Death of Hon. Jas. Williamson.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 250, 28 March 1888, Page 6

Death of Hon. Jas. Williamson.

The illness of the Hon. James Willhmson, M.L.C., terminated fatally on March '22, alter a lotijt and lingering peiiod. Death was hilly expected, and the family ot deceased was present. James Williamson \vab one of the earliest Peltiers nt the Bay of Islands, where he arrived from Sydney in 1839. Very shortly afterwards, he went into paitnership with the late Thomas Oummer, the firm carrying on the business ot general merchants. Those were, however, very troubled time?, and the sacking of Karot areka caused the new firm to remove their business and stock-in-ttade of merchandise to Auckland. The business connection of the two partners was only dissolved by the death of Mr Crummer in 1861. Up till this time, Mr Williamson had devoted himself exclusively to his private* business, and had taken no active part in public affairs, but disencumbered from the cares of business, he came more prominently before the public in several capacities. He was one of the founders of the New Zealand Insurance Company, and his connection with the directorate of that institution lias continued up till the present time. Credit is also given to him for having first conceived the idea of founding the Bank of New Zealand, which is now the mo««t. powerful financial institution in the countiy. He took a large numbor of shares in the Bank himself, and prevailed on otheis to follow his example, and the history of the Bank has proved the wisdom of the speculation. Mr Williumson was the first President of the Bank of New Zealand, and one of the original directors. He hap tilled the position of Chairman of Directors during the greater part of the Bank's history, Dr. Campbell and Sir Frederick Whitaker having also held the office during occasional terms. The- deceased's connection with politic!) dates from the year 1862, when he was elected to the vacancy in the House of [Representatives caused by the retirement of Mr J. C. Firth from one of the seats for City West.