SMAILL, William 1840–1905

Born Scotland; came to New Zealand 1858. Worked at night school and qualified as a civil engineer while working for Otago Provincial Government. Was appointed District Engineer of Roads 1862 when the aim was to get roads to the Otago goldfields. Was District Engineer in charge of south Otago 1870–72, in 1874 of Southland as well. 1885 was engineer to Tuapeka County; retired to take up land but offered to carry out survey of mouth of Clutha to make it again available to shipping. Died at his Summerhill estate. Exhibited: OAS 1882–90; NZ and South Seas Ex Dunedin 1889–90 “fresh cool” watercolours and a design for the capital of a pillar using ferns and tuis as motifs. A “W. Smaill” who exhibited OAS 1903–29 and perhaps his son. Represented: Turnbull.