Councillor William Richard Pankhurst is one of the oldest settlers of Riverton, he having left England with his parents in 1854, in a Dutch vessel, the “Bulgerrotezn,” which arrived in Melbourne during the same year. Mr. Pankhurst's parents came over to New Zealand in the schooner “Otago,” and arrived at Jacob's River or Riverton in 1855, settling as small graziers; and his mother opened the first private school in Riverton in 1856. At an early age Mr. Pankhurst was apprenticed to Messrs Reid Bros., builders and wheelwrights, and, after serving his time, worked with the firm until the year 1888, when he took over the business. Mr. Pankhurst is one of the leading builders of Riverton, having erected numerous buildings, amongst them the present handsome district hospital, which was constructed by the joint contractors, Messrs Pankhurst and Winton. Mr. Pankhurst was elected to the Borough Council in 1884. He is an old adherent of the Presbyterian Church, and was a member of the deacon's court for twelve years. He is Past Grand of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, which he joined in 1864, about the time of the laying of the foundation stone of the Oddfellows' Hall, by Mrs J. P. Taylor, wife of the Superintendent of Southland. Mr. Pankhurst married the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Robert Cassels, of Glasgow.