William Rae

Mr. William Rae, J.P. F.I.A.N.Z., Secretary of the Company, owns nearly half the shares, and is a native of Haddington, Scotland. He was educated at the Haddington High School, and proceeded to Glasgow, where he served his time as an accountant in a merchant's office, but, like many others, he thought of trying his fortune in Australia, and landed in Melbourne in the year 1852. He was immediately engaged by the late firm of Messrs Edmund Westby and Co., as accountant, and remained in the position for four years. Then he went to the Bendigo goldfields, where he brought a share in a steam puddling mill. The ground proved to be exceptionally rich for some time, but he eventually sold out and commenced business as a sawmiller with his partner, Mr. G. F. Walker, in Bendigo. Prices were high, and the speculation turned out a most profitable one. When gold was found at Gabriel's Gully, New Zealand, Mr. Rae left for Dunedin, and commenced business as a timber merchant; but when the "rush" to Hokitika was in full spring, he moved thither, and entered into the timber trade with his late partner, Mr. Haworth. The business was afterwards transferred to Greymouth, and carried on successfully for some years. In 1873, Mr. Rae joined Mr. Sewell in the business that which eventually became the Dispatch Foundry Company, Ltd. Mr. Rae is posessed of some literary taste. He wrote "Reminiscences of Greymouth" - a work that was well recieved - and he has frequently contributed articles to the local papers. He has been chairman of the trustees of the Greymouth Benevolent Society. Amongst all classes of the community Mr. Rae is universally esteemed for his many good qualities, and he is always ready to lend a helping hand in raising money for any charitable purpose.

Source - "The Cyclopedia Of New Zealand"

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