BACOT, JOHN THOMAS WATSON (1821-88) was born in England, the son of an army surgeon who served in the Peninsula with the 41st Foot Guards. He graduated in medicine (M.R.C.S., Eng., 1843) and was appointed assistant surgeon to the 39th regiment in 1844 (Staff 1847; 2nd class surgeon 1852). During this time he served in India. Bacot came to New Zealand with the Fencibles and settled at Howick. He was elected one of the Pensioners Settlements representatives in Parliament and obtained leave from his commanding officer (Colonel Kenny, M.L.C.) to attend the session. This was the basis of a question of privilege raised by Carleton (16 May 1854). Bacot was an independent, outspoken member, and took a stand in Parliament which he well knew would lose him his seat. He was defeated at the general election (26 Oct 1855). In 1862 Bacot was posted to the 89th regiment, with which he again served in India. (Surg-major 1864; staff 1865; half-pay, with honorary rank of deputy inspector-general 1870). He died on 10 Oct 1880. Bacot was the author of The Bahamas; a Sketch (1869) and contributed many articles to the Medical Times and Gazette.

N.Z.P.D., 16 May 1854; War Office records.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BADGER, WILFRED (1852-1915) was born at Rotherham, Yorkshire, of a strongly legal family, educated at St Peter's School, York, and after being articled to his uncle passed as a solicitor in 1872. He came to New Zealand in the Glenlora (1880) and, after being managing clerk to J. B. R. Gresson in Christchurch he started practice there. Badger published the New Zealand Statutes (1885), which ran into several editions, The Land Transfer Laws of Australasia (1888), Licensing Laws of Australasia (1888) and the Local Government Guide (1886). He died on 8 Oct 1915.

Bibliog. of Laws of Australia and N.Z., 1938; The Press, 9 Oct 1915.

Reference: Volume 2, page 272

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BAGNALL, LEMUEL JOHN (1844-1917) was the son of the Hon. George Bagnall (1818-89), of New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and came with his father to Auckland in 1864. He engaged in the timber trade at the Thames, and with his brothers purchased a sawmill on the Waihou river (1878) which they operated till 1912. Bagnall represented Thames in the Auckland Provincial Council (1873-75), and was a member of the Thames harbour board, a member and chairman of the county council and of the Auckland education board, and a member of the land board. Removing in 1903 to Auckland, he became a member of the City Council forthwith, and remained so till 1910, when he was elected mayor. He served on the hospital board; on the Auckland district conciliation board (of which he was chairman) and on the Auckland licensing committee, the Grammar School board of governors and the Auckland University College council. Amongst the companies of which he was director were the Kauri Timber Co. (chairman), the New Zealand Insurance, Milne and Choyce (chairman), and the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co. Bagnall died on 30 Apr 1917.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., ii; N.Z. Herald, 1 May 1917.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BAGSHAW, JOHN CHARLES, (1820-99) was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating M.A., and was ordained priest (1846). He came to New Zealand in 1856 as headmaster of Nelson College, which position he held till 1858. He had an austere disposition and was a strict disciplinarian. Bagshaw attended the first general synod (1859), and at that and other synods he had strong differences of opinion with Bishop Selwyn. He returned to England and was presented with a living by Selwyn. In 1876 he became vicar of Osbournby, Folkingham, Lincolnshire, where he died in May 1899.

Nelson Coll. Register; Crockett; Jacobs.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BAIGENT, EDWARD (1812-92) was born at Wendlesham, Sussex, and was brought up as a mechanic, but afterwards took to farming. He came to Nelson by the Clifford (1842) and started farming at Wakefield. There in 1846 he erected a flourmill with machinery which he had brought from England. Some years later he disposed of the mill and took to sawmilling, in which he was engaged for the rest of his life. Baigent represented Waimea South in the Nelson Provincial Council for the whole of the provincial period (1853-76), being a private member throughout. In 1867 he was elected to Parliament for Waimea, which he represented on two occasions (1867-70 and 1876-79). He was a member also of the Waimea road board and other local bodies. Baigent died on 9 Nov 1892.

Cycl. NZ, iv.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BAIGENT, HENRY (1844-1929) was born at Wakefield, Nelson, the son of Edward Baigent (q.v.). Educated there, he joined his father in the sawmilling and timber business. In 1865 he moved from Wakefield to Nelson. He was a member of the Nelson City Council from 1893, and was mayor in 1901-04 and again in 1905-06. He was chairman of the hospital board and the Permanent Building Society, and a member of various other organizations. He died on 31 Aug 1929.

Cycl. N.Z., v; Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Nelson Evening Mail, 2 Sep 1929.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BAILLIE, WILLIAM DOUGLAS HALL (1827-1922) was born at New Brunswick, Canada, of a very old Scottish family which had been domiciled in Ireland for many years. Educated at the Royal Military College at Woolwich, he was commissioned at the age of 19 as an ensign in the 24th foot, with which he served for six years in India under Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Colin Campbell. He was present at the battle of Chillianwallah. Returning to England in 1853, he was promoted captain and appointed commandant at Chichester. He resigned from the army to come to New Zealand in the Oriental (1857) and settled in Marlborough. He had a run of 5,000 acres on the Wairau, which he disposed of after a few years and settled at Para, near Picton. Baillie maintained his interest in military matters in New Zealand and was for some years colonel commanding the Marlborough forces. In 1881 he took part in the expedition to Parihaka.

He took a keen interest in local government. In 1860 he was elected to the Provincial Council, in which he represented Wairau Valley (1860-65) and Tuamarina (1869-76). He was the second Superintendent of the province (1861-63), his term being one of the most stormy in the very troubled provincial history of Marlborough. After being defeated for the superintendency in 1863 he was elected speaker, holding that position for two years. He was several times a member of the executive between 1863 and 1865, and deputy superintendent in the latter year. His firm control of affairs and conciliatory manner were of considerable service. He was called in 1861 to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member till his death (25 Feb 1922), and for 23 years chairman of committees. He was the last life member of the Council. Baillie was for 20 years a member of the Marlborough education board. He married (1854) Hannah Maria Ann, daughter of Major Greensill, commissary of ordnance.

Marlborough P.C. Minutes and Gaz.; Parltry Record; N.Z.P.D., 29 Jun 1922; Col. Gent.; Cycl. N.Z., v (p); Marlborough Express, 27 Feb 1922. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 30

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BAIN, JAMES WALKER (1841-99) was born in Edinburgh and educated at the Free Church Normal School there. He trained as a compositor with Constables and Oliver and Boyd, and after coming to New Zealand in the Jura (1858) he was employed for two years in Auckland. In 1861 he established (with Smallfield) the Southland News and Foveaux Straits Herald, which a few years later they sold. Bain paid a visit to Scotland, and on his return to Southland in 1868 he again acquired a partnership in the News and afterwards in the Southland Times, which he held until it was purchased by a company. In 1883 Bain was elected to the Invercargill borough council and in the following year he was mayor. He was president of the Southland Building Society from its inception in 1869 for 30 years; a director of the board of the Scottish and New Zealand Investment Co. from 1876 (chairman from 1890), president of the chamber of commerce, and a member (and at times chairman) of the High School board of governors, the education board and the hospital board. He was also an Otago school commissioner. In 1879 Bain was elected to Parliament for Invercargill, defeating Feldwick by two votes. Defeated by Feldwick at the next election (1881), he contested both Awarua and Invercargill at later elections, but without success. He died on 29 Sep 1899.

Cycl. N.Z., iv; Southland Times, 12 Nov 1912, 30 Sep 1899, 23 Jan 1931; Lyttelton Times, 12 Sep 1879. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAIN, JOHN WATSON (1822-67) was born in Scotland. After holding responsible positions in the London publishing houses of Smith Elder and Co., and Spalding and Hodge, he came to New Zealand in the Lalla Rookh in 1849 and commenced business in Auckland as a general merchant and commission agent. He was afterwards Lloyd's agent in Auckland and at times officiated as consul for the United States and for Hawaii. Bain was elected to the first Auckland Provincial Council for Auckland Suburbs, which he represented during 1853-55. He was again in the Council, for Auckland East, from 1865-67. He was 12 years a justice of the peace and two years chairman of the Auckland city board. He died on 3 Dec 1867.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; London Gaz., 11 Mar 1851; Southern Cross, 4 Dec 1867.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAKER, CHARLES (1804-75) left England in June 1827 and joined the C.M.S. mission at Bay of Islands in January 1828. In 1830 he was stationed at Kerikeri, when it was decided that he should accompany Clarke in opening a new station at Waimate. He was afterwards stationed at Paihia, Waikare, Tolaga Bay and Tauranga. Retiring to Auckland in 1865, he died there on 6 February 1875.

His son, CHARLES BAKER (1828-65), who was stationed with the Rev. R. Taylor at Putiki and studied for the church, was twelve years in the Native Secretary's department and was afterwards resident magistrate at Waiapu, Hawke's Bay and Tauranga.

N.Z. Herald, 7 Feb 1875; Wellington Independent, 7 Oct 1865.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAKER, LOUISA ALICE (née Dawson). For some years Mrs Baker contributed to the Otago Witness under the pen name of 'Alice'. In 1894 she went to London to publish her first novel, A Daughter of the King, which was followed in steady succession by 15 others, including The Majesty of Man (1895), In Golden Shackles (1896) and Wheat in the Ear (1898).

Who was Who; Annals N.Z. Lit.; N.Z. Herald, 7 Jun 1902

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAKER, RICHARD (1810-54) was the son of the coroner of Middlesex. As a young man he took part in the civil war in Portugal and was present at the operations before Santarem. He received the first and second class orders of the Tower and Sword. Participating thereafter in the war in Spain (with the rank of major), he was awarded the order of St Ferdinand of the first class. Baker joined the New Zealand Company's expedition in the Aurora, arriving in Wellington in 1840. Deans describes him as a gentlemanly young man for whom he acted as second in duels. As the magistrate appointed under the settlers' provisional constitution in 1840, Baker presided at the trial of Captain Pearson, of the Integrity, which was held to be illegal and which led to the disbandment of the council. Baker had to proceed to Sydney to defend himself in an action brought by Pearson for damages for false imprisonment. He was a major of volunteers when the Wellington settlers enrolled for defence after the Wairau affair, and held the same rank in the Thorndon militia at the time of the disturbances in 1845. He married (1840) Miss J. E. Morgan, and died on 22 Dec 1854. (See W. M. BANNATYNE)

E. J. Wakefield; Grimstone; Ward; Beauchamp; Deans; Buick, Waitangi.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAKER, SHIRLEY WALDEMAR (1836-1903) a son of the Rev. George Baker, a Church of England clergyman, was born in London, and educated for the ministry. Emigrating to Australia, he joined the Wesleyan church, and in 1860 was sent to Tonga by the Australian Wesleyan conference. There he laboured for 20 years, for 10 years of which he was leader. He resigned to become adviser to King George of Tonga. As Premier, Baker did much to promote the liberty of the people; he compiled a code of laws; constructed roads and public buildings; formulated a constitution (1875) with a legislative assembly of hereditary chiefs and representatives of the people, and made education free and compulsory. Trouble having arisen between the Church and the Government, he established the Free Church of Tonga. Baker succeeded in getting Tonga acknowledged by England, Germany and the United States as an independent kingdom, but his administration was not acceptable to all parties, and an attempt was made to assassinate him. In 1890 he was deported by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. For some years he lived in Auckland in retirement, but later returned to Tonga and carried on religious work until his death on 10 Nov 1903.

Mennell; Beatrice Shirley Baker, Memoirs of the Rev Dr Shirley Waldemar Baker; N.Z. Herald, 2 Dec 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BAKEWELL, ROBERT HALL (1831-1908) was born in Manchester, the son of a Congregational minister. On completing his surgical course at Guy's Hospital, London, he took his M.D. degree at St Andrews University. He later became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (England), and L.S.A. (London). In 1852 he joined the Army Medical Corps and spent two years in the Crimea during the war, from which he was invalided. For the following five years he served as medical officer in Trinidad. After practising in London for a few months he came to New Zealand in 1873, where he practised in Dunedin, Ross and Hokitika before settling in Auckland (1888). In the South African war (1899-1901) he served as medical officer to a New Zealand contingent. Bakewell was a frequent contributor to the medical press and was the New Zealand correspondent of one of the American medical journals. He wrote on the female franchise question in New Zealand and in 1894 carried on in English reviews a controversy with Mrs H. Fawcett. He died on 26 Dec 1908.

His son, FREDERICK Hastan BAKEWELL (1858-1935), was a graduate of the New Zealand University (M.A., 1896) and a prominent educationist. He was senior inspector of schools for some years and a member of the senate of the University of New Zealand, the Council of Education and the Victoria College council.

Cycl. N.Z., ii; Fulton (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1932; N.Z. Herald, 9 Jun 1894; N.Z. Graphic, 26 Sep 1891; Auckland Star, 28 Dec 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BALDEY, ALFRED (1836-1924) was born at Brighton, Sussex, and educated at the Brotherhood Hall Grammar School, Steyning. At the age of 16 he went to Australia and tried his luck on the Victorian goldfields, where he was present at the Eureka stockade. In 1861 he came to Otago and took up land at Ryal Bush, Southland, where he farmed for many years.

He was a member of the Southland land board, the hospital board (seven years), the Southland county council (17 years), the Bluff harbour board (14 years), the Otago school commissioners and the Southland education board (26 years), being chairman of each for some time. In 1879 Baldey contested the Riverton seat as a supporter of Grey. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1903 and remained a member till 1917. Later he lived in Wellington. Baldey married (1861) a daughter of James Laing (Waianiwa). He died on 20 Aug 1924.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Hansard, 28 Aug 1924; Evening Post, 21, 29 Aug 1924. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 31

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BALDWIN, WILLIAM (1838-1917) was the son of Henry Baldwin, of Bandon, county Cork, and received his commission in the 19th regiment, with which he served in the Indian mutiny. Coming to Otago in 1860, he took up a run at Teviot. He was gazetted a magistrate in 1860 and when gold was discovered at Gabriel's Gully he was appointed commissioner at Waitahuna (1 Oct 1861) and warden and resident magistrate (22 Nov 1862). In 1863 he married Janet, daughter of the Hon A. Buchanan. He was elected to the Otago Provincial Council for the Goldfields (1863-64) and was on the executive in 1863. At the same time he was returned to Parliament for the Goldfields District, which he represented till 1865. He then resigned and represented Manuherikia (1866-67). While in the Provincial Council Baldwin was chairman of a committee which recommended that the number of miners' members be increased by two and that business men and miners who had held a miner's right for nine months should be entitled to the vote. He afterwards gave up his runs in Otago and became a travelling commissioner for the Government Life Insurance department. In 1873 he established the Otago Guardian, which he controlled till 1875. In 1890 he acquired an interest in the New Zealand Times and Mail, which he sold to a company in 1893. He was a director of the Dunedin City Tramways Co. Baldwin died on 30 Jul 1917. His daughter married (1883) the Hon Edmund W. Parker, son of Lord Macclesfield.

Otago P.C. Proc; Pyke; Col. Gent.; Hocken; Otago.

Reference: Volume 1, page 32

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BALFOUR, JAMES MELVILLE (1831-69), the son of the Rev. Lewis Balfour, D.D., of Colinton, and cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson, was born in Edinburgh and educated at the Edinburgh High School. He studied engineering, was a pupil of his brother-in-law, Stevenson, the lighthouse builder, and had a wide experience in Great Britain, mainly in marine engineering. In 1863 he came to New Zealand under a three years' engagement to the Otago Provincial Government. Amongst the works he carried out there were the survey of the Molyneux bar and Waikawa harbour, plans for the lighthouses at Dog Island and Taiaroa Heads, for the Dunedin waterworks and the graving dock at Port Chalmers. He was appointed in 1867 marine engineer for the Colony and in this capacity designed the lighthouses at Farewell Spit and Cape Campbell, carried out a marine survey of the coast of Taranaki and planned the harbour works at Timaru. He was drowned on 18 Dec 1869 while landing at Oamaru to attend the funeral of the railway engineer Thomas Paterson (q.v.), who was drowned in the Kakanui river. Balfour married Christina, daughter of George Simson, RSA.

Otago P.C.; Proc. 1864-67; App. H.R. 1867-69; Cant. O.N.; MS journal in Turnbull Library.

