Title: Past and Present, and Men of the Times

Author: William Jackson Barry

Publication details: McKee and Gamble, 1897, Wellington

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

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The Hon. William Jukes Steward, familiarly known as "The Major," was for many years a prominent Volunteer officer, having raised the Christchurch City Guards and several other companies, and commanded the North Otago Batallion of Volunteers when he retired. Was born in Reading, Berkshire, in 1841, and was educated at King Edward VI. Grammar School, Ludlow, and Dr. Benham's Commercial Academy, Gloucester. He arrived in the colony by the ship "Mersey," at Lytteltoa, in 1862, and was for some five or six years engaged in commercial pursuits at Christchurch. He then adopted the profession of a journalist, and became successively editor and proprietor of the North Otago Times, Waimate Times, and the Ashburton Mail and Guardian newspapers. Was elected to the House of Representatives for Waitaki (then including Oamaru) in 1870, and sat through the Parliament of 1871-1875. Was defeated at the succeeding general election, but was again returned in 1881, and has since been continuously re-elected. Was Speaker of the Parliament of 1891-93. He has always been a very active member", and is promoter of many legislative measures, among them being the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act, the School Committees' Election Act, the Triennial Licensing Committees' Act, and Elective Executive Bill. He also published a volume of poems, entitled, "Carmina Varia," in 1867, and has since published many fugitive pieces, political and otherwise.

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