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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

The Hon. William Hunter Reynolds

The Hon. William Hunter Reynolds , M.L.C., who was called to the Legislative Council in 1898, and retained his seat in that branch of the Legislature until his death in 1899, was born at Chatham, Kent, England, in 1822. He was the youngest son of the late Mr. Thomas Reynolds, lieutenant R.N., who, on account of ill-health, was obliged to leave the navy and settle in Spain and Portugal, where at an early age William Reynolds went to live on his father's cork plantations. After spending some years in the country in acquiring a knowledge of the cork and wine business, he went to London, where he represented a branch of his father's firm of Thomas Reynolds and Son. In 1850 he sailed in the schooner “Titan” for Otago, and shortly after landing became a partner in the firm of Messrs James Macandrew and Co., with which he retained his connection till 1858, after which he engaged in business on his own account, until his retirement in 1867. His political career commenced in 1853, when he was elected a member of the Otago Provincial Council, in which he held a seat, and occupied the position of Speaker for four years, until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. He was several times a member of the Provincial Executive and rendered valuable services in connection with the introduction of settlers for the province, having, upon one occasion, gone to Great Britain as Honorary Immigration Agent. In 1863 Mr. Reynolds was elected a member of the House of Representatives for Dunedin, which he continued to represent till 1876, and for two sessions subsequently he sat for Port Chalmers. He held a portfolio in four successive Governments; namely, in the Waterhouse Ministry, in the Fox Ministry, the Stout-Vogel Ministry. Mr. Reynolds was married, in 1856, to Miss Rachel Selina Pinkerton, daughter of Mr. William Pinkerton, runholder, of South Australia and Otago, and had a family of four sons and five daughters. He [gap — reason: illegible] at his residence, “Montecillo,” Dunedin, on the 1st of April, 1899.