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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Spiers, William Archibald

Spiers, William Archibald, Builder and Contractor, Dargaville. Mr. Spiers was born in Perthshire in 1848, and educated at Home. He served his time with his father, who was well known in the building trade in Perthshire. In 1872, he came to Sydney by the ship “Holmesdale” and after remaining in New South Wales for a short time went to Fiji, where his brother had been murdered some time previously, and took an active part in quelling the native disturbances. He remained in Fiji for about two years, during which time he built the first bank in Levuka for the Fiji Banking Company, afterwards taken over by the Bank of New Zealand. In 1874, Mr. Spiers came to New Zealand, went to Kaipara, then travelled south to Dunedin, where he remained in business as a builder for two years, after which he returned north and settled in Dargaville. Most of the township was built by him, many of the buildings being a credit to his workmanship. Mr. Spiers is chairman of the Hobson County Council; he was chairman of the Dargaville School Committee for six years, is a member of the licensing bench, has acted as chairman and treasurer of the racing club, and is treasurer of St. George's Foresters' Court. Mr. Spiers is a splendid performer of Scotch dances for which he has been presented with a number of medals, one being by the Prince of Wales at the Crystal Palace. He has also danced before Lord Glasgow in New Zealand. Mr. Spiers is married and has three children.