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

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. William Jenkins , J.P., who has been twice Mayor of the borough of Arrowtown, was born at Narveny, County Donegal, Ireland, where his father was a well - known farmer, and was educated at Stranorlar, in the same county, afterwards working on his father's farm. In 1855, he sailed for Victoria by the ship “Montmorency.” On his arrival in Melbourne, he was smitten with the “gold fever,” and worked on various diggings in Victoria. Mr. Jenkins came over to Otago in the great “rush” of 1862, and was at Nokomal field, and later at the Lake diggings. In 1866, he started store-keeping at Macetown, and, later on, at Arrowtown, where he now carries on a large business as general merchant, trading under the name of Messrs. Jenkins and Co. Mr. Jenkins has always taken a keen interest in local self-government and volunteering, having served in the municipal and county councils for several years, and been twice elected Mayor of Arrowtown. He joined the local volunteer force at its inception, and eventually received the rank of major-commandant of the Lakes district. Mr. Jenkins has been chairman of the school committee for a number of years; has been a member of Lodge Arrow Kilwinning, Scottish Constitution; and is a churchwarden of St. Paul's church.