Reference: Volume 1, page 32

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BALL, THOMAS (1809-97) was born at Brigg, Lincolnshire, educated there and qualified as a chemist. He had acquired a competence when he emigrated to New Zealand with his family in the ship Victoria, with 200 immigrants, most of whom settled on 40-acre sections at Mangonui (1861). Ball had taken an active interest in local and general politics in England and received an address from the citizens of Brigg when he left there (1859). He represented Mangonui in the Auckland Provincial Council (1861-72), and was a member of the executive (1862). Resigning his seat in 1872, he was succeeded by WILLIAM THOMAS BALL, who sat till the abolition of the provinces (1873-76). Thomas Ball represented the district also in the House of Representatives (1866-70). He was a strong advocate of popular education and in 1869 moved a resolution, which was carried without debate, calling for the introduction of a progressive system of public schools. He retired from Parliament in 1870, but his efforts were recognised by Fitzherbert in the debate of 1871, when his object was advanced a step towards the education act of 1877. Ball settled at Onehunga about 1880. He was a staunch Congregationalist and a justice of the peace. He died on 25 Dec 1897.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; Macmorran; N.Z. Herald, 28 Dec 1897. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 32

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BALLANCE, JOHN (1839-93) was born at Glenavy, county Antrim, Ireland, on 27 Mar 1839, his father being Samuel Ballance, a farmer, and his mother Mary McNiece, a Quaker. The Ballances settled in Ireland in Cromwell's time and his grandfather, John, was wounded in fighting in the village during the rising of 1798. Ballance was educated in the local national school and was brought up on the farm until the age of 14, when he was apprenticed to an ironmonger in Belfast. His departure four years later to Birmingham to take up a post in the same trade was the turning point in his life. He now travelled widely in England and studied deeply at the evening classes of the Midlands Institute; attended many of the political meetings for which Birmingham was then famous, and as a member of the literary society (of which he was secretary) took a prominent part in the debates and was a successful chess player. His main athletic exercise at this time was boxing. In 1865, when 26 years of age, Ballance came to New Zealand, crossing from Melbourne in the Albion. While in Australia he made contacts in the belief that he would be able to enter into some sort of business in his new home, and purchased jewellery and other goods with which he stocked a small shop in Taupo Quay, Wanganui. He also took up a small piece of land. He soon found time on his hands which he employed congenially in writing to the local newspapers (the Chronicle and the Wanganui Times, both bi-weeklies). By this means, and by becoming a member of the Wanganui Literary society (1866), he aired his views, which were distinctly liberal. The shop did not flourish and Ballance joined a partner in starting a brewery; but new avenues of activity soon opened up. Discontented with participating in journalism only as a free lance, he gathered a small amount of capital and credit, purchased from John Martin the plant of a newspaper which had closed down, and announced his intention of starting a new journal in Wanganui. On 4 Jun 1867 the Wanganui Herald made its appearance as a penny evening paper. The first partnership did not last long and Ballance then took in as a practical printer A. D. Willis (q.v.), who had been with the Chronicle. The Maori war on the West Coast was now a serious factor in the prosperity of Wanganui and Ballance helped to found the Wanganui Cavalry, of which he was a member. The services of this corps were accepted on 25 Jul 1868, and it was called out for active service on 30 Nov, two days before the date of Ballance's cornetcy. His comments on military policy in the columns of the Herald, in which he described the calling-out of the corps as a senseless scare, brought him into conflict with the military authorities, and he was put under arrest by Colonel Gorton and ordered for court-martial. At this stage Ballance recognised his error, made a due apology and returned to duty, but his commission was cancelled. He served in the field at Weraroa (where he was one of Whitmore's escort), Wairoa and Nukumaru, and for his courageous conduct at Nukumaru was promoted corporal. After the war the Herald lost a good deal of money and Ballance paid out his partner, thereafter running the paper himself. He first essayed to enter politics in 1873, when he stood for the Egmont constituency, but retired in favour of Harry Atkinson, who was thus able to defeat Moorhouse. Two years later he entered upon parliamentary life, defeating W. H. Watt and W. Hutchison for the Rangitikei seat. At the outset he was a supporter of Atkinson, with whom he was at one on the provincial question. He strongly advocated the abolition of the provinces and proposed a system of municipalities elected on a special franchise. In 1876 he was re-elected (defeating James Bull). In the ensuing Parliament Ballance found himself drawn towards the Liberal party of the future. He met Grey and Stout and became immediate friends with them, particularly Stout. He supported Vogel on the abolition of the provinces, but did not come into close association with him. His decision as to party allegiance was finally made in 1877, when he wrote to Atkinson stating that he was withdrawing his support from the Government on account of its native land policy, which he considered was enriching the few at the expense of the natives and the Colony. He then definitely threw in his lot with Grey, separating from Atkinson and his colleague Bryce. Public life was now making demands on his time and he found it necessary to appoint an editor to look after the paper during his absence in Wellington. He accordingly took in John Notman as a partner, thus freeing himself for work that was becoming daily more urgent. He was chairman of the Wanganui harbour board. When Parliament met in 1877 the Atkinson Government was defeated and Grey took office. Ballance was not in the ministry, but he was obviously a coming man. A fluent and thoughtful speaker, a vigorous debater with a pleasing, courteous personality, he was a tower of strength to Grey's Government. On 12 Jan 1878 he was sworn in as Commissioner of Customs and Minister of Education, and on 18 Apr he became also Commissioner of Stamp Duties. Then on 12 Jul, when Larnach left for England, he took office as Colonial Treasurer. In his first financial statement he embodied one of the leading planks of Liberal policy, the tax on unimproved values. In Jul 1879, before Parliament met, Ballance and Grey had a serious personal disagreement arising (it is believed) from a criticism of Grey in Ballance's paper. As a result Ballance resigned (30 Jan 1879). The difference was not a serious one, and Grey offered to apologise, but Ballance refused to withdraw his resignation, feeling that he could only remain in the cabinet by the humiliation of his leader, to which he would not consent. Thus at a critical period of its history the new Liberal party was robbed of the services of one of its most able administrators, for Grey himself was hopelessly inept at departmental management. It was a serious blow to Grey. With financial troubles growing daily, cabinet discontent rife and native disaffection threatening, he was called upon to administer the Treasury. The land tax was replaced by a property tax. At the general election Ballance stood as a Liberal for Wanganui and was returned, with Bryce as his colleague (Bryce 560; Ballance 547; Fox 501). His personal victory was not a satisfactory one, inasmuch as Fox's defeat was due mainly to the opposition of the Roman Catholics. The liberal Government being defeated and practically disbanded by the dethronement of the leader, the fortunes of the party were guarded in the next Parliament mainly by Macandrew, Montgomery and Ballance. Meanwhile the native crisis had come to a head, and Hall, after trying to avoid it and jettisoning Bryce, had to accept his policy. The expedition to Parihaka resulted in Te Whiti (q.v.) being put beyond the power of making further trouble. In the flush of this event the Government went to the country. Bryce was the hero of the hour. Ballance had the misfortune to be opposed in a single electorate by W. H. Watt, who defeated him by four votes only. Freed of Parliamentary duties, he devoted more attention to the newspaper, of which he was now editor and manager and sole proprietor. In Oct 1882 he floated the business into a company. At the general election of 1884 Ballance was returned at the head of the poll, defeating Hutchison and Watt. He took the portfolios of Native Minister and Minister of Defence in the Stout-Vogel cabinet, which held office for only a fortnight. When it came back again (in Sep) Ballance was entrusted with these same offices and also with lands and immigration, and he entered with vigour upon perhaps the most constructive period of his departmental administration. The country was in the depth of a depression which had already defied the ingenuity of several administrations. Ballance approached it from the angle of a new land policy which would put unemployed men on land as peasant farmers, with perpetual leases granted by the crown and organised in state aided village settlements. Towards the natives, despondent still after the wars and sullenly opposed to the advance of settlement in the centre of the North Island, he adopted a policy of conciliation which extended even to such men as Te Kooti and Te Rerenga, Tawhiao and Rewi. He visited most of them at their homes, and soon felt justified in disbanding the Armed Constabulary and installing civil police in Maori districts. The setting aside as a national park of 60,000 acres, including Tongariro and Ruapehu, symbolised the better understanding which his sympathetic policy produced. From the defence point of view, with the Russian war scare as an incentive, he stimulated the patriotism of the people to promote volunteering and show a vigorous self-reliance. The Government was defeated on its financial proposals in 1887, and Ballance now became the leader of the liberals in opposition, though this position was not formally recognised until 1889. Atkinson, struggling manfully with the depression, could not stem the tide of unpopularity which ran inevitably against the cautious budgeteer. Ballance was confident of the superiority of his political programme and threw himself with energy into the election campaign in 1890. The rising Labour party, which had become conscious in the maritime strike, threw in its lot with the liberals, and the electors on 18 Dec gave their verdict against the Government in power. Instead of resigning or at once calling Parliament, the defeated ministry proposed to carry on until the normal time for the session, and recommended the appointment of six new members to the Legislative Council. The Liberal leaders protested to Governor Onslow against the appointments, but he replied that it was already done and that he was responsible only to the Secretary of State. Parliament did meet, however, on 23 Jan 1891. The election of W. J. Steward (the Liberal nominee) as Speaker showed that Ballance had 37 followers and Atkinson only 30. Atkinson, whose health was failing, had already accepted the speakership of the Legislative Council. Mitchelson accordingly announced that the Government had resigned and on 24 Jan Ballance was sworn in with the following ministry: Sir Patrick Buckley, Attorney-general, Colonial Secretary and Postmaster-general; William Pember Reeves, Minister of Education and Justice; R. J. Seddon, Minister of Public Works, Mines and Marine; John McKenzie, Lands and Agriculture, and J. G. Ward (without portfolio). Cadman came in a few days later to take charge of Stamp Duties, Native Affairs and Justice; Ward became Postmaster-general, and a month or two later Carroll was appointed as the representative of the native race. Ballance and Buckley were the only ministers with previous experience. Before coming into office as Premier, Ballance had made a sound contribution to the social legislation of New Zealand. He had assisted in widening the suffrage so that every man now had a vote. He had promoted village settlements, under which already 1,000 families had been placed on the land; and he had conciliated the King natives. He now gathered around him, in spite of the territorial restrictions, men who were as anxious as he to implement the programme of advanced liberalism of which they had spoken to the electors and to unite the rising Labour party with the liberals under one banner. The property tax was abolished and replaced by a land and income tax with a graduated land tax. In the first session of the new Government laws were passed prohibiting the payment of wages other than in money, changing the system of taxation, and inaugurating inspection of factories. This was the first instalment of a series of acts demanded by Labour to ameliorate the lot of the working classes. A labour department was established (under Reeves), which in the next 20 years was to effect radical improvements in the conditions and hours of factory labour and the relations between master and man. Land settlement was provided for in the next session in a measure which created three tenures-lease in perpetuity, occupation with right of purchase, and the optional method; and an act was passed authorising the Government to purchase lands from private owners for subdivision. The existence of an opposition majority in the Legislative Council menaced the passage of liberal measures. Ballance in his first session amended the law to replace life membership of the Council by a term of seven years, but the appointments made by Atkinson on the eve of his resignation created a majority which could not be overcome by normal process. When opposition to the new Government persisted, Ballance asked the Governor to make 12 new appointments. Onslow refused. Instead of resigning for a fresh appeal to the country, Ballance had the matter referred to the Secretary of State, who ruled that the Governor must accept the advice of his ministry. Accordingly, in Oct 1892, 12 members were appointed to the Legislative Council whose liberal opinions ensured that the policy of the Government would no longer meet with unreasonable obstruction in the upper chamber. On another point, the pardon of criminals, Ballance got a ruling from the Colonial Office that the Governor must act on the advice of his ministers. His relations with Onslow were somewhat strained during these controversies, in which Onslow frankly espoused the view of the opposition. Nevertheless Ballance, with innate courtesy and consideration, took steps to see that there should be no demonstration in the House which might hurt his Excellency's feelings. Progressive ill-health and the heavy strain of administrative duties and constitutional controversies were taking toll of Ballance's energies, and during the session of 1892 he was on several occasions unfit to take his place in the House. On such occasions Seddon, with his fine parliamentary knowledge, became the deputy-leader. When the new members were appointed to the Council Ballance's life work was practically finished. He was not to meet Parliament again. He returned to Wellington in view of the session of 1893, but was obviously a dying man and the end came on 27 Apr 1893. Ballance did not see the fruition of the Liberal programme which he had envisaged for so many years, but he saw the Liberal party established in office with such safeguards as were likely to enable it to implement its intentions. In a peculiar sense he was the heir and successor of the ambitions of Grey. The high humanitarian ideals of that leader Ballance adopted with quiet enthusiasm, and promoted with the practical commonsense of the trained politician. Quiet, amiable and simple, but solid and well-informed, he disarmed many of his opponents by his courtesy and consideration. Gisborne remarks upon his gentleness of manner and its sweetening influence upon the more robust and less considerate members of his Government. Stout says that he had a magnetic power of attaching men to himself. He was tender to human suffering. When serving in the Wanganui Cavalry he burst into tears at the sight of some Maori women who had been killed in a whare during the fighting. Throughout life Ballance played chess regularly, finding in the game a relief from the anxieties of public life. He started a chess club in Wanganui, promoted the Wanganui and Rangitikei Building society (1869), and a lodge of the American oddfellows, of which the public library was an offshoot. He was a keen lover of Shakespeare and possessed several editions of his works, and always took a part in literary and debating societies. Medicine and astronomy were two of his favourite studies. He was fond of animals, took an interest in poultry-raising and gardening, and at one time owned some useful racehorses (including Fishhook). Of Ballance's political and philosophical views Stout says that he followed at first Cobden and Bright, both of whom he had heard speak, and his budget speech of 1878 was unmistakably of the Manchester school; but later his views grew more advanced. 'As the years wore on he began to see that the laissez faire policy was not the last word spoken on political science. He gradually drifted away from the orthodox political econom

ists, becoming more radical and what is termed socialistic, following in this way the lead of such men as Toynbee, Sedgwick, Marshall, Ingram and others ... He recognised, however, that a politician must be a practical man and not deal with theories only and he sometimes got impatient with some Liberals for continually talking of theories without having any practical suggestions to carry them out. He approached many questions as a merchant would, dealing keenly and in a business way with bankers and others who had business transactions with the Government, and making a bargain with all the shrewdness of a business man.' In his early years he spoke seldom in the House, but later he became more vehement in his utterance and more rapid, sometimes speaking 'like a perfect tornado.' Originally a strict adherent of the Church of England, Ballance had rather evangelical tendencies and in English politics he was an Orangeman and conservative. His mother was a Quakeress who, in America, would have been considered a Hicksite or even a Unitarian. Ballance went farther even than this. Association in Birmingham with the Presbyterian Y.M.C.A. changed his views on life, and Stout considered that he became eventually an agnostic, but 'reverent withal and never intruding his religious views on anyone.' Ballance married first (1863) Fanny, a sister of H. S Taylor (Wanganui). She died in 1868, and he married in 1870 Ellen, daughter of David Anderson (Wellington), formerly of county Down. They had no children, but adopted two nieces of Mrs Ballance. Mrs Ballance took a keen interest in women's movements and was a vice-president of the Women's Progressive society. She died on 14 Jun 1935. N.Z.P.D.; App. H.R, notably 1891-92; N.Z. Chess Book, 1922; Brett's Almanac, 1879: Gorton; Saunders (p): Reeves; Condliffe: Scholefield, NZ. Evol.; Hight and Bamford; N.Z. Graphic, 23 Jul 1892 (p) ; Woman To-day, Jul 1937; N.Z. Times, Lyttelton Times, Evening Post and Wanganui Chronicle, 28 Apr 1893; Wanganui Herald, pass.; NZ. Herald, 6, 7 Feb 1885, 18 Dec 1891 ; Sir R. Stout in Austr. Reviews of Reviews, ii, 1893; James Collier in The Press, 31 Dec 1910; Auckland Star, 27 Sep 1887. Portrait: By Tennyson Cole in Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 33

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BALNEAVIS, HENRY COLIN (1818-76). Born at Ghent, Belgium, Balneavis was a younger son of Lieut-general Henry Balneavis, C.M.G., K.H., who commanded the 65th Regiment in the Peninsular war and was afterwards commandant and Governor of Malta. In recognition of his services the son was granted his first commission in the 58th Regiment without purchase in 1838. He rose to be captain and adjutant of the battalion.

Balneavis arrived in New Zealand (Apr 1845) in command of the light company, and the whole of his military life thereafter was in this country. He was present at minor actions in Heke's war and also at Ohaeawai and Ruapekapeka. At the last-named, while commanding the advanced picket, he reported the evacuation of the pa during the night, but Despard distrusted the intelligence. Balneavis led a patrol of the 58th in pursuit of the murderers of the Gilfillans at Wanganui (1847). When the 58th left New Zealand in 1858, having completed 20 years service, he retired as captain, took up his military grant of land at Maraetai and for some years was a settler. When the war broke out in Waikato Balneavis organised the Waikato militia, whose high efficiency was mainly due to him. He attained the rank of lieut-colonel in Feb 1862. He served for a while in the Wanganui district. He was keenly interested in fortifications, and constructed for a military college in Great Britain an exact model of Ruapekapeka. For his services in New Zealand Balneavis received the military good service medal and the New Zealand war medal.

After retiring from active service he was appointed sheriff for the province of Auckland. Amiable and unassuming in disposition, he had marked social qualities. He was an accomplished violinist and a founder of the Auckland Choral Society. His foreign experience as a boy gave him a ready knowledge of various European languages, and he was also proficient at Arabic, Greek and Maori. He died on 26 Aug 1876. His coffin was draped with the colours of his regiment, which he had borne as a subaltern and had been presented to him in 1866 for deposit in Auckland.

Gudgeon; Cowan; Buick; Grimstone; N.Z. Herald, 27 Aug 1876.

