a promoter of the Thames Gold Mining Co. He helped to float the Thames Investment Co., and for some years (to 1871) he managed the Caledonian mine when it was entering upon its most prosperous phase. He also managed the Moanataiari from 1873. Rowe stood for the mayoralty of Thames against Davies without success (1875), but in the following year he was returned with Sir George Grey for the House of Representatives, Vogel being third on the poll. In Parliament his authority on mining matters was recognised. He sat until 1879, when he was defeated. He was invited to contest the superintendency against Grey in 1875, but declined. Rowe later engaged without success in various mining ventures, and in 1882 made a commercial exploration of Lord Howe Island. He was a strong Wesleyan, and owed much of his education to the Wesleyan Sunday schools. In later life he was a local preacher. Rowe died on 1 Jul 1886.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; Parltry. Record; Weston (p); Thames Advertiser, 2 Jul 1886. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 133

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