Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Councillor Samuel Woolley , who was elected to the Palmerston Borough Council, in 1903, is a member of the Works Committee. He has been a member of the Athenæum committee since 1884, and is a Past Master of the Palmerston Lodge of Freemasons, No. 1749. English Constitution. Mr. Woolley was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1838, and came to Port Chalmers with his parents by the ship “Ajax,” in 1849. After a short time spent in the bush, the family moved to a station at Otepopo, owned by Mr. Charles Suisted, where they remained for four years. Mr. Woolley, senior, then acquired some land, mostly bush, at Goodwood and for many years supplied the local runholders with timber, hurdles, etc. During the gold rush he built the Beach Hotel at Waikouaiti, and, fifteen years later, the Railway Hotel, Waikouaiti, and with the help of his family, conducted it for a number of years. Mr. Samuel Woolley was brought up to the building trade, and since 1874 has been in business in Palmerston. Among the many buildings he has erected are the Empire Hotel, Johnstone's buildings, Lawson's block, and a number of very fine residences on the outskirts of the town. Some bridges in the Blue Mountains built by Mr. Woolley for the Road Board in 1864, are still in use, and reflect great credit on the conscientious manner in which he carried out his contracts.