Reference: Volume 1, page 33

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BAMFORD, HARRY DEAN (1878-1922) was the son of Edwin Bamford, registrar-general of deeds. Educated at Napier High School and Auckland Grammar School, he entered the office of Buddle and Button and studied law at Auckland University College (B.A. 1898; LL.B. 1900; LL.D. 1901). From 1904 he practised in Auckland, being some time lecturer at the University College and a member of the College council. Bamford collaborated with Professor J. Hight in The Constitutional History and Law of New Zealand (1914). He married (1914) Jean, daughter of John Richmond. His death occurred on 27 Mar 1922.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Hight and Bamford; N.Z. Herald, 29 Mar 1922.

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BANNATYNE, WILLIAM McLEOD (1818-88) came to New Zealand in 1842 and founded a merchant's business in Wellington. Though naturally retiring, he took his part in public affairs. In 1848 he was nominated by Governor Grey to a seat in the Legislative Council of New Munster. This he resigned in 1850 in view of Earl Grey's despatch of 22 Dec 1849, as being incompatible with his independence. In 1856 he married Jane Emily, the widow of Major Richard Baker (q.v.). He was a member of the Wellington City Council (1871-73). About 1883 he returned to England, where he died on 17 May 1888.

Cycl. N.Z., i, 292; Beauchamp; Ward.

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BANNERMAN, WILLIAM (1822-1902) was born at Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, and as a child moved with his parents to Edinburgh, where he received his education. He went to the High School and to the sessional school, and then proceeded, on a four years bursary of £20 a year, to the University of Edinburgh.

While he was there the disruption occurred in the Church of Scotland. Bannerman was present in St Andrew's church when the protest was read by Dr Welsh, whereby 470 of the leading ministers of the Church renounced their allegiance and withdrew to form the Free Church of Scotland. Bannerman joined the new church and on the completion of his four years at the University he entered the Free Church theological college (of which Dr Chalmers was principal). At the end of his course he was licensed as a probationer. During these eight years in Edinburgh Bannerman was engaged in private tuition, and added much to his knowledge of the world by an extended tour in Europe in the company of one of his pupils. Partly on foot, they travelled through Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. At Geneva they met the historian of the Reformation, Merle D'Aubigne. Another tour took them through southern Ireland. After being licensed by the Free Church presbytery of Edinburgh, Bannerman was employed by the home mission committee in the parish of Crathie, in which were included the royal estates of Balmoral and Abergeldie. He conducted divine service and Sunday school in a building belonging to the estate of Abergeldie, and thereby laid the foundations of the present parish. On leaving Crathie, Bannerman for a few weeks supplied the vacant charge at Echt, near Aberdeen. Then he went to Perth to take the place temporarily at St Leonards of the Rev John Milne, who had gone to Calcutta.

Some time before this the congregation of First Church in Dunedin had requested the Free Church of Scotland to assist in providing missionaries for the central portion of Otago province outside of Dunedin. An old parishioner wrote to Bannerman that he was going to Otago with his two sons, and suggested that Bannerman might find the opening agreeable. He accepted the suggestion at once, offered his services to the colonial committee, and in Sep 1853 was ordained by the Perth presbytery as a minister of the Otago Church. Dr Andrew Bonar presided. Accompanied by the Rev William Will, Bannerman sailed the following month in the ship Stately, which arrived in Otago in Feb 1854. The presbytery of Otago divided the district between the two ministers, it being agreed that Will should take the better-settled Taieri district and Bannerman the sparsely-settled far south. Being unable to ride, he entered upon his task with the prospect of travelling afoot, and in this fashion he made journeys in 10 months which totalled 3,600 miles. Then a horse was procured, and he soon became an accomplished horseman. At the request of the presbytery he travelled as far north as Oamaru, and then returned to his own sphere in south Otago. Every small settlement there he visited regularly. Before long Tokomairiro, Clutha, Kaihiku, Warepa and Inch Clutha were organised congregations, and by the end of 1856 Bannerman had extended his visitations as far as Invercargill. After visiting all the congregations on the northern side of the Mataura he crossed the river and proceeded with great difficulty to Bluff, suffering much from thirst on the way. After sleeping the night in the lee of a house which was building there, he proceeded by foot and boat to the site of Invercargill, where surveyors were already at work laying out the township.

Returning in company with Logie (collector of customs at Dunedin), they lost themselves among the Hokonui mountains and spent two nights in the bush, drenched to the skin. At length they struck the mouth of the Popotunoa gorge and reached the manse at Warepa, a clay hut, on Sunday morning. Bannerman caught his horse and rode off to Balclutha for the Sunday service. The manse at Puerua was erected in 1857. These arduous years taxed to the utmost the strength of the minister, who was scarcely out of the saddle for a day at a time. Gradually the advent of more population required the establishment of sanctioned charges within his territory. In 1860 the Rev A. H. Stobo was stationed at Invercargill. Then the Warepa and Kaihiku, Tokomairiro, Inch Clutha and Popotunoa districts became settled charges (under the Revs J. Waters, A. B. Todd, James Kirkland and Charles Connor), and Bannerman was free to devote his attention to Puerua and Port Molyneux, with Catlins and Tapanui. He had laboured for 30 years in this heavy field, and was now over 60 years of age, when in 1884 he met with a buggy accident which left him so lame as to be unable longer to travel. He retired at the beginning of 1885, his congregation retaining him as senior minister.

Bannerman went to live at Roslyn. He did occasional work in and around Dunedin, but devoted most of his attention to the clerkship of the synod, which he held from its formation. He had previously been clerk to the presbytery for some years. In the church courts Bannerman was methodical in the transaction of business and uniformly helpful, courteous and courageous in debate. He was one of the old Scots Presbyterians, versed in all church law, a keen debater, and an inveterate fighter. He took a warm interest in missions and for many years was convenor of the mission committee. In this capacity he paid a visit with his wife to the New Hebrides, where the Otago Church had stations. Bannerman attended two general assemblies of the Victorian and New Zealand churches, and in 1876 he represented the Church of Otago at Edinburgh at the alliance of the Reformed Churches holding to the Presbyterian system.

In 1900, in recognition of his long and valuable service in New Zealand, the University of Edinburgh conferred upon Bannerman the degree of doctor of divinity. He died on 24 Dec 1902. Mrs Bannerman was a daughter of the Rev Dr Burns.

Hocken; Chisholm; Don; John Wilson; Otago Witness, Mar 1898 (Jubilee); Otago Daily Times, 20 Jan 1885, 25 Dec 1902, 13 Jun 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BARCLAY, ALFRED RICHARD (1859-1912), son of the Rev. George Barclay, was born in Ireland, and came to New Zealand in 1865. He attended the Timaru public school, Christ's College and Otago University (B.A. 1878). He completed his LL.B. degree in 1884, and was admitted as barrister and solicitor three years later. He then began to practise in Dunedin, and for a time was with the firm of George and J. A. Cook. Always interested in education and university matters, he was clerk of the court of convocation from its inauguration in 1884. In 1891 he was appointed lecturer in constitutional history at Otago University. Barclay was member for Dunedin in the House of Representatives (1899-1902), supporting the Seddon Government. He was defeated by Bedford, Millar and Arnold, but gained the Dunedin North seat in 1905, when he defeated Bedford. He was connected with many public bodies, notably the Athenaeum committee and the Fabian society. His wife, Annie, was a daughter of H. W. Baron (Dunedin). Barclay died on 10 Nov 1912.

Hansard, 5 Jul 1913; N.Z. Chess Book, 1922; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Christ's Coll. Sch. List; Otago Daily Times, 11 Nov 1912.

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BARCLAY, PETER, of Aberdeen, was selected by the colonial committee of the Free Church of Scotland to inaugurate the Presbyterian Church in Hawke's Bay. He arrived in 1859 by the White Swan, opened a church in 1861, and four years later was moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Following the death of his wife, he resigned in 1866 and returned to Scotland. Barclay published a book, The Word and Work of Christ in New Zealand, and in 1872 Notes on New Zealand for the Use of Emigrants.

Dickson.

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BARFF, EDMUND (?-?) came to New Zealand with the gold rush to the West Coast, and was a typical miner's representative. In 1865 he was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council for the West Coast, and he sat for that and the Westland seat till 1867. In 1868 he was elected by Okarito to the Westland county council. In 1868 Barff was returned as M.H.R. for Westland South, which he represented till 1870. He was again in Parliament (for Hokitika) from 1876-79, and was mainly responsible for the framing of the mining act of 1877. At the election in 1879 he was defeated, the two seats being gained by R. C. Reid and Seddon, with Duncan third and Barff last.

Parlty Record; Harrop, Westland; Cycl. N.Z., v.

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BARKER, ALFRED CHARLES (1819-73), was born in London, the son of Joseph Gibbs Barker, of Birmingham. During his childhood his parents lived at Hereford, Cambridge and Kenilworth, and for a while in the Vintners House at Holborn. The boy received most of his education in a private school at Hereford, and went to King's College, London, to study medicine. After qualifying as a surgeon he practised at Matlock, Bath and Rugby. He married Emma, daughter of Samuel Outram Bacon.

Becoming interested in the Canterbury scheme, Barker was one of the original land purchasers and was appointed surgeon to the Charlotte Jane. On arrival in Lyttelton (16 Dec 1850) he was in the first boat which went off and found rooms at Day's Hotel, Sumner, where he left his family until their home was ready. At Christchurch he lived in a dugout in the park while he erected his first shelter, a V hut covered with a sail from the ships. The hut was used by the land office for the convenience of the land purchasers at the selection of sections in Jan 1851. The garden of his permanent home stretched from Cathedral Square to the terrace in Worcester Street. Though a member of the council of the Society of Land Purchasers from 1852 to 1854, Barker was too much engaged in his practice to take part in politics. For years he was one of the few medical practitioners on the Plains, and he had to ride long distances. In 1855 he was returned to the Provincial Council for Christchurch City, which he represented until 1857. He had no taste for public life, but had strong opinions which he often expressed in the press. His wife having died in 1858, Barker gave up his practice in 1859 and devoted himself more and more to his hobbies. His tastes were studious and scientific. Throughout his life he corresponded with Owen, Huxley and others on geology, botany and other phases of science. He studied the Darwin theories deeply, and in 1872 and 1873 contributed papers to the Canterbury Philosophical Institute. Many sketches which he made in the early days of the settlement are preserved in the Christchurch museum, and his skill as an amateur photographer furnished valuable historical pictures. He was a trustee of the museum and assisted every intellectual and literary movement in the province. He was also a fellow of Christ's College, and the College library was built from his plans after his death. Barker died on 20 Mar 1873.

Canterbury P.C. Proc; Deans; Wigram; Church News, May 1873; Scholefield in The Press, 27 Sep 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 35

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BARKER, LADY MARY ANNE, later Lady Broome (1831-1911) was born in Jamaica, where her father, W. G. Stewart, was Island Secretary. In 1852 she married Captain (afterwards Sir) George Barker, who served in the Crimea and the mutiny. She joined him in 1860, when he was commanding the Royal Artillery in Bengal. He died in 1861. In 1865 she married Frederick Napier Broome, who was then sheep farming in Canterbury. They took up Steventon in 1866 and called it Broomielaw. Their life in New Zealand came to an early end. Broome was a keen sportsman and spent much time pig-hunting and writing poetry. He gave up the property in 1868. In 1869 he did his first work for Macmillan's Magazine, and at Alexander Macmillan's suggestion his wife wrote the first of her books describing station life in New Zealand. It was published in 1870. Her books contain some of the most lively and interesting accounts of station life in the early days, as she experienced it, mainly at Broomielaw, Rockwood and Heathstock stations. Station Life in New Zealand was followed by Travelling Over Old and New Ground (1871), A Christmas Cake in Four Quarters (1872), Station Amusements in New Zealand (1873), Letters to Guy (1885) and Colonial Memories (1904). Broome joined the staff of The Times as special correspondent and reviewer, and travelled widely while his wife became superintendent of the national school of cookery and editor of a magazine. In 1875 Broome was appointed colonial secretary in Natal; lieutenant governor of Mauritius (1876), and governor of West Australia (1882-90). (K.C.M.G. 1883). He was governor of Trinidad when he died (1896). Lady Broome died on 6 Mar 1911.

Acland; Buller; Hocken, Bibliog.; Broome, Colonial Memories; The Times (London), 7 Mar 1911.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARLOW, PETER WILLIAM (1847-90) was the son of Peter William Barlow, F.R.S. Educated in England and trained as a civil engineer, he was employed on contracts in Turkey and Brazil and on the Tower subway in London. In 1883 he came with his family to New Zealand under engagement to a land company and settled at Matakohe. In 1888 he published under the title Kaipara an interesting volume of description and experiences. Barlow died in Apr 1890.

N.Z. Herald; Barlow, op. cit.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARNES, JOHN (1817-89) was born at Stockport, Lancashire, and came to Otago in the Nourmahal (1858). For many years he was in business as a carter and contractor, carrying to Tokomairiro and to the goldfields at Lindis and Tuapeka, and undertaking many public works contracts, such as the Rattray Street, Stuart Street and Pelichet Bay jetties. In 1863-66 he was a member of the town board, and in 1866-67, 1870-74 and 1879-85 of the City Council, from which he resigned twice to become inspector of works. He was mayor of Dunedin in 1885 and a member of the harbour board (1883-88). Barnes died on 18 Nov 1889.

Cycl. NZ, iv; Otago Daily Times, 19 Nov 1889.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARNES, RICHARD JAMES (1860-1929) was born in Victoria and came to New Zealand with his parents, who were attracted to the Central Otago goldfields. As a young man in Wellington he learned the game of chess as a member of St Paul's young men's club. He became a regular prize-winner in local contests; in 1890 was runner-up in the Dominion championships, and three years later was champion. Barnes attended 27 Dominion congresses, winning the championship five times and being runner-up nine times. He was an accountant by profession. He died on 7 Jan 1929.

N.Z. Chess Book, 1922; The Dominion, 8 Jan 1929.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARNETT, JOHN MAUGHAN (1867-1938) was born in Leamington, Warwickshire, and educated at a private school. He studied piano and composition under Gustav Ernest, and the organ under Frank Spinney. After holding the position of organist and choirmaster at the church of King Charles the Martyr (1882-89) and at St Mary Magdalen church, St Leonards-on-Sea, and giving concerts in South Kensington and in the provinces, he came overseas on account of his health. For three years he was organist at the Hobart Cathedral, Tasmania, where he opened the new organ. He composed the anthem used at the laying of the foundation stone of the cathedral chancel and tower, and conducted the Hobart musical union. In 1893 he was organist and choirmaster at Napier Cathedral, and he was first conductor of the liedertafel there. In 1895 he was appointed organist and choirmaster at St John's Church, Wellington, and he was the city organist until 1913, when he took up similar duties in Auckland. He played an important part in establishing the Wellington Choral Society and was conductor of the Wellington Operatic Society. The music of the commemorative ode for the Christchurch Exhibition (1905) was his composition. Barnett married a daughter of the Rev Lewen Tugwell. He died on 1 Jan 1938, 16 weeks after being appointed organist at Christchurch Cathedral.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908 and 1924; Evening Star, 15 Jun 1926; The Press, 2 Jan 1938.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARTLEY, THOMAS HOUGHTON (1798-1878) was a son of William Bartley, of Liverpool. Admitted to the Inner Temple in 1818, he was called in 1823 and practised on the northern circuit and at Liverpool.

In 1838 he emigrated to South Australia, where he entered into practice. He came to Bay of Islands early in 1840 and was associated with F. Whitaker there until the capital was removed to Auckland. Bartley was a man of singular modesty and reserve, 'who carried chivalry almost to the verge of quixotism; imbued with every instinct of a gentleman.' On removing to Auckland he was leader of the bar for many years. Much against his disposition he took part in politics. In 1853 he was urged to stand for the superintendency of Auckland, but withdrew later (25 Apr 1853). He was, however, elected to the Provincial Council for the City, which he represented in 1853-54 and 1855-57. He was elected speaker of the Council and controlled it with tact and dignity through stormy crises in which party feeling ran very high (1853-57). He was deputy-superintendent of Auckland in 1856. Meanwhile Bartley was also a member of the House of Representatives (1853-54) and in this arena too he played his part in heated controversy. He was a member of the executive with Fitzgerald (Jul-Aug 1854). In Jul 1854 he was called to the Legislative Council, of which in 1856 he was appointed Speaker. That position he held with dignity until 1868, when he accepted a pension of £300. He remained a member of the Council for some years longer, but vacated his seat in 1874.

In spite of his gentle and mild manners, Bartley had great strength of will and physical energy. He frequently pulled his boat across to Stokes Point after the Council rose, and he took a prominent part in the trenches at Fort Britomart during the native crisis. Bartley died on 25 Dec 1878, his wife having predeceased him by seven years. His daughter Mary married Sir Edward Stafford (q.v.).

