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

Mr. William Robertson

Mr. William Robertson , sometime of “Sandffy,” Sandymount, was born in 1812. in Coultrannie, Perthshire, Scotland,. As a young man he learned the macadamised system of roadmaking under Mr. Macadam, its founder, and was afterwards engaged in teaching the system throughout Scotland. He subsequently learned the trade of a stonemason, and after two years took a sub-contract under Mr. John Stephenson, the well known railway contractor, then engaged in carrying out some important railway contracts in Scotland. Mr. Robertson's ability in carrying out his work caused him to be chosen by Mr Stephenson to superintend the making of a railway in France under the French Government, but owing to the outbreak of the revolution which led to the Second Empire, the work was not proceeded with. For ten years after the death of Mr. Stephenson, under whose supervision he had carried out several important railway contracts, Mr. Robertson lived in retirement in his native place. A position of responsibility was then offered to him in connection with the formation of the Grand Trunk Railway in Canada, but after visiting that country he declined the offer. He built the Elie Pier on the Firth of Forth, the last undertaking he was engaged in before leaving for New Zealand. Mr. Robertson, with his wife, four sons and six daughters, arrived in Otago in 1880, by the ship “Silistria.” Not finding any railway works in Otago, he almost made up his mind to leave for Victoria, but his two eldest sons being attracted to the Lindis gold rush, he remained in Dunedin. Soon afterwards Mr. Robertson bought a large property of 600 acres at Sandymount, where he resided up to the time of his death in 1902, at the age of ninety. Mrs Robertson, who will long be remembered throughout the district for her kindness and hospitality, died in 1885, at the age of sixty-nine. Mr. Robertson always took a prominent part in local affairs, and especially in educational matters. During the first years of his residence at Sandymount the nearest school was at North East Harbour, and the teacher's salary was paid by the settlers. He urged that the state should pay the salary, and this led to the late Mr. James Macandrew bringing the idea before the Provincial Council, and, indirectly, to the general state system of education. Mr. Robertson was for many years a member of the road board and school committee, and contested a seat in the Provincial Council. He is entitled to remembrance as one of the originators of the scheme of cheap money for farmers. At the last nomination for the Superiutendent of Otago he put the following question to Mr. Macandrew: “In the event of your being returned as Superintendent, will you bring in a Bill to give cheap money to farmers?” Mr. Macandrew replied he would endeavour to do so. Subsequently Mr. Robertson approached Sir Julius Vogel on the same subject; but that statesman replied that the monied institutions were too powerful for any public man or political party to think of taking such a scheme in hand at that time.

The late Mrs W. Robertson.

The late Mrs W. Robertson.