The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Steward, Major Hon. William Jukes
Steward, Major Hon. William Jukes, M.H.R., Speaker of the House of Representatives, New Zealand, is the son of William Steward and Ann (Jukes) his wife, and was born at Reading, Berkshire, England, on Jan. 20th, 1841. Having decided to emigrate to New Zealand, he arrived at Lyttelton in the ship Mersey on Sept. 28th, 1862, and experienced the usual ups and downs of colonial life. He is the proprietor of the Ashburton Guardian and of the Ashburton Mail, and in 1867 published a volume of poems entitled "Carmina Varia" under the nom de plume of Justin Aubrey. Major Steward, who was a member of the Otago Provincial Council for the Oamaru country district and of the Otago Provincial Executive, without portfolio, prior to the abolition of the provinces, was M.H.R. for Oamaru in the New Zealand Parliament from 1871 to 1875, and has represented the Waimate district since 1881. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives at the commencement of the session of 1891. Major Steward, who holds that rank in the local forces, married Hannah, daughter of Rev. Caleb Whitefoord, rector of Burford, near Tenbury, Worcestershire, and great-granddaughter of Sir John Whitefoord, Bart., of Blairquhan, Ayrshire, Scotland.