William Spence Peter: Difference between revisions

Promptly making their way to [[New South Wales]] by sea, the Messrs. Peter there purchased 12,500 sheep from the celebrated flocks of [[Thomas Icely|Icely]] & Co. and then successfully [[Overlanding|overlanded]] these from [[Bathurst, New South Wales|Bathurst]] to Adelaide in June 1840. Unlike some overlanders, they had no conflict with [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] people along the route, which they were proud of. They were also proud that their flocks, mostly kept on and around the [[Light River (South Australia)|River Light]], were [[Psoroptes|scab]] free.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71615016 |title=PROTECTION TO THE WOOL GROWER. |newspaperwork=[[Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=27 July 1841 |accessdateaccess-date=10 December 2015 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The partners then took up pastoralist occupation licences at various locations in the lower [[Mid North]], turning their flocks out onto these unfenced runs under the care of wandering shepherds. Their first head station, established in 1840, was on the [[Light River (South Australia)|Light River]] just east of present-day [[Marrabel, South Australia|Marrabel]],.<ref>{{Citation | title=Plan of the two special surveys on presentthe TarnmaRiver RoadLight [cartographic material] | author1=Hailes, J. AtC. (James Chaplin) | author2=Secondary Towns Association (London, England) | year=1842 | publisher=Published by J.C. Hailes, 104, Leadenhall Street, for the Secondary Towns Association | language=en | url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231423101}}</ref> Around this periodtime [[Peter'sPeters Hill, South Australia|Peters Hill]], a prominent peak on their runs, eastsouthwest of present [[Riverton, South Australia|Riverton]]Marrabel, was named after them. W.S. Peter is listed in a government return of 1841 as the fifth largest sheep holder in the Province, the first being the [[South Australian Company]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71615197 |title=RETURN OF SHEEP FOR THE HALF YEAR ENDING 31st MAY, 1841. |newspaperwork=[[Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=24 August 1841 |accessdateaccess-date=10 December 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1842 he was one of the four pastoralists in a volunteer party led by [[James Collins Hawker]] that went, along with a police party led by [[Alexander Tolmer|Inspector Tolmer]], in search of [[Charles Christian Dutton]], an ill-fated pastoralist of the [[Port Lincoln]] district.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71622344 |title=The Volunteer Party-Mr. Dutton |newspaperwork=[[Southern Australian]] |location=Adelaide |date=1 November 1842 |accessdateaccess-date=10 December 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Resulting from this experience, in 1846 in partnership with George and [[Alexander Lang Elder|Alex Elder]], founders of [[Elders Limited]], he established a sheep run named Warrow Station at [[Coulta, South Australia|Coulta]] near Port Lincoln.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27452858 |title=Advertising. |newspaperwork=[[South Australian Register]] |location=Adelaide |date=16 May 1846 |accessdateaccess-date=10 December 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Having moved there, he was appointed a justice and magistrate for that district. In that role he conducted the coronial inquest into the murder of neighbouring pastoralist [[James Rigby Beevor]].

He married in 1856 to Jane Seymour, a daughter of pastoralist [[Henry Seymour (pastoralist)|Henry Seymour]] of Killanoola station near [[Naracoorte, South Australia|Naracoorte]]. Jane's elder sister Elizabeth had married in 1845 to [[George Charles Hawker]] of [[Bungaree, South Australia|Bungaree]] and [[Anama, South Australia|Anama]] Stations, to whom W.S. Peter was now brother in law. After marriage he returned to his Gum Creek run, at the same time going into partnership with the Elder brothers in pioneering the Booleroo run, near present [[Booleroo Centre]].

By 1861 the combined Gum Creek and Booleroo runs comprised an area of 896 square miles and were carrying 60,500 sheep. On 28 February 1861 both runs, plus 27,700 sheep, were profitably auctioned when W.S. Peter decided to settle in the [[Canterbury, RegionNew Zealand|Canterbury]] region of New Zealand as a stud sheep breeder.<ref>''Register'' newspaper, 15 February 1861, page 4.</ref> He and his family departed from Adelaide in June 1861 aboard the ''Oscar''.<ref>Adelaide ''Advertiser'' newspaper, 10 June 1861, page 2.</ref>

A controversial incident took place on 25 May 1861, a few weeks before their departure. W.S. Peter's stock and station agents were Elder, Stirling & Co. The firm were also agents for [[Walter Hughes (pastoralist)|Walter Hughes]], who just a few months earlier had been the purchaser of W.S. Peter's Gum Creek Station. Hughes also had a pastoral run at [[Wallaroo, South Australia|Wallaroo]], where in December 1859 a shepherd discovered copper ore, leading to the establishment of [[Wallaroo Mines]]. When another shepherd made a similar discovery in May 1861 several rival claimants rushed to make their applications but at first were uncertain as to the exact locality. This was to become the fabulously rich mines at [[Moonta, South Australia|Moonta]]. In order to divert attention and prevent a rush, Elders used W.S. Peter's name on the original claim for these mineral leases, later being transferred by him to Hughes and his Company. The losing syndicate cried foul on this subterfuge, leading to a State Select Committee, chaired by [[George Strickland Kingston|G.S. Kingston]], leading to court action which was eventually settled out of court.<ref>''Register'' newspaper, 26 September 1863, pp 4–5.</ref>

In the meantime Peter had arrived at Canterbury, settling at [[Anama, New Zealand|Anama]], near [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]], where he bred [[merino]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-AclEarl-t1-body-d11-d1.html|title=Anama — (Originally Run 8, N.Z.R., afterwards re-numbered 401 under Canterbury Regulations) &#124; NZETC}}</ref> The name ''Anama'' was derived from his South Australian connection. The Peter Range, a mountain range at Canterbury, bears his name.

A successful sheep-farmer, W.S. Peter was an equally successful politician, being appointed on 23 June 1868 to represent the [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury region]] on the [[New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]; he remained a member until his death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local and General News |url= httphttps://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WI18680326.2.12 |accessdateaccess-date=21 August 2013 |newspaperwork=Wellington Independent |date=26 March 1868 |volume= XXII |issue= 2653 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |origyearorig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |isbn= |oclc= 154283103 |page=161}}</ref>

He died on 23 May 1891 at Ashburton Hospital after a short illness.<ref name="Ashburton Guardian obit">{{cite news |title=Obituary |url= httphttps://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AG18910523.2.14 |accessdateaccess-date=21 August 2013 |newspaperwork=Ashburton Guardian |date=23 May 1891 |volume= X |issue= 2388 |page=3}}</ref> His son, Charles James Peter, married Violet Sealy on 21 December 1898 at [[St Mary's Church, Timaru|St Mary's Church]] in [[Timaru]]. She was the eldest child of the surveyor, photographer, explorer, farmer, and entomologist [[Edward Sealy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Marriage |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18990104.2.5 |access-date=31 December 2019 |work=[[The Timaru Herald]] | volume=LXII |issue=2906 |date=4 January 1899 |page=2 (Supplement)}}</ref> Their daughter, [[Juliet Peter]], became a notable potter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sealy, Edward Percy |url=http://canterburyphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/sealey.html |publisher=Early New Zealand photographers and their successors |access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>

{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:19th-century New Zealand farmers]]