Henry Wynn-Williams

The Honourable Henry Wynn-Williams
Henry Wynn-Williams in 1882
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Heathcote
In office 1881 – 1884
Personal details
Born	1828 Llansannan Wales
Died	27 October 1913
Relations	Charles James Watkin Williams (brother)
Occupation	lawyer

William Henry Wynn-Williams (1828 – 27 October 1913) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Canterbury, New Zealand. He was a prominent lawyer in Christchurch.

Wynn-Williams was born in August 1828 in Llansannan, Conwy County Borough, North Wales.

His father was the rector Peter Williams, and his mother was Lydia Sophia Price. One of his brother was Charles. The birth dates for William and Charles are uncertain, as they were apparently born in August and September 1828, respectively.

His brother Charles studied medicine initially, but changed to a law degree. William was educated in preparation for joining the Indian army, but then also studied law. After practising in Wales for two years, William emigrated to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington in 1856. He worked on farms in the South Island and settled in Christchurch in 1860.

He began practising law in New Zealand in July 1860 when he joined the practice of Harry Bell Johnstone, who had started his legal firm in January 1859. Johnstone ceased to practice in 1864, but Wynn-Williams remained with the firm until 1912. The firm of Wynn Williams & Co still exists today.

He was involved in conveyancing, criminal trials and significant civil litigation. He is described as fearless and often represented the underdog.

George Allen was a leader of several protest groups. One such group, the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, challenged the right of the Christchurch City Council to exist. Wynn-Williams was active with the group and took the case to court. Ratepayers started to withhold their rates, and in April 1866 the Council was forced to drastically cut expenditure in order to fend off bankruptcy. Staff were laid off, street cleaning suspended, some streets no longer lit and contracts cancelled. In May 1866, the city drainage scheme was abandoned, a project that had been estimated to cost £160,000. A shipment of pipes that had just arrived from England was sold off, ensuring Christchurch's reputation as the most polluted and unhealthy city for another 20 years. Wynn-Williams eventually lost the lengthy case and left the Ratepayers' Mutual Protection Association, which then folded.