REES, William Gilbert 1827–1898

Born Wales, son of Commander W. L. Rees: educated Royal Naval school. Turned attention to engineering, served articles in Wales, later became tutor at Mount Radford School, Devon. 1852 came to Queensland, Australia, as a station manager. Returned England 1858, married, and came to New Zealand later in that year as working partner with R. Campbell. With Nicholas von Tunzelmann explored central Otago, being one of the first to settle on the shores of Lake Wakatipu: his homestead being on the site of Queenstown. In 1883 became a stock inspector in South Canterbury, and subsequently in Westland, Blenheim and Wellington by 1894, where he died in 1898. Represented: Turnbull.