The Treasurer's office, Inner Temple; Auckland P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; N.Z.P.D.; Saunders; Rusden; Thomson; Kennedy. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 38

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BARNICOAT, JOHN WALLIS (1814-1905) was born at Falmouth, Cornwall, educated at the Falmouth proprietary school and articled to a civil engineer. He practised his profession in England until 1841, when he came to Nelson in the Lord Auckland (arriving on 23 Feb 1842).

There he practised for a while in partnership with a fellow passenger, T. J. Thompson, and was employed by the New Zealand Company surveying lands at Waimea and Moutere. He was so employed at Wairau when Te Rauparaha and Rangiheata interposed (Jun 1843). Barnicoat was one of those who escaped, finding his way with Frederick Tuckett (q.v.) to Cloudy Bay and back to Nelson. He then surveyed the Motueka and Takaka districts, and in Mar 1844 explored with Tuckett the whole of the east coast of the South Island as far as Stewart Island to find a suitable site for the New Edinburgh settlement. With Davison he surveyed the Waikouaiti harbour. Later in the year he settled on his own land near Richmond. In 1846 Barnicoat explored the Pelorus and in 1850 (with John Tinline) he tried to find a route from Nelson to the Wairau.

Barnicoat in 1853 was elected unopposed for Waimea East to the Nelson Provincial Council, in which he sat throughout the provincial period (1853-75). He was speaker (1858-75) and deputy-superintendent in 1875. In 1862 he contested the superintendency (Robinson 593 votes; Barnicoat 218). He was chairman of the Waimea road board and for many years of the Waimea county council. Barnicoat was keenly interested in education, being a trustee under the Nelson trust funds act and one of the founders of Nelson College, of which he was a governor for 40 years from 1856. He was a member and chairman of the board of education, a trustee of the Richmond institute (1846), a member of the archdeaconry board (1856) and of the first Nelson synod (1859); an assessor of the bishop's court, a member of many diocesan trusts, diocesan treasurer (1875-97) and a member of the General Synod (1862). In 1883 Barnicoat was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member to 1902. He married (1849) Rebecca Lee, a daughter of William Hodgson (q.v.). Barnicoat died on 2 Feb 1905. (See R. C. KIRK.) His daughter, CONSTANCE ALICE BARNICOAT (1877-1922), was educated at Nelson Girls' College and Canterbury University College (B.A. 1895). She studied languages, was private secretary to W. T. Stead (1898-1903), and for many years acted as special foreign correspondent for English and New Zealand newspapers. She married (1913) Julian Grande, who wrote her life in 1925.

N.Z.C.; Hocken, Otago; N.Z.P.D.; Grande, op. cit. (p); Buick, Old Marlborough; Broad; Cycl. N.Z., v (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; The Colonist 3 Feb 1905.

Reference: Volume 1, page 36

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BARR, GEORGE MORRISON (1837-1907) was born in Glasgow and received his education in that city, passing out of the University with two firsts (engineering and mechanics). He served his articles with Thomas Kyle and remained with him as assistant for three years before taking up his residence in Edinburgh in the service of Charles Jopp, A.M.I.C.E., consulting engineer to the North British Railway Co., for whom he surveyed several branch lines in the south and east of Scotland. He arrived at Port Chalmers in the Jura in 1862 and took up his duties in the provincial survey department. In 1866 he transferred to the general government and was chief engineer of public works (1869-72). During this time he had charge of all roads, buildings and public works. Resigning in 1872 to enter private practice, he was appointed in 1882 engineer to the Otago harbour board. Until loans ceased in 1888 he carried out all the harbour works, including the opening of the Victoria channel. In private practice he executed harbour works at Wanganui and waterworks at New Plymouth, Queenstown, Cromwell, Palmerston South, Mornington and Roslyn. He was two years a member of the City Council and four years of the harbour board; was one of the first members (and sometime chairman) of the Mornington school committee. Barr became a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1882 and received the Telford premium for a report on Otago harbour (1892). He was vice-president of the N.Z. Institute of Surveyors and a member of the first board of examiners. At the time of his death (27 Apr 1907) he was the only surviving foundation member of the Glasgow Geological Society. He married in 1871 a daughter of Thomas Oliver, of Kaikorai.

Evening Star, 29 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARR, JAMES (1820-85) was born in Glasgow and had a careful upbringing in the Scots and Presbyterian tradition. Arriving in Otago by the Mariner (1849), he and a brother farmed for some years at Halfway Bush. Finding this occupation not sufficiently profitable, he left in 1851 for Sydney, where he spent five years. He took a great interest in the social aspect of early Otago and was secretary of the committee which promoted winter lectures. He floated some of the early building societies. Barr was in business for many years in Walker Street and Stafford Street and finally at the Phoenix Bond. He took little part in politics, except in the days of the Otago convention, which was established to protest against the abolition of the provincial system (1875). Barr had a pleasant literary turn and published many articles on the early life of the province, as well as a volume entitled The Old Identities (1879). He was the first secretary of the Old History Society of Otago. Barr died on 4 Apr 1885.

Barr, op. cit.; Hocken, Bibliog. and Otago; Otago Daily Times, 24 Apr 1885.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARR, JOHN (1867-1930) was born in Paisley, Scotland, and educated at the public school at Pollokshaws. He spent three years as a weaver before taking part in his first industrial dispute, and then served his apprenticeship as a stonemason. Before coming to New Zealand in 1902 he lived in Winnipeg, Canada, for a time, and was employed as a telegraph linesman in Canada and the United States. Settling in Christchurch, he took a prominent part in labour matters, becoming president of the Canterbury trades and labour council. In 1907 he was called to the Legislative Council, and he was re-appointed in 1914, 1921 and 1928. He was chairman of committees from 1925 until his death (on 6 Dec 1930). For many years Barr was a member of the Sumner borough council, and he was mayor (1917-23). He occupied a seat on the Christchurch tramway board (1912-21), being appointed deputy-chairman in 1916 and chairman in 1918. A staunch freemason, Barr was the first master of the Sumner Masonic lodge. In his capacity as stonemason, he was a member of the committee responsible for the restoration of the old Provincial Council chambers.

N.Z.P.D., 11 Mar 1931; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; The Press, 8 Dec 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARR, JOHN (1809-89) was born at Paisley, Scotland, and was for many years a member of the engineering firm of Barr and McNab, of Paisley, who were engaged in connection with the Clyde shipbuilding. In 1852 he emigrated to Otago in the Dominion, and was for many years a familiar figure in the settlement. He settled at Halfway Bush, and later took a place at Kaihiku, which he named Craigielee. There he lived for a number of years and then sold the farm and lived at Water of Leith, Dunedin. Barr was regarded as Otago's first poet. He had a talent for composing songs, and wrote verse of good quality, including satirical and humorous poems for every occasion. For many years he contributed regularly to the Otago Witness and the Saturday Advertiser. In 1861 he published his first volume of Poems and Songs (many in the Scots dialect), and in 1874 they were republished with some additions. Barr inaugurated the Burns Club and was laureate to the Caledonian Society. He died on 18 Sep 1889.

Hocken, Otago and Bibliog.; Barr, op. cit; The Press, 5 Jun 1907; Otago Daily Times, 19 Sep 1889.

BARR, WILLIAM (1831-87) arrived in Otago with his parents in the Philip Laing. He sat in the Otago Provincial Council as member for Green Island and Caversham (1861-70), and for Kaikorai (1871-73). He died on 10 May 1887.

Otago Daily Times, 12 May 1887.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARRAUD, CHARLES DECIMUS (1822-97) was born in Surrey and educated in Camberwell. After serving his articles to a chemist and druggist, he spent some time in that business in Southampton and came to New Zealand in the Pilgrim in 1849. He was in business in Lambton Quay, Wellington, until 1887, when the misfortune of having his premises burned caused him to retire. Barraud was a competent artist in water colours and painted a great deal during his life in Wellington. In 1875 he visited England, where he published (1877) a portfolio of lithographs in colour and plain entitled New Zealand: Graphic and Descriptive (the descriptive matter being by W. T. L. Travers). Barraud was one of the founders, and for some years president, of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. He was the first president of the New Zealand Pharmacy Board and was treasurer of the convalescent fund of Wellington Hospital and chairman of the Sailors' Rest. He died on 26 Dec 1897.

Ward; Cycl. N.Z., i (P); Barraud, op. cit; N.Z. Times and Evening Post, 28 Dec 1897.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARRETT, RICHARD (1807-47) was born in Rotherhithe, London, became a sailor and visited New Zealand waters as mate of Love's schooner Tohora (whale), which traded in pork and flax between Nga-motu (New Plymouth) and Sydney from 1828-29 until a cask of pork fell from the slings and destroyed the vessel. Barrett remained at Nga-motu, where he married Lavinia Waikaiua (Rawinia), of the Ngatite-Whiti tribe. He was the mainstay, with Love (Hakirau), in the defence of the Otaka pa (Breakwater, New Plymouth), when it was fiercely besieged by the invading Waikato in 1831. With the survivors, Barrett journeyed south inland of Waikanae, where they were under the protection of Te Rauparaha at Kapiti Island. Thence he moved to Port Nicholson and across the straits to Te Awaiti (Tauwhite), on Tory Channel, where he became a whaler. On 18 Aug the Tory anchored in Ship Cove, and Colonel Wakefield engaged Barrett as interpreter. Edward J. Wakefield says: 'Dressed in a white jacket, blue dungaree trousers, and round straw hat, he seemed perfectly round all over, while his jovial, ruddy face, twinkling eyes and good-humoured smile could not fail to excite the pleasure of all beholders.' H. S. Chapman in the New Zealand Journal, 1850, said he was 'a great man among the natives, who adore him, and is respected by even drunken whalers.' Barrett went with Wakefield to Port Nicholson, where he explained to the chiefs the intentions of the Company and its desire to acquire land. A purchase was accordingly made of a considerable area, now occupied by Wellington city and suburbs and the Hutt valley. After the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, the Company's claim was investigated and considerably reduced. On 1 Feb 1840 Barrett piloted the Tory to Moturoa (New Plymouth) with a similar object. He returned to Wellington and acted as agent for natives and interpreter. On 24 Oct he opened a hotel (known as Barrett's), which became a meeting place for colonial deals and social events in the young settlement. Barrett possessed the first horses in New Plymouth. In 1843 he accompanied three stockmen, driving 70 head of cattle, from Wellington to New Plymouth. In 1844 he retired to his Moturoa whaling station, where he died on 23 Feb 1847.

N.Z.C. 113; G.B.P.P., 1840-41; H. M. Jarvis in N.Z. Herald, 5 Mar-30 Apr 1892; A. Hood, Taranaki and Dicky Barrett, 1890; E. J. Wakefield; McNab, Old Whaling Days; S. P. Smith, Taranaki; Ward.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARRIBALL, CHARLES (1812-80) came to New Zealand by the Westminster in 1843 and resided in Epsom for some years. At the first Waiuku sale (1859) he purchased a farm, and the family settled there in 1860. Barriball was a warden of the Auckland hundred and later a member of the Waiuku road board, but he took no part in politics. He was a staunch Wesleyan Methodist and for many years a local preacher. He died on 23 Jan 1880.

N.Z. Herald, 26 Jan 1880.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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BARRON, WILLIAM (1837-1916) was born at St Andrews, Scotland, and educated in the parish and Free Church schools at Whitburn, Kirkliston and Lennie Moor. He was trained for commercial life in Edinburgh. He arrived in Otago in 1861 by the Lady Egidia, and spent the next 18 months mining and storekeeping on the goldfields. He then went into business in Dunedin, being senior partner first in Barron and Campbell and afterwards in Barron, Grant and Co., merchants and runholders. He retired in 1874, paid a visit to Great Britain, and on his return settled in Caversham. He was a member of the City Council in 1874, and five years later entered Parliament for Caversham, which he represented 1879-90, being unopposed on two occasions. Barron was a consistent Liberal and freetrader and took the initiative in many reforms of the eighties and nineties. He fought for several years to extend the hours of polling to enable the working class to register their votes; he promoted legislation to protect wages in cases of bankruptcy, and advocated the abolition of plural voting and the reduction of the number of members of Parliament. He also carried through drastic amendments of the patent law, cheapening the costs to patentees and simplifying the procedure. In Parliament he strenuously opposed heavy borrowing. Barron was a leading advocate of the Otago Central railway and chairman of the executive of the league. He was a prominent freemason. He married (1870) Mary, daughter of Robert Banks (Puerua). He died on 16 Jun 1916.

Who's Who N.Z., 1909; Cycl. NZ, iv; Otago Daily Times, 17 Jun 1916.

Reference: Volume 1, page 38

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BARRY, WILLIAM JACKSON (1819-1907) was born in Melbourne, Cambridgeshire, and at the age of nine left England on a trip round the world in the Red Rover, an emigrant ship. At Sydney he deserted and worked for a butcher, who sent him to school at Parramatta, until in 1835 he left on a whaling cruise in the Mary. He deserted at Melbourne, but being retaken, sailed for the Bay of Islands. In 1838 he went with an expedition to form a convict settlement at New Holland, on the Australian coast, and being wrecked on the return journey, was one of three who were saved. He joined the navy in 1840 and went to India and China (where he took part in the first Chinese war). After several trips across the Tasman, trading and whaling, Barry left the sea and in 1845 married Miss French, of Western Australia. She brought him a substantial dowry, and for a time he managed her father's station. After her death he joined the California gold rush, where momentarily he made a fortune. Marrying again in 1852 at Shasta, he returned to Australia, lost his money in a wreck, but soon made another fortune in quartz mining at Ballarat. In the early sixties he brought his wife and family to New Zealand, where he worked first at Gabriel's Gully and later as a farmer and butcher in Cromwell. In 1864 Barry was elected mayor of Cromwell, and he held the position for a few years. He engaged in goldmining, auctioneering and butchering, and purchased a hotel in Queenstown, where his wife died in 1874. Four years later he visited England as immigration agent for the Government. Grey being put out of office during his absence, he carried out a lecture tour of England. On his return to New Zealand he contested the Dunedin West seat in Parliament (1887), but illness prevented him from prosecuting his campaign. His book, Up and Down: or 50 Years of Colonial Experience, was published in 1879. From 1887 he toured the Australian colonies giving lectures until he became too infirm. He also published Past and Present and Men of the Times (1897). Barry died on 25 Apr 1907.

Barry, op. cit. (p); The Press, 25 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 38

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BARSTOW, ROBERT CLAPHAM (1820-90) was born at Skipton Bridge, Yorkshire, a grandson of Sir Michael Barstow, mayor of York. He was educated at St Peter's School, York, and proceeded as a foundation scholar to Jesus College, Cambridge (1838). After completing his course there he spent some time travelling in Europe, and sailed in 1843 for New Zealand in the Bangalore, which was carrying Captain FitzRoy to assume the Governorship. Arriving in Dec, he purchased land at Tamaki, and then speculated in loading the Bangalore with spars and timber. He sailed in the ship on her return to England, put into Valparaiso in distress and sold her cargo there. Barstow made his way to Payta (Peru) and then to Tahiti (Aug 1844) in search of a vessel for his return to New Zealand. After visiting the Marquesas and Hawaii, he reached Auckland in 1845, just before the arrival of Governor Grey. He had a schooner, the Undine, built in Auckland, and made further cruises in the Pacific. In 1846 he married Jane Mary (d. 15 Jul 1902), daughter of Colonel Hulme, of the 96th Regiment.

In 1848 Barstow was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member until 1850. On account of the scarcity of labour following the gold discoveries in California, he sold his farm (partly to St John's College) and moved to Great Barrier, where he had a cattle station for some years. From 1859 he was resident magistrate at Bay of Islands; from 1872 at Onehunga; and from 1877 at Auckland, retiring in 1881. Barstow took a great interest in the establishment of the Auckland Industrial School, and was many years on the committee. He was for some time president of the Auckland Institute and was interested in acclimatisation and horticulture. He had a valuable collection of engravings, coins and medals. Barstow died on 28 Sep 1890. (See J. P. CAMPBELL.)

Parlty Record; N.Z. Herald, 3 Jul, 10 Oct 1881, 29 Sep 1890; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p)

Reference: Volume 1, page 38

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BARTH, ARTHUR JAMES (1850-1905) was born and educated in London, and studied music under J. F. Barnett and Dr H. Wylde, being elected in 1868 an associate of the London Academy of Music. He was teaching from the age of 17, and when he came to New Zealand (in the Taranaki) in 1881, he had already acted as examiner and professor at the London Academy. Barth was conductor of the Choral Society and the Liedertafel in Dunedin, and was successively organist at St Matthew's, All Saints and Knox churches. He died in 1905.

Cycl. NZ, iv (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 38

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BARTON, GEORGE BURNETT (1836-1901) was a son of William Barton, a Sydney sharebroker and brother of Sir Edmund Barton (prime minister and chief justice of Australia). He read law at the Middle Temple from 1856, was called to the bar in 1860, and shortly afterwards commenced to practise in Dunedin.

