William Thomas Wood

Early life and family

Born in Hobart, Van Diemen's Land, in June 1854, Wood was the son of Robert Wood and Charlotte Wood (née Watford). After leaving school he worked as a blacksmith for seven years, before moving to New Zealand in 1872. He lived first in Dunedin, working as a manager on the construction of the Port Chalmers–South railway. In 1875 he settled at Kumara on the West Coast, where he established a blacksmith's business. He married Ellen Jolly of Kumara in 1879, and the couple went on to have seven children. In March 1879, Wood moved to Palmerston North, setting up as a blacksmith there, and continuing in that business until it was taken over by his eldest son in 1900.

Political career

Local politics

Wood was active in local body politics. He was elected councillor on the Palmerston North Borough in 1884, 1885–1887, 1892–1895 and again in 1901. He was Mayor of Palmerston North from 1895 to 1899, and again from 1901 to 1903.

From 1902 to 1904 Wood was a member of the Wellington Harbour Board representing Manawatu.

Member of Parliament

Wood was endorsed by Prime Minister Richard Seddon as the government candidate for the Palmerston (now Palmerston North) electorate in the 1899 general election, a measure by which Seddon demonstrated his opposition to Frederick Pirani. Pirani won the Palmerston electorate that year, but unsuccessfully contested the in the electorate.

Wood won the Palmerston electorate in the 1902 general election, was re-elected in 1905, but in 1908 he was defeated by the Reform candidate David Buick.

He later retired to Australia and died in the Sydney suburb of Bondi on 10 June 1943, his 89th birthday. The funeral service was held at St Matthew's Anglican Church, and he was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

Notes

References

References

1. Scholefield, G. H.. (1932). "Who's Who in New Zealand". Reed.
2. (1908). "Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]". Cyclopedia Company.
3. "Wood, William Thomas". Tasmanian Government.
4. Matheson, Ian Roderick. (2003). "Council and community: 125 years of local government in Palmerston North 1877–2002".
5. "1890s". Palmerston North City Council.
6. "1900s". Palmerston North City Council.
7. {{DNZB. Oliver. Steven. 2p19. Pirani, Frederick. 26 February 2010
8. (29 November 1902). "Untitled". [[The Evening Post (New Zealand).
9. Wilson, J. O.. (1985). "New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840–1984". Government Printer.
10. (14 June 1943). "Obituary: Mr. William T. Wood". Evening Post.
11. (12 June 1943). "Funerals". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].