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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. W. A. Fenton

Mr. W. A. Fenton was born in London in 1841, and is a son of Mr. Francis H. Fenton, of an East Indian house. He was educated at Doncaster Grammar School and at Edenfield House, Yorkshire, and was apprenticed to the calling of a surveyor and engineer. In 1859 he came to Auckland, by the ship “Tornado,” and went farming at Matakana. After two years he came to Auckland, and established himself in business on the site where the Union Bank now stands. He then went to Coromandel, where he engaged in goldmining, and a year later he visited Australia. There he was for two or three years in business as a cattle dealer and grazier. After his return to Auckland Mr. Fen ton was foreman in the firm of Messrs Fisher and Co., of Queen Street, and took the management of that firm's outside business, which was carried out on a large scale, and employed nearly fifty men. On leaving the firm, he established his present business. Mr. Fenton is a Freemason, and is a Past District Grand Deacon; and at the installation of the first Grand Master in Auckland in the English Constitution, he was appointed Grand Pursuivant. He is also an Oddfellow of thirty years' standing in the American Order and the Manchester Unity. He is the father of coursing in Auckland, and owned and bred the celebrated dog “Sailor Boy,” the only Auckland dog that has ever won the much valued and envied Waterloo Cup.