William Travers
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- For the American investor / horseman see William R. Travers.
William Thomas Locke Travers (1819 - 1903) was a New Zealand lawyer, politician, explorer, and naturalist.
Travers was born in County Limerick, Ireland, either on 9 January or 19 January (accounts vary) 1819. His father chose to retire to France, and Travers was consequently brought up there. He was educated in Saint-Malo, a town in Brittany. In 1835, he joined the British military, and was part of the British Auxiliary Legion that fought in Spain's Carlist Wars. After his military service ended, Travers became a lawyer. In 1849, he and his family moved to Nelson, New Zealand, where he continued to practice law. Later, he also lived in Christchurch and Wellington.
Travers' political career covered both national and provincial politics. He was a member of the 1st New Zealand Parliament, representing first Nelson and then Waimea, and served in the brief ministry formed by Thomas Forsaith. After serving in the 2nd Parliament as representative of Waimea, he left Parliament, only to return in the 4th Parliament as representative for the City of Christchurch and in the 6th Parliament as representative for the City of Wellington. He also served in the councils of Nelson Province and Canterbury Province, and unsuccessfully stood for the superintendency of both. His most significant political contribution was his campaign to make central government (rather than provincial government) responsible for education.
At the same time, Travers was also an avid explorer and naturalist, often mounting expeditions into the less well known parts of New Zealand. He was responsible for tracing the source of the Waiau River, and gave the Ada River its name. He also collected many samples of mountain grasses and flowers, sending them to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Travers was also responsible for drafting the legislation that created the Wellington Botanic Garden, and was a Botanic Garden board member for 22 years.
Travers died in an accident at Hutt railway station on 27 April 1903.