While engaged in journalism in Australia he wrote (1866) a literary history of New South Wales for the Melbourne exhibition. In 1868 Barton succeeded Vogel as editor of the Otago Daily Times, a position he held for almost three years. His administration was marked by a prosecution for criminal libel arising out of an article which appeared on 3 Oct 1870 charging the Government with deliberately delaying telegrams intended for the Times until a summary of them had been communicated to opposition newspapers supporting the Government. Charges were also made against the personnel of the Government and officials of the Telegraph department. The case was heard by the magistrate (23 Feb-30 Mar 1871) and Barton was committed for trial. He had meanwhile retired from the editorship of the Times to be free to attend the proceedings, and the Government abandoned the prosecution. Barton edited The New Zealand Jurist and Practical Statistics of New Zealand.

Returning to New South Wales he did some more journalism, was a lecturer in English at Sydney University, and published Poets and Prose Writers (1886). He began to edit certain historical publications for the centenary of New South Wales, and one volume of history from the historical records (1783-89) was published by him. He also wrote the life and times of William Charles Wentworth (for serial publication). In 1891 Barton published an annotated copy of the draft constitution for the projected Australian federation, and in 1892 a complete digest (which appeared in the Yearbook of Australia). At the time of his death (on 12 Sep 1901) he was on the staff of the Goulburn Herald at Goulburn.

Paul; Austral. Encycl.; Otago Daily Times, Feb-Mar 1871; Sydney Morning Herald, 14 Sep 1901.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BARTON, GEORGE ELLIOTT (1827-1906) studied for the bar, was admitted and began his professional career in Dublin, where he had been a pupil with a barrister of high standing. In the early fifties he emigrated to Victoria and practised for some years in Melbourne. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly for North Melbourne from 1859 until he moved to Ballarat, when he retired from Parliament (1860). In 1862 Barton came to Otago and commenced practising in Dunedin. Though a successful advocate with a remarkable power of concentration, he had an impulsive and highly excitable temperament and was frequently at loggerheads with bench and bar. Barton was elected member of the Provincial Council for the City of Dunedin in 1871, but was defeated in 1873. In 1874 he contested a Dunedin seat in Parliament against Wales, who defeated him by 632 votes to 542. In 1876 Barton moved to Wellington, where he entered into practice with H. Fitzherbert. In conducting a case before Mr Justice Richmond in the Supreme Court he was committed for contempt and imprisoned in Wellington gaol. While there he contested the Parliamentary election for Wellington City against E. Pearce and W. Hutchison. His son, Elliott L'Estrange Barton (1857-1934) appeared on the platform to speak for him and Barton was elected (10 Feb 1878). A crowd formed outside the gaol and Barton appeared to answer their congratulations, but was not permitted to speak. He lost his seat in 1879. Some years later Barton went to the United States and practised in San Francisco. On returning to New Zealand he was appointed a judge of the native land court, and in 1892 judge of the validation court. Barton died in 1906, his wife having predeceased him by 10 years.

Cycl. NZ., i; Barclay; Otago Witness, 12 May 1866; Otago Daily Times, 8 May 1876; NZ. Times, 4 May 1877, 11 Oct 1878.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BARTON, GEORGE ELLIOTT (1820-1903) was born at The Grove, County Tipperary, Ireland. Just after taking his B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin (1848), he was implicated with other young Orange students in the revolt, and was expelled. He then went to Australia and worked on the goldfields and at manual labour until entering upon the study of law under J. B. Bennett, Melbourne, who admitted him to partnership. He entered parliament for Melbourne North as a supporter of the Land League. Barton lived in Paris for a few weeks before his death, which occurred in 1903. (See his biography, vol. i, 46.)

E. C. Barton (information).

Reference: Volume 2, page 272

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BARTON, RICHARD (1790-1866) was born at Newport, Isle of Wight. He was well qualified in estate management and for some years was employed as a superintendent on the estates of the Duke of Sutherland, from whom he leased quarries at Brora. In 1839 Barton became interested in the New Zealand Company's project and enlisted a considerable number of young Highlanders as recruits for the settlement. He persuaded more than 40 to emigrate, and arranged dances to be held during the winter in the hope of getting them married. Barton arrived in Port Nicholson by the Oriental (1840) and took up land on the Hutt river, where he formed a settlement and was able to employ a number of the Highlanders when they arrived by the Blenheim (1841). They were settled on the river bank between two tribes. In 1843 he married Hannah (1817-94), daughter of the Rev J. G. Butler (q.v.). He formed a sheep station at White Rock before 1847 and afterwards extended his holdings. He was M.P.C. for Hutt (1861-65). Barton died on 20 Sep 1866.

N.Z.C. (emigration papers); Christ's Coll. Sch. List; Col. Gent.; J. A. Thomson; Ward; N.Z. Times, 18 Jul 1879; Wellington Independent, 4 Jul 1862, 23 Aug 1866.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BASSETT, WILLIAM THOMAS settled in Auckland province in the fifties. He represented Raglan in the Provincial Council (1864-65) and Franklin (1872-73), and was a member of the executive in 1864.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BASTIAN, CHRISTOPHER (1820-95) was born in London, and in 1822 emigrated to Tasmania with his father, who became a landowner and business man. As he grew up Bastian entered into his father's farming pursuits and also carried on a wholesale wine and spirit business in Hobart for a number of years. In 1858 he came to New Zealand, having already sent a cargo of sheep, which were landed at Bluff under the charge of his brother. He took up the Dunrobin station, and later another block of land north of Long Bush, which he called Woodstock. Bastian was a member of the Provincial Council of Southland for Aparima (1867-70) and afterwards sat in the Otago Council for Southland (1870) and for Aparima (1871-73). He was a member of the House of Representatives for Wallace in 1875. He was also a member of the Wallace county council from its formation, and for some years chairman; and he served on the Southland hospitals and charitable aid board, being one of the Southland hospital trustees at the time of his death in 1895.

Otago and Southland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. NZ., iv (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BASTINGS, HORACE (1831-1909) was born at Islington, London, and educated at the Bluecoat school. He emigrated to Victoria with his father in the Medway (1849); had some experience of mining, and went into business as a storekeeper at Ballarat. He married (1850) a daughter of Samuel Aldred (Bungay, Suffolk).

Bastings took an interest in public affairs and was once mayor of Brunswick. In 1862 he came to Otago in the City of Hobart and settled at Dunedin. From the first he was prominent in public life. In 1863 he was elected to the Dunedin town board, of which he was a member until it dissolved, when he was a city commissioner pending the election of the first city council. He was elected to the Provincial Council for Dunedin City in 1864, took a leading part in the separation movement, and resigned (Aug 1865) on going to live in Lawrence. There he built the Commercial hotel, with the Black Horse brewery at Wetherstones. He purchased the interest of Cobb and Co. in the South Island coaches.

Bastings represented Tuapeka in the Provincial Council (1871-75) and in the last two years of the provinces he was a member of three executives, as provincial secretary, secretary of lands and works, and goldfields secretary. When Southland proposed to return into the union with Otago he accompanied Macandrew to discuss with the smaller province the conditions of reunion. He was mayor of Lawrence (1868-72), was for some time chairman of the Tuapeka county council, and a member of the first Otago land board. In 1875 he was returned to the House of Representatives by the Waikaia constituency, which he represented until 1881. He returned to Dunedin to live in 1876 and was senior partner in Bastings, Leary and Co. auctioneers and forwarding agents. He was secretary-manager of the Waimea plains railway, which he sold to the Government.

In 1882 Bastings went to Australia, where in conjunction with George Duncan he constructed the first cable tramway (at North Shore). He contracted for the Bacchus Marsh-Ballan railway in Victoria, the estimate for which was £225,000. Returning to New Zealand, he entered into business as an auctioneer in Auckland, and in 1896, after a visit to Great Britain, settled in Invercargill as proprietor of Deschler's hotel. He died in Auckland on 28 Jun 1909. He was a prominent oddfellow and was provincial grand master of the Otago district, M.U.I.O.O.F.

Otago P.C. Proc; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 29 Jun 1909; Southland Times and N.Z. Herald, 29 Jun 1909. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BATEMAN, THOMAS (1805-74) was part owner of a whaling station in Hawke's Bay as early as 1838. He was settled in Bay of Islands when Hobson arrived, and signed the address of congratulation to the lieutenant-governor on that occasion (Feb 1840). He was engaged at that time in the coastal and intercolonial trade, and in 1846 accepted the post of sub-collector of customs at Bay of Islands. In 1850 Bateman went to San Francisco, but remained only a short time. He died at Ruku Ruku, Ovalau, Fiji, on 28 Sep 1874.

Carleton.

Reference: Volume 1, page 39

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BATHGATE, ALEXANDER (1845-1930) was born in Peebles, Scotland, the son of John Bathgate (q.v.), and was educated at the Peebles and Edinburgh schools, and Edinburgh University. Coming to New Zealand in 1863 he joined the Bank of Otago, of which his father was colonial manager, and later transferred to the Bank of New South Wales, being stationed in Hamilton (1866) and Cromwell (1868). In 1872 he was admitted a barrister and solicitor, and he practised his profession in Dunedin till 1909. In conjunction with Thomas Bracken (q.v.), Bathgate established the Saturday Advertiser (1875). Three years later he founded the Reserves Conservation or Amenities Society, which effected many improvements in Dunedin, and led to the formation of similar societies in other centres. He was a founder of the Dunedin Art Gallery, and president (1890-1922). In 1902-08 Bathgate filled with distinction the position of chairman of the industrial conciliation board of Otago and Southland. For some years he was president of the Otago Central Railway League, which promoted the railway to Cromwell, in whose fruit-growing future he had great faith. He was for many years chairman of Kempthorne, Prosser and Co., and of the Trustees, Executors and Agency Co. (1914-27). He was a director also of the Otago Daily Times Co., and of Donaghy's Rope and Twine Co. He was a founder and first president (1912-18) of the Otago Expansion League. As a literary man, Bathgate published several books, including Colonial Experiences, or Sketches of People and Places in the Province of Otago (Glasgow, 1874); Waitaruna, a Story of N.Z. Life (1881), Far South Fancies (1889), Plea for Establishment of Arbor Day (1891), The Legend of the Wandering Lake (1905). He was editor of Picturesque Dunedin (1890) and of Dunedin and Its Neighbourhood (1904). In 1873 he married Fanny Gibson, daughter of J. Turton (Manchester). He died on 9 Sep 1930.

Cycl. N.Z., iv; Bathgate, op. cit; Beattie, ii; The Press, 8 Jun 1907; Otago Witness, 13 Jun 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 40

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BATHGATE, JOHN (1809-86) was born at Edinburgh, the son of a school teacher, educated at the High School and completed his legal studies at the University. Meanwhile he was articled to Dymock, a writer, and also spent some time in the office of a factor and estate agent in Renfrewshire. On being admitted in 1835 as a solicitor, or writer, he went to Peebles to practise, his father having moved there in the course of his duties. Bathgate soon had a good business and was appointed procurator fiscal for the county (1844). For many years he was town clerk of Peebles and clerk to the commissioners of supply. In 1844 he established the Peeblesshire Monthly Advertiser and Tweedside Journal. He took a great interest in all social movements and was especially active in the promotion of the railway between Peebles and Edinburgh. After years of opposition this was carried through in 1852-53. Bathgate combined banking with his other business and was local agent of the Union Bank of Scotland. When the Bank of Otago was established he accepted the post of manager, though it meant breaking friendships of long standing (including that of William Chambers, who published much of Bathgate's literary work).

Arriving in Dunedin at the end of 1863, Bathgate devoted himself closely to the affairs of the bank, and refrained from public life. He entered the volunteer movement as a captain in No. 2 (the Scottish) company, from which he retired as major. One of his first public activities was the formation of the Dunedin Waterworks Co. In 1867 Bathgate resigned from the bank, and early in 1868 he was appointed managing director of the Otago Daily Times and Witness Co. He was for some months editor of The Times. In 1870 he was appointed provincial trustee in bankruptcy, and in the same year he was admitted a barrister and solicitor, and commenced to practise. Towards the end of 1870 he yielded to his impulse towards politics by contesting the Dunedin seat in the Provincial Council against H. S. Fish. Though defeated then, he won a seat in Parliament for Dunedin City in Jan 1871, at the head of the poll. In the following year he became Minister of Customs, Justice and Stamps in the Waterhouse Government. A few weeks later he transferred the first portfolio to Reynolds, but he held the others in the reconstructed ministry under Fox until Feb 1874, when he resigned his seat in the House to accept appointment as district judge and resident magistrate in Dunedin.

In 1875 Bathgate assisted Thomas Bracken in founding the Saturday Advertiser, of which he was business manager. In provincial politics he had felt very strongly on the goldfields dispute with the general Government in the late sixties, and once declared publicly that he favoured separation, and would even take command of the Scottish company and seize the customhouse. He was in the Provincial Council, 1871-74 (defeating E. B. Cargill in 1873). From the middle of 1871 until the end of 1872 he was a member of the Reid executive. Bathgate held the position of district judge until 1880, when increasing deafness caused him to take extended leave and visit the Old Country. There he was an active agent in the canvass for emigrants, and had considerable success. He published in Edinburgh a book on New Zealand; Its Resources and People, and in Chambers's Journal a series of letters and talks. Bathgate took advantage of his visit also to organise the New Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association, of which he was manager 1881-85. Shortly after returning to Otago he was again in political life.

In 1881 Bathgate was elected to represent Roslyn in Parliament, but he was defeated at the next general election by A. H. Ross. A year later he was called to the Legislative Council, of which body he was an active member until his death. Bathgate's political views were democratic; in some ways advanced. He took a sympathetic interest in the welfare of the working classes, and believed strongly in a state bank. On the latter subject he gave public addresses and published a pamphlet (1884). In 1886 he succeeded by 12 votes to 11 in carrying a favourable resolution in the Legislative Council. Sanguine in temperament, felicitous and vigorous in speech, he had a fund of humour and a wide knowledge of men and events. In 1883 he published an illustrated guide to Dunedin and the province. He was on the council of Otago University (1876-86).

Bathgate married first (1841) a daughter of Dr Anderson, of the 92nd Highlanders, and second, a daughter of James McLaren, tea merchant, of Edinburgh. He died on 21 Sep 1886.

Otago P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D.; Hocken; McIndoe; Thompson, Short Hist. Univ. of Otago; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Saturday Advertiser, 5 Jul, 27 Dec 1879; Otago Daily Times, 28, 30 Jun 1879, 22 Sep 1886, 19 Sep 1980 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 40

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BATKIN, CHARLES THOMAS (1822-1903) came to New Zealand in 1849, settling in Taranaki, where he was private secretary to the superintendent (1853), and provincial clerk and storekeeper. Later he became, successively, chief clerk to the colonial treasury (1859), accountant (1865), secretary for stamp duties (1867), paymaster and receiver-general (1869-78), secretary to the treasury (1873), and assistant controller and auditor-general (1878). He retired in 1890. Batkin served on several royal commissions, notably on the public accounts (1868) and civil service pensions (1870). He died on 13 Aug 1903.

Civil Service records; Evening Post, 14, 17 Aug 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 40

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BAUCKE, WILLIAM (1848-1931) was born at the Chatham Islands. His father, Johann Heinrich Christian Baucke, was a native of Bavaria who came to Nelson in 1843 as a member of the Moravian mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society and shortly afterwards went to the Chathams. He was naturalised in 1853. Brought up among Maori and Moriori children, William learned to speak both languages with fluency, and in later life was the leading authority on Moriori.

Baucke wished to be a civil engineer, but his father intended him for work in the South Seas mission. At the age of 14 he was sent to Wellington, where he attended public schools for four years. Returning to the Chathams, he worked on a 50,000 acre sheep farm in which his father had an interest. Incidentally he acted as schoolmaster to pakeha and native children, and widened his education to a remarkable degree by private study. An apt linguist, he acquired a good knowledge of French, German, Italian and Greek; to the end of his life he delighted in the Greek classics. On the practical side, smith's work was especially congenial to him and he acquired a competent knowledge of carpentry and navigation. His father having given up the sheep farm, and unsuccessfully petitioned Parliament for redress, William returned to New Zealand and found employment as an interpreter in the King Country, where he spent the remainder of his life. During the war he served under von Tempsky and received a wound in the foot. From his intimate knowledge of the life and thought of the Maori he wrote a series of articles in the New Zealand Herald (which were published in book form in 1905 under the title Where the White Man Treads and reprinted later). At the request of the Bishop Museum (Honolulu) he wrote his memoirs of the Moriori, which the museum published in 1928. This is an important contribution to the ethnology of this extinct race, especially on the linguistic side. Baucke was a man of rugged exterior but exceptionally high intellectual powers, with the pride and sensitiveness of the German. He died at Otorohanga on 6 Jun 1931.

App. H.R., 1885 A1; 1870; New Zealand Herald, pass.; Baucke, op. cit.; Otorohanga Times, 10 Jun 1931.

