William Walter Smith was born in Scotland. In his youth he worked as a gardener in several English country houses. His family emigrated and farmed near Ashburton, where William later worked on the Mt Peel and Albury pastoral stations.
William Skinner was the son of pioneer settlers in Taranaki. He trained as a survey cadet and surveyed much of the bush-clad areas of Taranaki. From 1888, ill-health required a change in roles to draughtsman and inspecting surveyor.
Born in southern Wairarapa to a Pakeha whaler and Maori mother, Hoani Paraone Tunuiarangi became a chief of Ngati Kahungunu and a volunteer soldier, known in later life as Major Brown. As a young man in the 1860s he acted as a guide and interpreter for the government forces.
