Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu, showing the town clock
‘The Laird of Greenhill’, as William Taylor was warmly known, left his house to inspect one of his paddocks just after midday in late September 1923.
Greenhill was a landmark in the Te Awamutu district, an extensive and magnificently situated property which William had managed for about 40 years after taking over from his father. William had set to work to improve the property, no mean feat as money was tight and there was very little profit in farming. He was a hard worker and gradually became relatively affluent.
He began cattle breeding in 1876 with an imported bull, Abraham. The founder of the Greenhill herd became recognised throughout the country as a quality breeder of Shorthorn cattle, He also bred high-class Clydesdale horses, regularly ‘sweeping the boards’ at agricultural shows, carrying off nearly every prize. In the late 1890s he purchased the highly bred sire General Fleming whose descendants established the breed as the premier working draught animal of the region. Within the last decade or so William had begun importing Lincoln Red cattle which had a fine reputation as a milking breed as well as beef qualities.
In public life William was a man of many parts holding office on the Waipā County Council, and chairing the Rangiaowhia Road Board and Licensing Committee. He was a member of the old Te Awamutu Cavalry and was never backward with cash or influence when raising funds for the Red Cross and other relief work during the Great War.
He contributed to the repatriation of returned soldiers, and while they were away fighting William was an advisor to the Government on keeping up production on their farms in their absence. He gave a substantial donation for the improvement of Albert Park and rallied others to also contribute. His name was also connected with almost every sporting and social institution in the district.
Now aged 69, despite the days of hard work being behind him, he continued to be interested in his property. But on arrival at the paddock, he wanted to inspect Te Awamutu’s laird suddenly fell down and died. Surprise spread through the Waikato as it was not generally known that William was experiencing ill health. His earlier life of labour had left its mark in a weakened heart, which caused his sudden demise.
William was recalled as an honest and upright man who it was a privilege to know. His most memorable act was gifting to Te Awamutu the town clock which was installed on a tower on the new brick post office in 1911. The townspeople were delighted with William’s gift and columns in local papers were given over in praise of him.
William’s life though, was not without tragedy. With his wife Elizabeth he had six sons and two daughters – one of whom, Mary, died aged four months in 1891. Six years later their son Kenneth, 13, was riding home from school when his pony stumbled and fatally threw him to the road. In 1908, their 28 year old son, Charles, who had years previously contracted rheumatic fever, died after bronchitis set in.
William, it was said, ‘died in harness’. There was a very big gathering at his funeral and an exceptionally large number of floral tributes on the casket. William was remembered as a worthy settler, a monument to his love for Te Awamutu being the town clock which recorded the hours as the days and years flitted by.
Alexandra Street, Te Awamutu, showing the town clock
