STEELE, WILLIAM (1831-98) was born in Shropshire, and in 1847 left for Australia. He took part in the gold rushes in New South Wales, Victoria and California, and in 1853 came to Auckland, later settling at Lucas Creek, Wairoa. He became a lieutenant in the Wairoa Volunteers, and on the outbreak of the Maori War was commissioned by the Government to raise men in Sydney for the Waikato campaign. When hostilities ceased, he settled in the district as a land and estate agent, and in 1864 founded the settlement of Hamilton. His first wife died in 1887, and in 1894 he married a daughter of J. Runciman (q.v.). Steele died on 20 Sep 1898.

Cycl. NZ, ii (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 166

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