Reference: Volume 1, page 40

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BAUMBER, WILLIAM (1852-1932) was born at Spilsby, Lincolnshire. Educated at Spilsby Grammar School, he was accepted by the British Methodist conference and sent for training to Didsbury College, Manchester. In 1876 he began a ministry of power and distinction. He came to New Zealand by the Opawa and began his New Zealand ministry at Lawrence (1877). He filled important charges at Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson and Timaru. Never robust in health, his self-forgetting zeal triumphed over a frail physique. By untiring industry he gathered large stores of knowledge and brought a penetrating and appreciative mind to the great things in life and literature. He had a consuming passion for preaching; was tender in heart, yet outspoken in utterance; tolerant in opinion yet firm in his own convictions; abreast of modern thought yet ever loyal to the central verities of the Christian faith. As a pastor he had a rare capacity for sympathy. His church gave him membership of many important committees, made him treasurer of the contingent fund and of the children's fund, called him to the chair of the synod districts of Otago, Wellington and Nelson, and made him chairman of the supernumerary fund board. On seven occasions he represented New Zealand at the general conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia, and he was appointed to represent that conference at the British Wesleyan conference of 1904. In 1896 he was president of the New Zealand conference. In 1884 Baumber married Laura Garland (who died on 11 Oct 1931). He retired from the active ministry in 1918. One memorial of the zeal of his later years is the Methodist Church on Cashmere Hills, erected through his capable leadership. He died on 8 Sep 1932.

M.A.R.P.; Cycl. N.Z., iii.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAUME, FREDERICK EHRENFRIED (1862-1910), a son of Joseph Baume, was born in Dunedin and educated at the Thames and Otago High Schools and Auckland University College and Otago University (where he won the mental science prize in 1885 and the political economy prize in 1887). After six years in commerce and journalism (1877-83), he was admitted to the bar and began to practise law in Auckland. (LL.B. 1891.) In 1896 he went into partnership with A. E. Whitaker. Entering public life in 1893, Baume gained a seat on the Auckland City Council, and he was also on the Auckland harbour board. He sat as a Liberal in the House of Representatives (for Auckland City, 1902-05; Auckland East, 1905-10), and was chairman of the education committee (1903-06). His other public activities were numerous. He was a member of the Auckland University College council from 1893, a fellow of the New Zealand University senate from 1903, president of the Auckland law institute, and of the Auckland graduates' association. He was president of the New Zealand Natives' Association, and an honorary captain in the New Zealand Native Infantry No.3 (1901). A member of the Jewish faith, he was president of the Auckland Chovevi Zionists association, of the Auckland Maccabaeans, and of the Auckland Hebrew Aid society. In 1907 he was made King's Counsel. He died on 14 May 1910.

Baume married (1899) Rosetta Lulah Leavey (1870-1934), who was born in San Francisco, and educated at the San Francisco Girls' High School and University of California, graduating Ph.B. She was teaching for a few years. Mrs Baume served on the Auckland education board, the Grammar School board of governors, and the boards of the technical school and the Elam school of art. On the death of Baume (1910) she contested the Parnell seat. In 1921 she married E. W. Kane (q.v.). She was afterwards on the board of governors of the Wellington College and of the Girls' High School.

N.Z.P.D., 28 Jun 1910; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Auckland Star, 16 May 1910; N.Z. Herald, 4 Aug 1899; The Dominion, 23 Feb 1934 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAXTER, ALFRED ERNEST (1878-1936) was born at Christchurch and educated at the Normal and Boys' High schools. He was associated for 40 years with A. and W. Baxter, Ltd., latterly as manager and partner. He took an early interest in painting and was taught by Samuel Moreton. Later, when he was able to devote himself more fully to art, he spent much time in Europe studying under good teachers. Baxter painted many New Zealand landscapes. Some of these, and also European subjects, are in the McDougall gallery in Christchurch. He died on 20 Jul 1936.

The Press, 21 Jul 1936; Canterbury Society of Arts.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAYLY, ALFRED (1866-1908) was born at Waitara, a son of Thomas Bayly, and a grandson of Thomas Bayly (1804-79). He was educated at the New Plymouth Boys' High School, and became a farmer. Bayly excelled in all forms of athletics, notably cricket, rowing, swimming and running. He was one of the most distinguished Rugby footballers in New Zealand. For some years he played for the Tukapa club, but on taking up land in the Toko district he joined the Stratford club. He represented Taranaki for many years between 1885 and 1901, playing successfully in several positions amongst the backs, but generally at three-quarters. He captained the Taranaki provincial team when it became the champion team in New Zealand. Bayly was a member of the New Zealand team which visited Australia in 1893 and captained the team of 1897. He was president of the Taranaki Rugby Union (1899-1906). He died on 14 Oct 1907. In 1909 the Bayly memorial scholarship was established for athletic competition in Taranaki schools.

N.Z. Rugby Annual; Fifty Years Rugby in Taranaki, 1935 (p); A. F. Wiren and A. L. Hempton (information); Taranaki Herald, 4 Jul 1931 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAYLY, ISAAC (1840-1927), the son of Thomas Bayly (q.v.), was born in Devon, came with his parents to New Zealand (1841) and commenced farming in north Taranaki. He later spent 18 years in the Hawera district and several years at Mahia, Hawke's Bay. About 1900 he returned to settle in New Plymouth. In 1879-80 he was captain of the Hawera rifles, retiring at the time of the Parihaka trouble. Bayly represented Grey and Bell in the Provincial Council 1869-72. He was for five years chairman of the Hawera county council and was member of other bodies. He married Hannah, daughter of James Dingle (New Plymouth).

Cycl. N.Z., vi

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAYLY, THOMAS (1804-79) came of a west country yeoman family, and was born at East Peak, Devonshire. He was brought up at Clawton Vernal, married and resided for 11 years on a farm in the parish of North Tamarton, Cornwall. After a dangerous attack of typhus in 1830 he began to take a deep interest in religion and joined the Bible Christian Society. In 1841 he sailed with two brothers and their families in the Amelia Thompson for Taranaki. Thomas took up a farm at Kaipakopako, where on one occasion he was attacked by a hostile party of Katatore's people. Governor FitzRoy having ordered the settlers to evacuate their holdings, Bayly retired to New Plymouth and took up land on the town belt. He was a zealous Christian and took a great interest in the formation of a branch of the Bible Christian Society. When it merged in the Primitive Methodist connection he became a lay preacher and a staunch supporter of that denomination. He died on 19 Aug 1879.

Taranaki Herald, 20 Aug 1879.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAYLY, WILLIAM (1811-74), the younger brother of T. Bayly (q.v.), came to New Plymouth with his wife and family in the Amelia Thompson and engaged in farming close to that town. The brothers had some hostile personal encounters with the natives before the Taranaki war. He represented Grey and Bell in the Provincial Council (1857-65), and died on 12 Jan 1874.

NZ Archives; Taranaki Herald, 15 Jan 1874.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BAYLY, WILLIAM (1834-1902) was born in Devonshire, the son of Thomas Bayly (q.v.), and at an early age came to Taranaki with his parents in the Amelia Thompson (1841). Educated in New Plymouth, he took up farming and dealing in stock with some success. In the Taranaki war he served under Major Brown, being severely wounded at Waireka. After the war he bought a farm at Stony River and later acquired properties at Warea, Rahotu and Okato. Bayly took a prominent part in the local government of the province. He was a member of the Provincial Council for Omata (1869-74), and was a member of the executive and treasurer until his voluntary retirement in 1873. After the abolition he was a member of the county council and the New Plymouth harbour board, and was mayor of New Plymouth on two occasions (1881-83, 1886-87). Important works were carried out during his term of office. He was one of the founders of the Moturoa freezing works. During the Te Whiti troubles (1879-81) Bayly was captain of the Okato rifles. He died on 7 Jul 1902.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Taranaki Herald, 25 Oct 1873, 8 Jul 1902.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BEALEY, JOHN (1824-67), born in Lancashire, came to Canterbury with his brother, Samuel Bealey (q.v.), in the Cornwall (1851) and took up the Haldon estate. He was M.P.C. for Christchurch Country District (1855-57). He died on 20 Jun 1867.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Acland; The Press, 24 May 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 41

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BEALEY, SAMUEL (1821-1909), a native of Lancashire, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1851 (at an unusually advanced age). Becoming interested in the Canterbury project, he and his brother John purchased orders in London for 1,000 acres of land and sailed in the Cornwall, which arrived in Lyttelton on 10 Dec 1851. They at once prospected for land, and in May 1852 took up what was afterwards known as Haldon, between the Selwyn and Hororata. Their first run was No. 19, and in a year or two they had a property of 40,000 acres, comprising seven runs. For a while they were well occupied with their land and erecting their homes in Christchurch.

Samuel had a liking for public affairs, and in Nov 1852 (as soon as the constitution arrived in New Zealand), he announced himself as a candidate for the Canterbury Provincial Council. At the elections in 1853 he was returned as a member for the City of Christchurch, which he represented until the first dissolution (1857). His standing in the Council was soon established. From Oct 1854 to May 1855 he was a member of Hall's executive. Being something of a student, with no great love of publicity, he did not seek re-election, but when a dissolution occurred in 1862 he was again returned for his old constituency. His career then took a turn for which he was scarcely prepared and certainly not anxious. The rival policies of Moorhouse and FitzGerald each had a strong following. Moorhouse had achieved great things for the province, and Bealey was in general sympathy with his policy of public works. When he resigned the superintendency early in 1863 Bealey, desirous of seeing party animosities composed, headed a requisition asking Robert Wilkin to stand. Wilkin declined and Bealey was then led into the breach, it being understood that there would be no contest.

He was elected unopposed on 5 Mar 1863. John Ollivier, his proposer, remarked that he was admired for his affability and courtesy in private life, and for his straightforward conduct and untarnished honour in public affairs; a man of lofty principle closely identified with the policy of his predecessor. Bealey, in his speech, stated his determination to give proper consideration to the out-districts and to do something for education. He had none of the brilliance of FitzGerald or the driving power of Moorhouse, but he had sound judgment, common sense and confidence, and so was able to achieve more at the moment than either of his predecessors might have done. Cox remarks: "It can hardly be said of him that, like Moorhouse, he had a passion for politics or that he had an insatiable appetite for work; but he was an educated man and the people of Canterbury readily accepted him as their chief magistrate." Hall said that "his commonsense and coolness enabled him to grapple with the difficulties of the first gold rush on the West Coast. He left behind him a record as a good office man and a safe administrator." Bealey was able, session after session, to carry his council with him in sanctioning the necessary expenditure. In 1864 he created the post of secretary of public works and offered to reduce the salary of the superintendent in order to meet some of the additional cost. He let a contract to Holmes and Co. for the railway to Rakaia, undertook lines north and south and to Kowai, set aside lands to provide for a line to the West Coast, improved the landing service at Timaru and the harbour at Lyttelton, engaged experts to report on the rivers and built adequate provincial chambers and offices. When provincial finance seemed likely to fail he obtained from the general government the promise of state assistance.

Towards the end of 1864 Bealey told his council that he expected gold discoveries of importance on the West Coast. On 2 Mar 1865 Westland was gazetted a goldfield, and Bealey sent a member of the executive to establish the machinery of government there, and ordered a road to be constructed, over which a year later he was able to drive to the coast on a stage coach. His term of office was marked by the steady, vigorous, and yet cautious promotion of public works. His presidents of executive were Wilkin, Cass and Tancred, and as colleagues they had Hall, Moorhouse, Joshua Strange Williams, Rolleston, Travers, E. C. J. Stevens, and others. When his term came to an end (May 1866), Bealey laid down his powers as cheerfully as he had taken them up.

A few months later his brother died. About the middle of 1867 he returned to England with his family, paying only occasional visits to New Zealand thereafter. Part of the estate was sold to the Government early in the century, and in 1910 the rest was cut up and sold. Bealey died in England on 8 May 1909.

Acland; Cox; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); The Press, 26 May 1909, 24 May 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 42

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BEAUCHAMP, ARTHUR (1827-1910) was born in London, the son of John Beauchamp. Educated at Hampstead Grammar School, he entered his uncle's silk business in Austin Friars (1843). In 1848 he sailed for Port Phillip in the brig Lochnagar. In 1850 he came to New Zealand in the Katherine Johnstone and disposed of a cargo of merchandise in the new settlements at Otago and Canterbury. In 1854 he married Mary Elizabeth Stanley (of Port Fairy). After living in several provincial towns in Victoria, they came to New Zealand in the Lalla Rookh and settled at Picton.

There Beauchamp started in business with William Welford as merchants and auctioneers. He was chairman of the Picton town board, and in 1864-66 represented the town in the Marlborough Provincial Council, being a member of the executive in 1865. In 1866 he was elected to Parliament in place of Sir David Monro. For some time he was in charge of the firm's branch in Westport, and in 1869 he moved to Wanganui, where he entered into business as an auctioneer and general merchant. In 1876 he became a partner with Robert Laery and F. Noble Campbell in Wellington. He later engaged in the same business in Christchurch, and in sawmilling in the Sounds. He died on 28 Apr 1910. (See SIR HAROLD BEAUCHAMP)

Marlborough P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z. v (p); Beauchamp; Marlborough Press, 6 Jan 1866.

Reference: Volume 1, page 42

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BEAUCHAMP, SIR HAROLD (1858-1938) was born at Ararat, Victoria, the son of Arthur Beauchamp (q.v.), with whom he came to New Zealand in 1861. Educated at Picton school and Wanganui Collegiate School, he entered his father's office in Wanganui in 1872 and four years later became clerk to Beauchamp, Campbell and Co., in Wellington. In 1877 he joined W. M. Bannatyne and Co., and on the retirement of Bannatyne (1889) he became a partner. In 1894 W. I. Nathan became a partner, and in 1900 the business was formed into a limited liability company, of which Beauchamp was managing director. He was a member of the Wellington harbour board (1895-1908), and chairman (1900-02), and a member of the royal commission on federation with Australia (1901).

Beauchamp was appointed in 1898 a Government director of the Bank of New Zealand, on the board of which he continued with the exception of a few months until 1936. He was chairman on various occasions for 13 years. During the period of his directorship the bank was restored to its former stability and the state's interest in it became recognised and permanent. Beauchamp was a director also of the Wellington Gas Co. from 1904 (and chairman from 1923), and of other companies, including the Wellington Patent Slip Co., the Royal Insurance Co., the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and Imperial Chemical Industries. He made many gifts to the city of Wellington, including large sums and property to the National Art Gallery, and the memorial (in Fitzherbert terrace) to his daughter Katherine Mansfield (q.v.). Beauchamp married (1884) Annie Burnell (who died in 1918), daughter of Joseph Dyer (Wellington), and secondly (1920) Laura Kate, widow of Lewis Bright. He died on 5 Oct 1938. In 1937 he published his Reminiscences and Recollections.

Beauchamp, op. cit. (p); Bank of N.Z. reports 1898-1936 (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908-32; The Dominion, 6 Oct 1938 (p)

Reference: Volume 1, page 42

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BECKETT, REGINALD HOWARD (1855-1938) was born in London and educated at the London University School. In 1873 he came to New Zealand, and two years later commenced business at Marton as auctioneer and general merchant (the firm being known as Beckett, Hammond and Dick, and later as Beckett and Hammond). Finally, for some years he carried on in his own name before selling the business to Abraham and Williams, of which he became a director for life. He was closely associated with the development of the district. He was a member of the first Marton town board and borough council, and was mayor on three occasions (1881-84, 1898-1901, 1909-13), during which the council inaugurated the water supply and sewerage. He was also on the Rangitikei county council from 1892 (and chairman from 1905), resigning in 1907 to visit England. He was an original member of the Rangitikei Building Society (1876) and chairman of directors to 1935. Beckett was a guarantor of the Rangitikei Hunt Club and the Marton Jockey Club. He was secretary of the latter for many years and afterwards chairman and president (1922-33), and a life member for 30 years. In his youth he was a prominent cricketer and for some years was president of the Marton athletic club. He was an original member of the Marton Agricultural and Pastoral association and the Marton club, and chairman for some years of the local branch of the Reform party. Beckett died on 23 Jun 1938.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Rangitikei Advocate, 23 Jun 1938.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BECKHAM, THOMAS (1810-75). Born in 1810, Beckham seems to have been educated at Guildford, Surrey, or the Royal Military College at Woolwich, since he claimed to have been at school with Sir George Grey. Receiving his commission in the 28th (North Gloucester) Regiment in 1828 (lieutenant 1832), he sailed with it to Australia in 1835, and three years later resigned to come to New Zealand in the Diana (1838). Shortly after the declaration of British sovereignty, Beckham was appointed magistrate at Hokianga and rode to his post from Auckland. A year later (Aug 1841) he was transferred to Russell. At the outbreak of Heke's war, he and the Rev Henry Williams endeavoured to mediate, but without success, and when Kororareka was sacked and burned he withdrew to Auckland with the refugees. There he helped to raise the local militia and commanded one company of volunteers. He also co-operated in the building of Fort Britomart and the stockade. In Mar 1845 he was appointed police magistrate at Auckland and in Nov 1846 resident magistrate. He was from Jan 1842 sheriff of the northern district and later in the year harbourmaster at Bay of Islands. Tall, well built and carefully dressed, Beckham was a stickler for procedure and a stern dispenser of justice. He did good service for both the Kororareka and Auckland communities in their early days.

