William White (New Zealand politician)

William White MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Sydenham
In office 1881 – 1886
Personal details
Born	1848 Macclesfield  England
Died	July 1900  New Zealand
Political party	Independent
Relations	William White Snr. (father)
Profession	Politician, timber and coal merchant, construction contractor

William White (1848 – 19 July 1900) was a 19th-century New Zealand Member of Parliament in the Sydenham electorate, and Mayor of Sydenham.

Early life

White was born in Macclesfield, England, in 1848.^[1] His parents were William White Snr. and Elizabeth. Together with his younger brother Leonard, they left England on board the William Hyde on 21 October 1851. They arrived in Lyttelton on 5 February 1852.^[2][3][4]

His working career started with the Christchurch Gas Company. He then entered into construction contracts for the Southbridge and Pleasant Point branch railways.^[1] He then entered his father's business, which he took over in 1885, as a timber and coal merchant.^[1]

Political career

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1881–1884	8th	Sydenham		Independent
1884–1886	9th	Sydenham		Independent

In the 1881 general election, White contested the newly created Sydenham electorate against O. Clark, J. W. Treadwell and J. R. Andrew. They received 662, 163, 111 and 70 votes, respectively. With a majority of 499, White was returned to Parliament.^[5]

In the 1884 general election, White and Scott contested the Sydenham electorate, receiving 776 and 462 votes. The incumbent was thus re-elected.^[6]

He resigned in March 1886 following medical advice that he ought to retire from public life for one or two years.^[7]

Sydenham Borough Council

White was a member of the Sydenham Borough Council from 1878 to 1892. In 1883–1885, he was the Mayor of Sydenham.^[1]

Death and commemoration

White died in July 1900, either on the 18th^[8] or 19th.^[9] At the time, he was a resident of the Christchurch suburb of New Brighton. He was buried on 21 July 1900.^[10]

Rapaki Road in Christchurch's Port Hills was originally called Whites Road after William White Snr.^[11] His father built this road, which is these days one of the busiest recreational trails up into the Port Hills, in order to give better access to the Mount Pleasant run that he owned in partnership with Richard May Morten.^[12]

References

1. "Mr. William White, Junr". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
2. "Passage of the William Hyde". Lyttelton Times II (58). 14 February 1852. p. 6. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
3. "William White snr (1824-1899)". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
4. "William Hyde". RootsWeb. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
5. "CANTERBURY ELECTORATES.". The Star (4255). 10 December 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
6. "The Elections." X (1250). Manawatu Times. 23 July 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
7. "The Sydenham Electorate.". The Star (5580). 30 March 1886. p. 3. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
8. "Miscellaneous". Nelson Evening Mail. XXXIV (169). 20 July 1900. p. 2. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
9. "Obituary". Colonist. XLIII (9846). 20 July 1900. p. 4. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
10. "Late Advertisements". The Star (6852). 20 July 1900. p. 3. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
11. "Christchurch Street Names R to Z" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 6. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
12. Ogilvie, Gordon (2009). The Port Hills of Christchurch. Phillips & King. p. 185. ISBN 978-0-9583315-6-2.