Know your town 

Early settlers 

William Smith family 

William Smith arrived on the  ship ‘Arab’ with his parents in 1841. His father, David, purchased land at Silverstream  where he built an eight roomed  dwelling for his family, wife Isobella and four children. There he ran a dairy farm  and bred draught horses.

Youngest son William purchased a block of land at Waihinga in 1867 . He built a homestead between Waihinga village and the Māori village Kaupekahinga. The road of the time forked in front of the Smith property to go on to W Bidwill’s property and the River Ferry and Inn. So W Smith was very central in those early times.

The Smith family had a lot to do with the Presbyterian Church. From 1871 the first Church Meetings were held at William’s home and Church Picnics were held on his property. The Smith home was used for the preparation of food for early meetings at First Church Presbyterian. 

William was also involved in the early development projects in the area. He was on the committee instrumental in getting the first school built and a member of the Featherston Roads Board from 1875 to 1885. His son Robert following, serving on the then renamed County Council between 1929 and 1945.  The first meeting of the Otaraia Rabbit Board was held at the Smith home. The early Collie Club trials were held on the Smith property between 1896 and 1913

William died at Greytown in January 1901. The Smith family have continued to farm the property having been breeders of stud Romney sheep, and Short Horn Hereford cattle.

Mate Higginson