In Oct 1855 he was elected by the City of Auckland a member of the Provincial Council. He was a member of the executive for a year under Logan Campbell, and then retired from the Council. He was also elected in 1855 to the House of Representatives, where he held his seat until 1860. In 1858 he moved the address-in-reply. He frankly disliked politics, and was afterwards appointed resident magistrate at Auckland and district judge, which positions he held until his death on 31 Jul 1875. Beckham married a daughter of Major-general Baddeley, at one time colonel of engineers in New Zealand.

G.B.O.P., 1845/130; P.R.O., A.L., 1829; Buick, First War; Morton; N.Z. Herald, 1 Aug 1875.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEDFORD, HARRY DODGSHUN (1877-1918) was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, and came to New Zealand at the age of nine with his father, Walter Scott Bedford, whom he assisted at farming, tailoring and blacksmithing. He was educated at the public schools at Morley (England) and Invercargill; and having matriculated, proceeded to study law at Wellington and Auckland. He graduated B.A. at Otago in 1899, won the senior scholarship for political science, and took his M.A. (1901).

In 1901 Bedford contested the Caversham seat in Parliament. He was then practising in Dunedin, and, having graduated LL.B. (1906) and LL.M. (1910), was some years lecturer at Otago University. In 1902 he was elected senior member for Dunedin City. He was an advanced Liberal, a strong advocate of prohibition, and a trenchant critic of the Seddon administration. He lost his seat at the general election of 1905.

In 1907 Bedford was appointed professor of economics and history at Otago, a post which he filled with distinction until his death (on 17 Feb 1918). In 1916 he was awarded the degree of doctor of literature. He was a supporter of the Workers' Educational Association. He married (1907) a daughter of S. N. Brown (Dunedin).

N.Z.P.D., 9 Apr 1918; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; W. J. Williams; Otago Daily Times, 18 Feb 1918. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEDGGOOD, JOHN (1802-60) was born at Stroud, Kent. A wheelwright by trade, he joined the service of the Church Missionary Society in 1836 and was stationed at Waimate. There he erected the first flourmill (after those belonging to the mission), and installed ovens and biscuit-making machinery to manufacture the wheat grown by the natives. He shipped his manufactures by way of Kerikeri to supply the shipping and troops visiting and quartered at the Bay. Bedggood was a member of the Provincial Council for Bay of Islands from 1855 till his death (on 30 May 1860).

Marsden, L. and J.; N.Z. Herald, 4 Jun 1860, 5 Feb 1900.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEEHAN, WILLIAM (1853-1917) was born at Tralee, Kerry, Ireland, and arrived in New Zealand in 1873. After a period on the goldfields he served with John Cosgrove in Auckland, and later with Holloway, Garlick and Co., finally starting on his own account. He was a strong Liberal and was chairman of the central Liberal committee (1890), and president of the Auckland Liberal and Labour association for seven years. He assisted to establish the first Labour League, and was president of the shop assistants association which co-operated in the passing of the shop hours act. He assisted also in organising the tailoresses' union and other textile workers, and was a constant champion of benefit societies. In 1903 Beehan was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member till his death (on 27 Oct 1917).

N.Z.P.D., 29 Oct 1917; N.Z. Herald, 28 Oct 1917

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEETHAM, GEORGE (1840-1915), a son of William Beetham (q.v.), was born at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, and emigrated to New Zealand in the William and Jane, which arrived in Wellington in 1855. With his brothers he settled on the Brancepeth estate, Wairarapa, and took an active part in the settlement of the district. He represented Wairarapa South in the Wellington Provincial Council (1873-75), and later sat for many years in the House of Representatives (for Wairarapa 1877-81, Wairarapa North 1881-87, and Masterton 1887-90). He was senior whip under the Atkinson ministry. Beetham was one of the founders of the Masterton hospital, and took an active interest in its administration. An alpinist of note, and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Beetham saw the crater lake on Mount Ruapehu when, accompanied by J. P. Maxwell, he reached the top on his second ascent in 1879. His accounts of the previous unsuccessful attempt and that of 1878, are given in his book, The First Ascent of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand. In 1892 he and his wife (who was a daughter of N. W. Levin) were members of a party which ascended Mount Ngauruhoe. In 1898 he settled in London, where his death occurred on 20 Aug 1915.

N.Z.P.D., 14 Sep 1915; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Col. Gent; Hocken, Bibliog.; Cowan, Tongariro National Park, p. 70. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEETHAM, WILLIAM (1809-88) was born in Yorkshire and lived there for many years. In 1835 he married Mary, daughter of Philip Horsley. He studied art and became an accomplished portrait painter. He was living at Frimley, Surrey, when he decided for the sake of his family to emigrate to New Zealand. They sailed in the William and Jane (1855). His objective was Canterbury, but he was attracted by Wellington and decided to settle at the Hutt. In 1856, in partnership with John Hutton, he took up 10,000 acres of land in the Wairarapa, upon which he settled his sons. In his later years he again devoted himself to painting, making some very good portraits (including Featherston, Te Rauparaha, Wakefield, Te Puni and Wi Tako). In 1885 he returned to England on a visit. He died on 3 Aug 1888.

Cycl. NZ, i; Ward; Evening Post, 4 Aug 1888.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BEGG, ALEXANDER CAMPBELL (1839-1907) was the son of a minister and was born at Liberton, near Edinburgh. After being educated at the High School in Edinburgh, he entered an insurance office. In 1859 he came to Otago in the Alpine and was for three years in the office of Young and McGlashan. He spent four years farming at Clutha and returned in 1866 to Dunedin, where he became manager for Douglas, Alderson and Co., pastoral agents. In 1870 he established himself as a stock and station agent. Begg was a member of the road board and the Roslyn borough council, and was for eight years mayor of Roslyn, and again in 1905-06. He was nine years a member of the Otago education board and served also on the hospital and charitable aid board, the benevolent trust (1894), and the Otago harbour board. He was on the Otago prohibition council and one of the leaders of the prohibition movement in the province, being a member at different times of the licensing committees in Roslyn and Dunedin city, and of the board of property of the Presbyterian church. Begg contested the City of Dunedin seat in 1896, and that for Taieri in 1899. He married (1867) a daughter of Peter Clarke (Clinton). His death occurred on 12 Oct 1907.

Otago Daily Times, 14 Oct 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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BELCHER, ROBERT HENRY (1846-1916), a son of Dr John Belcher, of Stoke, Devonport, was educated at King's College School, in London, and from 1864-68 at King's College, where he graduated B.A. in 1867 and M.A. in 1868. He was elected a fellow in 1885. Ordained deacon, he was curate of St Ives, Cornwall (1868), and of St John's, Kensington. In 1871 he was ordained priest and appointed assistant master at King's College School, and in 1874 master and chaplain. (LL.D. 1879). Belcher was in 1886 appointed rector of the Otago Boys' High School, of which he was in control for 10 years. During his regime much was done to improve the school and grounds and the standard of scholarship was raised in a marked degree. Belcher married (1868) Katherine, daughter of John Beard, London. On her death in 1894 he resigned the rectorship and returned to England. He was the author of Degrees and "Degrees" (1873), part author of Manuel des Examens.

N.Z. Clergy List, 1889; Col. Gent; Crockford; Otago B.H.S. List; Otago Daily Times, 3 Aug 1933 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 44

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BELL, ALLEN (1870-1936) was born in Canterbury and educated there, and as a young man he worked as a bushman until he saved enough money to buy a bush section. In 1895 he enlisted in the Bechuanaland Mounted Police and he served throughout the Matabele war in the Chartered Company's forces. He afterwards worked as a surveyor in South Africa, served in the Boer war (including the relief of Mafeking) and returned to New Zealand in 1902. He became a dairy farmer at Hamilton, and was prominent in farmers' organisations and a member of the Waipa county council and the Hamilton borough council. In 1914 he moved to the far north, and thereafter strongly advocated the needs of that district. Bell was elected M.P. for Bay of Islands (1922) as an independent, but in the next Parliament supported the Massey Government. Defeated by Rushworth in 1928, he contested the seat again in 1931. He was a founder of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral association and a first director of the Waikato Dairy Co. (1912), president of the North Auckland development board, and of the Kaitaia chamber of commerce and Dairy Co. He edited the Northland Age and founded the Northlander. His death occurred on 14 Oct 1936.

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; N.Z. Herald, 16 Oct 1936. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 44

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BELL, CHARLES NAPIER, was the son of James Stanislaus Bell, the British superintendent of Bluefields, Central America. He was a pupil with Bell and Miller (Glasgow), for whom he assisted in surveys of the Tay, the sewerage of Edinburgh and the Glasgow graving dock. He came to New Zealand in 1871 on behalf of Brogden Brothers and after completing their railway works was engineer to the Christchurch drainage board (1876-83), the Lyttelton harbour board (1878-85) and the Westport harbour board (1885-93). He was for a while chief engineer in New Zealand for the Midland Railway Co., and he constructed the Napier breakwater. Bell died on 3 Jan 1906.

The Press, 4 Jan 1906.

Reference: Volume 1, page 44

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BELL, GEORGE (1809-99) was born at Hull, Yorkshire, his father being an official of the customs. He received a good classical education at a private school and served his apprenticeship to a mercantile firm, after which he became accountant and salesman to a firm in York. Owing to the closing down of a sugar refinery with which he was connected he became superintendent of a manufacturing establishment at Sheffield. There he taught himself shorthand, became interested in the anti-corn law agitation and published a brochure on the currency. He was of a religious disposition and took a great interest in Sunday school work. In 1852 Bell came to Melbourne, where he became a government shorthand writer, was engaged in the law courts and assisted in establishing a parliamentary Hansard staff for the South Australian Advertiser. In 1863 he came to Dunedin and was appointed to the reporting staff of the Otago Daily Times and for some time edited the Witness. In 1869 he helped to establish the Independent and a little later bought the Star, with which he amalgamated the Independent. In 1872 he brought out a morning issue of the Star to prevent another morning paper being established. This paper was sold in 1873 to the Guardian company, which also took over the Southern Mercury. In 1894 the Star was taken over by a company and Bell retired. He died on 4 Feb 1899.

Paul; Evening Star, 4 Feb 1899.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BELL, GEORGE MEREDITH (1836-98) was born in Tasmania, where his father was Governor of the convict settlement. Educated at Hobart and Eton College, he returned to Australia, became a squatter and married. After the gold rush in Otago he bought the Waimea Plains estate from David McKellar (q.v.) and also Croydon; and sold them in 1878 to the New Zealand Agricultural Company. He proceeded to England to watch the interests of the vendors to the company, and about 1885 returned to New Zealand and bought Wantwood estate, where he resided till his death (on 10 Jun 1898). Bell took part in initiating the Waimea Plains railway and assisted in many ways to develop the district. He was a prominent supporter of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association and helped to promote the Southland Freezing Co. He represented Oteramika in the Southland Provincial Council (1869-70) but declined to stand for Parliament. He was president of the Southland Racing Club and was a keen supporter of the Birchwood Hunt Club.

Beattie, ii; Otago Daily Times, 5 Jul 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

🌳 Further sources

BELL, ROBERT (1863-1937), a son of David Bell, was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and at the age of 20 emigrated to Queensland, where he was sub-manager of the Townsville Daily Bulletin (1883-86). Coming to New Zealand, he joined the Timaru Herald, and in 1900 bought the Ashburton Mail and the Guardian. He managed these papers till 1908, and in 1911 he transformed the business into a private company. He was managing director of the Lyttelton Times (1917-26) and chairman of the Timaru Post from 1922. In 1911 Bell attended the conference of the Empire Press Union in London, and he was a delegate to the Press Congress of the World at San Francisco in 1915. He was a chairman of the Ashburton Permanent Building and Investment Society and of the Ashburton Gas Co. and president of the Canterbury Society of Arts and a governor of the Ashburton High School. He endowed a scholarship in journalism at Canterbury University College. His marriage to Mary, daughter of Captain John McPeake, of Donaghadee, Ireland, took place in 1885. He died on 24 Aug 1937.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Evening Post and The Press, 26 Aug 1937.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

🌳 Further sources

BELL, SIR FRANCIS DILLON (1821-98) was the second son of Edward Bell (died 1864), of Hornsey, London, a merchant in France, and a descendant of Robert Barclay, of Urie, the Quaker apologist. His mother was Fanny (who died 1870), daughter of the Rev J. Matthews, of Cirencester. Bell was educated in France at Bordeaux, where his father lived, and at Auteuil, by tutors from whom he acquired an easy command of the French language. At the age of 17, through the influence of his kinsman Edward Gibbon Wakefield, he entered the service of the New Zealand Company in London, and for some months he was assistant-secretary (during the absence of Ward in Hamburg). He was keenly interested in the colony and in 1840 contributed to the Colonial Magazine an article on the subject, while in 1842, with F. Young, he published Reasons for Promoting the Cultivation of New Zealand Flax.

In 1843 Bell sailed for New Zealand in the Ursula, arriving in Port Nicholson on 12 Sep, a few weeks after the clash at the Wairau. In Oct he was sent to Auckland to interview acting-Governor Shortland and, if possible, to select lands there on behalf of the Company to the value of £50,000. By 9 Dec he had selected £10,000 worth of town lands and £25,000 of country, but the task was held up on the arrival of FitzRoy to assume the governorship. After several interviews Bell purchased for the Company at public auction 81 acres of land in the town at £100 per acre and a considerable area at North Shore. Altogether the Company spent £8,125 in town lands, £1,817 in suburban, and £2,614 in farm lands at North Shore. Bell returned to Wellington with FitzRoy in H.M.S. North Star (Jan 1844). He was still hopeful (he wrote to W. Wakefield on 25 May) of "evading any opposition in such a way as to enable them to carry on their usual operations with a better chance of success." He suggested that the Company should buy a tract of native land not far from Auckland. Unfortunately the proposal was not promptly adopted; the land was bought up by private individuals and the Company was shut out of the Auckland field altogether by the competition of land claimants. By 16 Sep Bell realised that it was useless to persevere. At the increased price of land the Company could not hope to establish a profitable settlement there. Soon hostilities broke out in the neighbourhood of Bay of Islands, and Bell joined the militia, in which he held a lieutenant's commission until they were disbanded (Jul). In 1846, in company with W. Carrington, he made an ascent of Mount Egmont, in the course of which he discovered the Bell fall (100 ft. high), on the main branch of the Hangatahua river. Later in the year he was gazetted a justice of the peace, and on 1 Oct a magistrate for Nelson. But other duties kept him in the North Island. In the Wairarapa squatters were paying as much as £300 a year for their runs, of which they claimed to have leases for 21 years. Squatting was illegal and Governor Grey gazetted a warning to that effect. After consulting Grey, Bell was sent to the Wairarapa (Feb 1847), accompanied by George Clarke as interpreter, with the object of purchasing a large tract of native land. Bell was unable to meet any paramount chiefs whose authority was unquestioned. The younger men were willing enough to sell, but the elders were generally hostile and would not even visit Wellington to discuss the matter with the Governor. Bell returned empty-handed, defeated by the squatting licenses (17 Mar).

On 15 Jun he was appointed to succeed Wicksteed as resident agent for the Company at New Plymouth, and he arrived there from Nelson on 31 Aug. He speedily made himself popular with settlers and natives, and when Grey visited the settlement in Mar 1848 the settlers asked that Bell might be permitted to negotiate with the natives for the purchase of land. Grey concurred and Bell, exercising great vigour and judgment, negotiated the purchase from Rawiri Waiaua and others of a total area of 13,000 acres, including the Bell block. Payment was made for the most part in cattle. In order to test the friendliness or otherwise of the chiefs Katatore and Parata, a day was fixed some time ahead for cutting the survey lines in a public manner. Bell and his party arrived with an escort of 60 friendlies. There was some desultory scuffling with fists sticks and the backs of tomahawks; but in a few days the line had been cut and the event was celebrated by a feast at which Wi Kingi te Rangitake was present. Bell left shortly afterwards to relieve Fox, who had resigned the post of resident agent at Nelson on being offered the attorney-generalship of New Munster. Fox was delayed for some time investigating land claims and it was not until Aug that Bell took over. Shortly afterwards, in consequence of an accident, he went to Wellington, where he was present at the deathbed of his relative, Col. Wakefield (Sep 1848). He contemplated returning to England, but Fox, having now succeeded as principal agent at Wellington, prevailed upon him to make another effort to purchase land in Wairarapa. In Nov 1848 Bell proceeded thither with the Government land purchase agent, H. T. Kemp (q.v.). Since his previous visit settlers had taken up another 100,000 acres, and they were now paying £600 per year rent. Bell convened meetings of the squatters and by promising fair compensation for their improvements won them over to a more conciliatory disposition. With his fluent command of Maori and his persuasive manner he made good headway also with the natives. They were excited by the prospect of the Canterbury settlement being located in Wairarapa. Anticipating advantages to themselves from having a number of whites settling among them, they had almost concluded to sell 900,000 acres between the Tararuas and the sea when news arrived that Captain Thomas was selecting a site on the Canterbury plains. It being now impossible to continue the negotiations on the old basis, Bell withdrew to consult Fox and Grey. His despatch of 31 Dec contains a spirited defence of the squatters, who in those days were anathema to the agricultural settlers. Bell and Kemp agreed that the news from Canterbury was responsible for the natives suddenly increasing their demands to £16,000 when the negotiators returned after the earthquakes in Wellington. Fox was inclined to blame Bell for the failure, and decided to abandon the attempt to purchase the Wairarapa (18 Feb 1849).

