Pioneer’s Portrait For County Council Chambers

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1940, Page 2

Pioneer’s Portrait For County Council Chambers

To the collection of photographs of prominent men of the district, both past and present, now hanging in the County Council Chambers, is to be added that of Mr William Ormiston, who represented the then constituency of Mangapai in the Provincial Council. A son of Mr Ormiston is now living at Onerahi. Particulars secured by the clerk (Mr H. C. Hemphill) from the Chief Librarian of the General Assembly Library, Wellington (Mr Guy Scholefield) contained some interesting particulars in connection with Mr Ormiston and the early settlement of this district. Bom in Glasgow. Mr Ormiston was bom in Glasgow in 1824 and claimed descent from Gorfpatvic, first sheriff of Roxburghshire, and from Sir James Ormiston, who was attainted with the murder of Darn ley. In 1859, leaving his family in Cornwall, Mr Ormiston sailed for New Zealand in the Swordfish, and a week after arrival in this country sailed in Ihe cutter Clyde for Whangarei. He took a section on the Mangapai River and was there joined by hi's wife and family, who arrived in the Ida Zielger in 1861. Mr Ormiston became greatly interested in the Maori people and was well acquainted with their language and customs. In later years lie championed their rights with some success. He was instrumental in having three schools started in his district while he was chairman of the Mangapai Road Board, a member of the school and church committee and acted in an honorary capacity as medical adviser of both Maori and pakeha. Ground Flour. In his own small mills he ground local wheat into flour and dressed large quantities of flax. Taking a great interest in politics, Mr Ormiston, at an early date, condemned the weakness of the provincial system and advocated constitutional changes. In 1869 he assisted with the election of Mr Gillies as superintendent and in 1873-74 lie represented Mangapai in the Provincial Council.

Mr Ormiston was a close friend of Mr James Busby and assisted the latter in presenting his case for Parliamentary consideration. He was keenly interested in the preservation of bush, and from 1863 onwards was continuously drawing attention to the destruction of the native forests. Mr William Ormiston died in 1874 of a disease contracted while he was attending a native chief.