The dead tell tales
Historian Lyn Williams looks at who’s buried in our region’s cemeteries. are listed as heritage trees.
Whyte was one of the directors of the Waikato Cheese and Bacon Factory, a director of the New Zealand Land Settlement Co, on the Waikato County Council, chairman of the Kirikiriroa District Highway Board, and Hamilton’s second mayor for a one-year term 1878-79. He also had time for the arts, as president of the Hamilton Comus Dramatic Club.
The Union Bridge across the Waikato River to join the townships of Hamilton East and West was opened in his time as mayor, the bottlesmashing honours being done in November, 1879, by Annie Whyte as mayoress.
Whyte represented Waikato in 1879 until 1890 as a member of the House of Representatives, then as a member of the Legislative Council from 1891 to November, 1897. Described as genial and popular, he worked to improve roading infrastructure in Waikato, organising grants to expedite a road suitable for wheeled traffic between Hamilton and Thames, and another to Rotorua.
The Times stated that people ‘‘. . . will not fail to recognise the energy of their representative, Mr J.B. Whyte, which has so materially lightened their burdens’’.
He spent time in Britain, including sorting out the affairs of the BNZ. He died in London in 1914. Annie died four years later, also in London. They left behind in Hamilton a legacy in the form of their little son’s grave. Buried in the same family grave in 1968 was Ruth Jean Whyte, daughter of James Binnie and Jane Whyte of Morrinsville, possibly Kenneth’s cousin.
If any reader can clarify the relationship between John B. and James B. Whyte, please contact features editor Deborah Sloan at deborah.sloan@waikatotimes.co.nz