His father was the rector Peter Williams, and his mother was Lydia Sophia Price. One of his brothers was Watkin Williams.[2] The birth dates for William and Charles are uncertain, as they were apparently born in August and September 1828, respectively *Parish registers of Llangar show Watkin baptised in Sept 1827 & Henry in Sept 1828.[3]
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.[4]
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.[4][5][6] Johnstone ceased to practice in 1864, but Wynn-Williams remained with the firm until 1912.[4] The firm of Wynn Williams & Co still exists today.
He was involved in conveyancing, criminal trials and significant civil litigation. He is described as fearless and often represented the underdog.[4]
Political career
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 Council to exist. Wynn-Williams was active with the group and took the case to court.[7] Ratepayers started to withhold their rates, and in April 1866 the Council was forced to drastically cut expenditure in order to fend off bankruptcy.[8] 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.[9] 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.[8] Wynn-Williams eventually lost the lengthy case and left the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, which then folded.[7]
Provincial Council
Wynn-Williams was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council 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).[10]
Wynn-Williams was an advocate of the working class.[13] Although the Christchurch newspaper The Press was conservative and thus from the opposite end of the political spectrum than Wynn-Williams, they praised him in an editorial on 21 April 1883 for speaking his forthright opinion rather than following the attitude of other politicians of saying what the voters want to hear and what is popular with them:[13]
It gives us a new and a delightful sensation to read the speech he made to his constituents at Woolston on Thursday evening so free it is from humbug or deception, and so vigorous with fearless candor.
His great-grandson, Robert Wynn-Williams, used the editorial as inspiration for the title of his biography.[13]
The nominations for the 1884 general election in the Heathcote electorate took place on 16 July.[14] The 22 July election was contested by the incumbent Wynn-Williams, John Coster and James Fisher. They received 245, 445 and 15 votes, respectively.[15] Coster was thus, with a majority of 200 votes, elected to represent Heathcote in the 9th New Zealand Parliament.[16]
Community involvement
Wynn-Williams was on the council of the Canterbury Society of Arts, a group organising exhibitions of paintings.[17] In 1881, he was vice-president of that organisation.[18]
henry, wynn, williams, william, 1828, october, 1913, 19th, century, member, parliament, from, canterbury, zealand, prominent, lawyer, christchurch, honourable, 1882member, zealand, parliament, heathcotein, office, 1881, 1884personal, detailsborn1828llansannanw. 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 The HonourableHenry Wynn WilliamsHenry Wynn Williams in 1882Member of the New Zealand Parliament for HeathcoteIn office 1881 1884Personal detailsBorn1828LlansannanWalesDied27 October 1913RelationsWatkin Williams brother Occupationlawyer Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career 3 Political career 3 1 Political activism 3 2 Provincial Council 3 3 Member of Parliament 4 Community involvement 5 Death 6 Bibliography 7 ReferencesEarly life EditWynn Williams was born in August 1828 in Llangar Conwy County Borough North Wales 1 His father was the rector Peter Williams and his mother was Lydia Sophia Price One of his brothers was Watkin Williams 2 The birth dates for William and Charles are uncertain as they were apparently born in August and September 1828 respectively Parish registers of Llangar show Watkin baptised in Sept 1827 amp Henry in Sept 1828 3 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 4 Professional career Edit Information board at Ferrymead Heritage Park on Wynn Williams 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 4 5 6 Johnstone ceased to practice in 1864 but Wynn Williams remained with the firm until 1912 4 The firm of Wynn Williams amp Co still exists today He was involved in conveyancing criminal trials and significant civil litigation He is described as fearless and often represented the underdog 4 Political career EditPolitical activism Edit George Allen was a leader of several protest groups One such group the Ratepayers Mutual Protection Association challenged the right of the Christchurch City Council to exist Wynn Williams was active with the group and took the case to court 7 Ratepayers started to withhold their rates and in