Mr. William Dale was a familiar figure in shipping circles in the early days of Canterbury. He was born in London about 1819, and came to New Zealand in the ship “Egmont,” landing at Lyttelton in 1856. Mr. Dale page 360 settled in the Heathcote Valley under engagement to Messrs Brown and LeCren, who at that time owned the ferry service between Lyttelton and Woolston. On the retirement of these gentlemen from the business they disposed of the service to Mr. Dale, who carried it on until the Heathcote bridge was completed, when it was relinquished. Mr. Dale then became a licensed victualler, and, in partnership with Mr. Collins, conducted a hotel for some years on the site now occupied by the Occidental Hotel. He afterwards removed to Rakaia, and took over the hotel there, but the disastrous flood of 1868 wrecked the building and swept away all his belongings. Mr. Dale then returned to Heathcote Valley, where he remained up to the time of his death in 1899. At one time he owned the “Corsair,” a brig of about 250 tons, which was wrecked during a heavy gale at Lyttelton, and towed into Corsair Bay, which derived its name from the incident. She was subsequently refitted and did good service in the intercolonial trade. As a member of the early volunteer movement, Mr. Dale participated in the celebrated “Battle of Hillsborough.” He was married in the Old Country, and had one son, Mr. W. H. R. Dale, who is elsewhere referred to in this volume. Mr. Dale married again in the colony.