William Wynn-Williams
Encyclopedia
William Henry Wynn-Williams (1828 – 27 October 1913) was a 19th century Member of Parliament
from Canterbury, New Zealand
. He was a prominent lawyer in Christchurch
.
, Conwy County Borough, North Wales
.
His father was the rector Peter Williams, and his mother was Lydia Sophia Price. One of his brother was Charles
. The birth dates for William and Charles are uncertain, as they were apparently born in August and September 1828, respectively.
His brother Charles studied medicine initially, but changed to a law degree. William was educated in preparation for joining the Indian army, but then also studied law. After practising in Wales for two years, William emigrated to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington
in 1856. He worked on farms in the South Island
and settled in Christchurch in 1860.
still exists today.
He was involved in conveyancing
, criminal trials and significant civil litigation. He is described as fearless and often represented the underdog.
to exist. Wynn-Williams was active with the group and took the case to court. Ratepayers started to withhold their rates, and in April 1866 the Council was forced to drastically cut expenditure in order to fend off bankruptcy. Staff were laid off, street cleaning suspended, some streets no longer lit and contracts cancelled. In May 1866, the city drainage scheme was abandoned, a project that had been estimated to cost £160,000. A shipment of pipes that had just arrived from England was sold off, ensuring Christchurch's reputation as the most polluted and unhealthy city for another 20 years. Wynn-Williams eventually lost the lengthy case and left the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, which then folded.
from 1865 until the abolition of provincial government with one interruption. He represented Heathcote (July 1865 – May 1866), City of Christchurch (June 1866 – November 1870) and Papanui (October 1871 – June 1875).
in the Heathcote electorate
was contested by the incumbent
James Fisher
, Wynn-Williams and Major Alfred Hornbrook. They received 119, 243 and 167 votes, respectively. Wynn-Williams was thus elected with a majority of 76 votes.
The nominations for the 1884 general election
in the Heathcote electorate
took place on 16 July. The 22 July election was contested by the incumbent Wynn-Williams, John Coster
and James Fisher. They received 245, 445 and 15 votes, respectively. Coster was thus, with a majority of 200 votes, elected to represent Heathcote in the 9th New Zealand Parliament
.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
from Canterbury, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was a prominent lawyer in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Early life
Wynn-Williams was born in August 1828 in LlansannanLlansannan
Llansannan is a rural village in Conwy County Borough, Wales.thumb|500px|Llansannan- Location :It lies on the bank of the River Aled and is about 8 miles to the south of Abergele and to the west of Denbigh...
, Conwy County Borough, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
.
His father was the rector Peter Williams, and his mother was Lydia Sophia Price. One of his brother was Charles
Charles James Watkin Williams
Charles James Watkin Williams was a Welsh judge, doctor and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1880.-Life:...
. The birth dates for William and Charles are uncertain, as they were apparently born in August and September 1828, respectively.
His brother Charles studied medicine initially, but changed to a law degree. William was educated in preparation for joining the Indian army, but then also studied law. After practising in Wales for two years, William emigrated to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 1856. He worked on farms in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
and settled in Christchurch in 1860.
Professional career
He began practising law in New Zealand in July 1860 when he joined the practice of Harry Bell Johnstone, who had started his legal firm in January 1859. Johnstone ceased to practice in 1864, but Wynn-Williams remained with the firm until 1912. The firm of Wynn Williams & CoWynn Williams & Co
Wynn Williams Lawyers, previously Wynn Williams & Co is a law firm in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the last 50 years it has produced three High Court Judges and one Supreme Court Judge, Andrew Tipping, a remarkable contribution from a small number of partners.Founded by Harry Bell Johnstone in...
still exists today.
He was involved in conveyancing
Conveyancing
In law, conveyancing is the transfer of legal title of property from one person to another, or the granting of an encumbrance such as a mortgage or a lien....
, criminal trials and significant civil litigation. He is described as fearless and often represented the underdog.
Political activism
George Allen was a leader of several protest groups. One such group, the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, challenged the right of the Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
to exist. Wynn-Williams was active with the group and took the case to court. Ratepayers started to withhold their rates, and in April 1866 the Council was forced to drastically cut expenditure in order to fend off bankruptcy. Staff were laid off, street cleaning suspended, some streets no longer lit and contracts cancelled. In May 1866, the city drainage scheme was abandoned, a project that had been estimated to cost £160,000. A shipment of pipes that had just arrived from England was sold off, ensuring Christchurch's reputation as the most polluted and unhealthy city for another 20 years. Wynn-Williams eventually lost the lengthy case and left the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, which then folded.
Provincial Council
Wynn-Williams was a member of the Canterbury Provincial CouncilCanterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
from 1865 until the abolition of provincial government with one interruption. He represented Heathcote (July 1865 – May 1866), City of Christchurch (June 1866 – November 1870) and Papanui (October 1871 – June 1875).
Member of Parliament
The 10 December 1881 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
in the Heathcote electorate
Heathcote (New Zealand electorate)
Heathcote was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:Heathcote existed from 1861 to 1893.George Williamson Hall resigned in 1862. He was succeeded by William Sefton Moorhouse in the 1862 by-election...
was contested by the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
James Fisher
James Fisher (politician)
James Temple Fisher was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Canterbury, New Zealand.He represented the Heathcote electorate from 1876 to 1881, when he was defeated.-References:...
, Wynn-Williams and Major Alfred Hornbrook. They received 119, 243 and 167 votes, respectively. Wynn-Williams was thus elected with a majority of 76 votes.
The nominations for the 1884 general election
New Zealand general election, 1884
The New Zealand general election of 1884 was held on 22 July to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 9th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 21 July. A total number of 137,686 voters turned out to vote.-References:...
in the Heathcote electorate
Heathcote (New Zealand electorate)
Heathcote was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:Heathcote existed from 1861 to 1893.George Williamson Hall resigned in 1862. He was succeeded by William Sefton Moorhouse in the 1862 by-election...
took place on 16 July. The 22 July election was contested by the incumbent Wynn-Williams, John Coster
John Coster
John Lewis Coster was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Christchurch, New Zealand.He represented the Heathcote electorate from 1884 to 1886, when he died.-References:...
and James Fisher. They received 245, 445 and 15 votes, respectively. Coster was thus, with a majority of 200 votes, elected to represent Heathcote in the 9th New Zealand Parliament
9th New Zealand Parliament
The 9th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and xx general electorates on 21 and 22 July 1884, respectively. A total of 95 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in July 1887...
.