William Gibbs (New Zealand politician)

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate Party
18731875 5th Collingwood Independent
18751879 6th Collingwood Independent
18791881 7th Collingwood Independent

William Gibbs (1817–1897) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from the Nelson Region of New Zealand.

Gibbs migrated to New Zealand in 1851 and purchased a large block of land at Totaranui. Much of this land is now incorporated into the Abel Tasman National Park. He completed a large homestead there for his wife and eight children, where they lived until moving to Nelson in 1892 when Gibbs retired.[1]

His daughter Hannah Sarah Gibbs married Alexander Mackay at Collingwood in 1863.[2]

He represented the Collingwood electorate from 1873 to 1881, when he was defeated for Motueka.[3] His son W. B. Gibbs stood in the Nelson electorate in the 1887 election, but came third against Henry Levestam and Jesse Piper.[4][5]

The town of Collingwood was originally called Gibbstown after Gibbs.

References

  1. Nelson and Totaranui, Constance Astley's Trip to New Zealand, 1897-1898, Constance Astley, Victoria University Press, 1997, page 14 ISBN 0864733208, 9780864733207
  2. Armstrong, David A. "Alexander Mackay". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  3. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 199. OCLC 154283103.
  4. "The City Election". Nelson Evening Mail XXI (222). 19 September 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  5. "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Arthur Collins
Member of Parliament for Collingwood
1873–1881
Constituency abolished