April 1866 the Council was forced to drastically cut expenditure in order to fend off bankruptcy 8 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 9 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 8 Wynn Williams eventually lost the lengthy case and left the Ratepayers Mutual Protection Association which then folded 7 Provincial Council Edit Wynn Williams was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council 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 10 Member of Parliament Edit New Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party1881 1884 8th Heathcote IndependentThe 10 December 1881 general election 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 11 12 Wynn Williams was an advocate of the working class 13 Although the Christchurch newspaper The Press was conservative and thus from the opposite end of the political spectrum than Wynn Williams they praised him in an editorial on 21 April 1883 for speaking his forthright opinion rather than following the attitude of other politicians of saying what the voters want to hear and what is popular with them 13 It gives us a new and a delightful sensation to read the speech he made to his constituents at Woolston on Thursday evening so free it is from humbug or deception and so vigorous with fearless candor His great grandson Robert Wynn Williams used the editorial as inspiration for the title of his biography 13 The nominations for the 1884 general election in the Heathcote electorate took place on 16 July 14 The 22 July election was contested by the incumbent Wynn Williams John Coster and James Fisher They received 245 445 and 15 votes respectively 15 Coster was thus with a majority of 200 votes elected to represent Heathcote in the 9th New Zealand Parliament 16 Community involvement EditWynn Williams was on the council of the Canterbury Society of Arts a group organising exhibitions of paintings 17 In 1881 he was vice president of that organisation 18 Death EditHe died on 27 October 1913 19 and is buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery 20 Bibliography EditWynn Williams Robert 2013 Free from Humbug The Life and Times of Henry Wynn Williams ISBN 9780473226244 References Edit Mr William Henry Wynn Williams The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Christchurch The Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903 Retrieved 27 April 2010 Norgate Gerald le Grys 1900 Williams Charles James Watkin In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 61 London Smith Elder amp Co Wales Archives Services Baptism registers of All Saints Church Llangar Merionethshire entry 419 1827 amp entry 446 1828 a b c d Whiteside Peter Speech at Cocktail Party on 30 January 2009 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Wynn Williams amp Co Wynn Williams amp Co Archived from the original on 6 August 2010 Retrieved 9 November 2010 Barristers Victoria University Retrieved 9 November 2010 Early Residents of Fendalton Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 10 November 2010 a b Unsung Heroines Lizzie Cooker Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 10 November 2010 a b Christchurch a chronology 1866 Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 10 November 2010 Southern Provinces Almanac 1865 PDF and Reeves Printers 1865 p 69 Retrieved 10 November 2010 Scholefield Guy 1950 First ed published 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1949 3rd ed Wellington Govt Printer p 197 CANTERBURY ELECTORATES The Star No 4255 10 December 1881 p 3 Retrieved 26 April 2010 Wilson James Oakley 1985 First ed published 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1984 4th ed Wellington V R Ward Govt Printer OCLC 154283103 a b c Crean Mike 22 February 2014 Forgotten figure was fiery lawyer and politician The Press p C12 Heathcote No 5055 Star 16 July 1884 p 3 Retrieved 26 April 2010 The Elections Vol X no 1250 Manawatu Times 23 July 1884 p 2 Retrieved 26 April 2010 Heathcote The Star No 5016 23 July 1884 p 3 Retrieved 26 April 2010 The Third Annual Exhibition of the Canterbury Society of Arts I883 PDF Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 10 November 2010 Canterbury Society of Arts First Annual Exhibition 18 Jan 12 Feb 1881 PDF Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 10 November 2010 Personal Matters The Evening Post Vol LXXXVI no 103 28 October 1913 p 7 Retrieved 10 November 2010 The late Mr W H Wynn Williams The Press No 14810 XLIX 30 October 1913 p 2 Retrieved 11 August 2014 New Zealand ParliamentPreceded byJames Fisher Member of Parliament for Heathcote1881 1884 Succeeded byJohn Coster Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Wynn Williams amp oldid 1114345114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