Bell accordingly proceeded to his post at Nelson, completed the purchase of the Waitohi block and settled down to the duties of his office. Thomas Arnold, who visited him at that time, remarks on Bell's "charming and delightful manners, for which I suppose he was greatly indebted to his French education." An estrangement occurred between Bell and Fox during these years, originating in differences of opinion on Company and colonial affairs. Late in 1848, when Fox was absent from New Zealand, Bell was offered a seat in the Legislative Council of New Munster. Suspecting that Grey intended to postpone indefinitely the establishment of representative government, Bell at first hesitated to accept. A few days later Grey said that the settlers had made their wishes so clear that he would bring forward at once for consideration by the Legislative Councils of both provinces his scheme for a constitution, on the distinct understanding that the principles should be established as early as possible. In view of the great improvement in the state of the colony since Grey assumed the governorship, Bell felt that he would be justified in accepting the post. He was confident that Grey would not long delay the introduction of representative government, and in the meantime he could assist in the overhaul of the colony's finances. It would be better that he should express the views of the settlers of New Munster than leave the whole work of legislating to a council drawn from the population of Auckland. He realised that local obloquy would probably attach to him and was aware of Fox's objection to nominated councils, but he did not think that Fox (if he had been present) would have objected to one of the Company's officials acting as he was doing. Fox's objection was emphatic. He contended that Bell's acceptance of a seat "could in no respect be regarded as a mere exercise of private political liberty," but was calculated to prejudice the interests of the Company. The court of directors supported him (28 Jun). But constitutional changes on the spot eliminated the whole problem. The tenor of Earl Grey's despatch of 22 Dec soon convinced Bell that the acceptance of seats in the Council (as nominees) was incompatible with the independence of members. Bell, Ludlam and Bannatyne thereupon resigned.

The year 1849 was full of change for Bell. In Apr he married Margaret, daughter of Abraham Hort, a leading member of the Jewish community in Wellington. Thereafter he returned to his post at Nelson and devoted his attention to straightening out the affairs there. Having completed the Waitohi purchase, he presided over a committee of settlers to adjust differences between the Company and its land purchasers, and did duty regularly as a magistrate until the Company surrendered its charter in 1851. For some months in 1850 he was engaged with Fox before the land claims inquiry commission, and he had, of course, acted previously as commissioner for confiscated titles. In Apr 1851 he was appointed commissioner of crown lands in Wellington and he arrived there with his family in Jun, in time to take his seat in the Legislative Council of New Zealand, presumably as an official member. His contribution to this session was of outstanding value. He showed a sound grip of constitutional principles and incidentally advocated universal franchise for every colonist of good character. Bell also attended the session of 1852-53, at which Grey took his farewell of his own Councils on the eve of the promulgation of the new constitution. When that instrument was brought into operation Bell's services were in demand. In the first Wellington Provincial Council he was elected to represent Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, and in Dec 1853 he was appointed chairman of the committee on education. A few months later he was a member of the executive.

In May 1854 he was called to the Legislative Council and he was the first minister to have charge of Government business in that chamber (where 60 years later his son held the same position). On 6 Jun he seconded a motion in favour of an elective upper house as being more likely to command popular respect. In 1855 he was present only at the opening of the session. At the general election at the end of that year he was returned for the Hutt seat and he was thus in full standing in the popular chamber when responsible government came into its own; and a few months later (18 Apr 1856) he was appointed a member of the executive council. He collaborated as Colonial Treasurer in Sewell's administration (7-20 May). In that session the land claims settlement act was passed. There was nobody in New Zealand better qualified to unravel the tangled thread of New Zealand land claims than Bell, and his appointment as commissioner (5 Nov) was a foregone conclusion. He had dropped out of provincial politics (15 Feb) and he now resigned from the House. For the next six years he devoted himself with patient skill and industry to the intricate problem presented by the confused mass of claims. The electors of Grey and Bell when Lewthwaite resigned petitioned him to stand for Parliament (1858), but he was defeated by C. Brown. In Jan 1860 he was elected unopposed to represent the southern constituency of Wallace. The burning question was the demand of the Murihiku settlers for separation from the province of Otago, whose government, seated remotely in Dunedin, was accused of neglecting the needs of Southland. Bell fought strenuously for the separation of Southland; it was duly achieved, and when he first visited the district in the middle of 1861 he was able to say that the electors had twice elected him to Parliament without having seen him. He was one of the commissioners appointed early in 1862 to adjust the debt between Southland and the mother province.

In Aug 1862 Bell was sworn in as a member of the Domett ministry, with charge of the important departments of the Treasury, Customs and Native Affairs. In Feb the Imperial Government had definitely relinquished control of native affairs. Knowing the Maori as he did, Bell strongly advocated a vigorous policy towards them, and in Apr 1863 he accompanied Grey with the force which reoccupied the Tataraimaka. He believed in dealing justly with the Maori, and it was mainly on his advice that Grey, after discussing the Waitara purchase on the ground with Teira, published his proclamation (22 Apr) admitting the invalidity of the transaction. It was duly renounced a week or two later (11 May). Grey complimented Bell and his colleagues on the zeal and cordiality with which they had entered into this investigation. Convinced, nevertheless, that where war was necessary it should be prosecuted with vigour, Bell went to the Waikato to try to limit the scope of the fighting by persuading and propitiating friendly or doubtful tribes. When General Cameron crossed the Maungatawhiri (on 12 Jul) the die was cast. Bell left Auckland on the following day with Gorst (q.v.) to get into touch with refugees in the Hunua range in the hope that he could move them out of harm's way before they became involved in hostilities. He spoke in Maori to an excited and hostile gathering at Te Aparangi, explaining to them that the removal of Waikato tribesmen from their lands at Mangere was due to the existence of a conspiracy in the Waikato to make an attack on Auckland. They appreciated his courage in making such a journey, and remembered that he was one of the supporters of FitzGerald's motion for the admission of Maori members to Parliament; but the crossing of the Maungatawhiri was an unanswerable objection to their taking the oath of loyalty. Determined now to push the war as vigorously as possible, Bell went with Gorst to Australia to raise military settlers for the frontier lands in Waikato, and incidentally to discuss the Panama steam service with the Australian colonies (Aug 1863). The ministry, however, did not long survive.

When he went out of office (30 Oct), Bell was free to take up his residence in Otago, where for some years he had had both business and political interests. He severed his northern associations (including membership of the Auckland domain board) and settled in Dunedin. In partnership with C. W. Richmond and Stafford he took up the pastoral property in the Ida valley known popularly as the "ministerial run." For some years thereafter Mrs Bell was one of the most popular hostesses in Dunedin. Bell himself was fully employed with his property, his political interests, and, as time offered, with his artistic pursuits. In 1865 he collaborated with Richmond and Fox in forming a fine collection of their water colours for the Dunedin exhibition. In 1864 Bell was one of the commissioners to investigate the Otago civil service. Early in 1865 he decided to enter provincial politics. He was defeated for the Manuherikia seat (which Murison resigned to make way for him), but was accepted a few weeks later by Matau and represented that electorate until Jan 1867, when he unsuccessfully contested Dunedin City. He declined office under Vogel in 1866. In Parliament he represented Wallace until 1866; and thereafter, owing to a redistribution, he was member for Mataura (1866-75). When Vogel resigned from the Provincial Council of Otago, Bell succeeded him as representative of the City of Dunedin (May 1869). Two months later he became a member of the executive in Fox's ministry, and the country was well served when he went to England with Featherston to raise a loan of £2,000,000 for Vogel's public works policy. Saunders remarks that "the courtly and attractive manners of both contributed to the success of their task." Bell got back to New Zealand early in 1870. He at once re-entered the Otago Provincial Council as member for Oteramika (1871-73). He still retained his seat in the General Assembly and when Parliament met (14 Aug 1871) he was elected Speaker of the House (in succession to Sir David Monro). He held that position with distinction until the end of the Parliament (21 Oct 1875) when he retired from popular politics. He was created a Knight Bachelor in 1873 and in 1894 was granted the title of "Honourable." In Jul 1877 Bell was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member until May 1882. Practically his last public service in New Zealand was (again in collaboration with Fox) as a member of the royal commission appointed in 1880 to investigate the confiscation of Maori lands and the trial of native prisoners. Their long experience of native questions; their sympathies, somewhat differing; and their shrewd commonsense enabled these two veterans to render signal service to the colony.

When that task was finished Bell was nominated to succeed Vogel in London as agent-general for the colony. He had now seen forty years' service in connection with New Zealand. He could certainly, at different stages of his career, have achieved high political office and probably have retained it; but he had never courted popularity. He was too good an administrator to be very successful as a party politician; and he could, moreover, see too plainly the point of view of his opponents. In saying farewell to his neighbours in Otago (13 Dec 1880) he prided himself that he had never asked favours, and as a pastoral settler he had realised from the beginning that his class should retire automatically before the advance of the agriculturist. In London Bell at once took a leading position amongst the oversea representatives. That was assured by his fine personal equipment and his long experience. His courtly manners and his facile command of the French language called him to leadership also in the diplomatic field. The early eighties, when France was disposed to extend her activities in the western Pacific, were anxious for the British colonies in that neighbourhood. The settling of recidivistes in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides was a source of constant friction; and Bell led with great judgment and determination the demand for its cessation. He could discuss the problem as freely and effectively in Paris as in Whitehall, and he steered the negotiations through difficult channels with remarkable success. In 1881 he received the K.C.M.G. In 1886 he was an executive commissioner for the Colonial and Indian exhibition in London (receiving the C.B. for his services). Three years later he was a member of the Mansion House committee for the Paris exhibition, and amongst the honours distributed by M. Waddington on 25 Jan 1890 he received the cross of a commander of the Legion of Honour. During his term of office as Agent-general he raised over £8,000,000 for the colony by loan and conversion. As delegate, ambassador and financial agent he was equally successful, and when he retired (25 Sep 1891) his services were acknowledged by votes of thanks passed by both houses of the New Zealand Parliament. He came to New Zealand at the end of 1891 and six months later returned to London, where Lady Bell died (12 Jun 1892). A helpmeet of ready tact and pleasant manners, Thomas Arnold had found her "not less intelligent that she was amiable; and to talk to her was a real pleasure." Her hospitality at Wellington and Auckland, at Waihemo station and in the Dunedin home hedged with fragrant briar, was continued in the colonial circle in London. Bell returned to New Zealand at the end of 1896 and died on 15 Jul 1898.

Bell entered upon colonial life with the great advantage of a previous apprenticeship in the office of the New Zealand Company, but with definite handicaps. The polished manners acquired with his French in his school days did not necessarily make the path easier in early colonial days for one of distinctly retiring habit who often appeared to be aloof. Well educated and widely read, he was a fine speaker and a keen critic. In debate he was imperturbable in temper, considerate and moderate in language; so that he often smoothed over difficult situations. A good business man, he never desired wealth and could sympathise with the difficulties of others. For many years he was one of Grey's most valued advisers. As an administrator Gisborne considered him one of the best officials New Zealand ever had. He had "a mind remarkable for its perceptive faculties and for its analytical powers. His industry is indefatigable; his fondness for work grows by what it feeds on; and in fact he often makes work for his own enjoyment."

G.B.ap., 1844-1856, N.Z.C.; N.Z.P.D., pass.; Otago and Wellington P.C. Proc.; App. H.R. pass., Gorst, 327, 381; Arnold; Wells; Ward; Broad; Rusden; Saunders; Rees; Reeves; W. D. Stewart (p); Gisborne (p); Harrop; Ross; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Cox, Men of Mark; Ward; Hocken, Otago; Otago Daily Times, 11 Dec 1880, 15 Jun 1892, 16 Jul 1898; Scholefield in Evening Post, 22 Sep 1934 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 45

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BELL, SIR FRANCIS HENRY DILLON (1851-1936) was the eldest son of Sir Francis Dillon Bell (q.v.) and was born at Nelson while his father was resident agent for the New Zealand Company. He was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and at the Otago Boys' High School (1864-69), where he was dux for four years (1864-68) and captain of the cadet corps. Proceeding to St John's College, Cambridge, he graduated B.A. (1872). He read law at the Middle Temple, was called (1874) and commenced to practise his profession with C. B. Izard in Wellington. He was for many years senior partner after the amalgamation of the firm with Buller and Gully.

Bell was an outstanding lawyer with a high reputation at the bar, and appeared over a long period in many leading cases in the courts of New Zealand and before the Privy Council. Some notable cases were the litigation of the Midland Railway Company and the Bank of New Zealand assets realisation board. After the elevation of Sir Robert Stout to the chief justiceship Bell was the acknowledged leader of the bar in New Zealand. He was crown solicitor in Wellington from 1878 to 1911, was president of the Wellington Law Society and for 17 years president of the New Zealand Law Society (1901-18), only retiring to become Attorney-general. He was one of the first king's counsel appointed (in 1907). Under Atkinson's Government Bell was offered a judgeship, but found his practice at the bar and his public activities too attractive. He always took a keen interest in law reform, and both as a barrister and as a minister of the crown seized every opportunity of amending the law in such ways as his long experience suggested. Not only could he elucidate the law in terms which were intelligible to the layman, but he was a skilful draftsman and could direct legislative enactment in a competent manner. No better drafting was ever done in the New Zealand Parliament than when Bell was leader of the Legislative Council and the minister responsible for the law drafting office. Amongst the measures which stand out as monuments of his skill are the mortgages extension act (which was afterwards copied in other dominions) and the licensing amendment act of 1918.

Bell took a very full share in the public life of Wellington and the country at large. In 1891, 1892 and 1897 he was mayor of Wellington and during this time he secured the passage through Parliament of a bill authorising the raising of a loan of £150,000 to introduce a system of drainage. From 1891-93 and 1896-97 he was also a member of the harbour board. When he first contested a parliamentary election (for Wellington City in 1890) he stood as an Independent, making no pledge, and declaring himself firmly opposed to granting the freehold of crown lands. G. Fisher, Duthie and T. K. Macdonald were elected. In 1892 Macdonald resigned. Bell stood again and was defeated by W. McLean (q.v.). At the general election in 1893 he was returned, with Stout and Duthie as his colleagues. In his short term in Parliament (1893-96) he established a friendship with W. F. Massey which lasted throughout life. For the next few years Bell was closely engaged in his legal practice, and made no attempt to re-enter politics. When the Reform party came into power in 1912 he was at once called to the Legislative Council and became a member of the ministry. He administered the portfolios of Internal Affairs and Immigration until the formation of the National Government in 1915. In this he was at first only Minister of Immigration, but on the appointment of Herdman to the Supreme Court bench in 1918 he assumed the attorney-generalship, which he held continuously under Massey and Coates until 1926. His control of the Legislative Council was marked by singular tact and decorum and conciliatory treatment of criticism, which yielded the best results in legislation.

By his personal qualities and standing in the cabinet Bell exercised a profound influence upon the affairs of New Zealand during the war of 1914-18. His own part in the war (in which he lost a son) was whole-hearted and unquestioning. Grasping essential facts readily, he appreciated without difficulty the implications of the war upon the social economy and the legislation of New Zealand, and was able not only to guide his own Government soundly through the constitutional troubles by which it was surrounded, but on occasion to advise a course which commended itself to the British Government and to the allies. He shared with Sir John Salmond (q.v.) the task of framing the intricate and novel legislation and regulations that were called for by the new conditions. Incidentally it was Bell who led the protest against the despatch of the first portion of the New Zealand Division overseas without what he considered an adequate convoy. He tendered his resignation and Massey threatened to offer his. Only at this point did the Governor-general recognise that the cabinet was in earnest.

Almost as soon as he became a member of the Legislative Council Bell introduced a bill to reform the constitution of that chamber by placing it on an elective basis. Before the election he had induced Massey to adopt this proposal, and he declared that he had entered the Council for the express object of amending it in this fashion. The Council passed the second reading almost without opposition, but deferred further consideration till next session in order to permit the electors to consider the proposal. The Lower House passed a series of resolutions approving the principle of the bill. Next session the Council again resisted the reform and Massey had to obtain from the Governor a sufficient number of new appointments to the Council to ensure its passage.

This was achieved in 1914, but the intervention of the war and the formation of the National Government (some members of which were not favourable to the reform) prevented its being put into operation. Stewart says that Bell's real object in moving for an elective legislative council was to prevent the possibility of a government in power using the system of nomination to the council to push radical measures through parliament. On the legislation to introduce conscription for service in the forces overseas Bell's Quaker ancestry was evident in the stand which he took on behalf of conscientious objectors.

He was created a K.C.M.G. in 1915. After the war Bell was the adviser of the Government in the mass of legislation to implement the repeal of the war regime. His part in drafting the legislation under which Samoa was entrusted to New Zealand under a mandate is noteworthy. He firmly believed that it was a duty New Zealand must assume. The statute and regulations which he drew up were wise and far-sighted; a model of brevity and precision. When some years later (1923-26) he was minister in charge of the mandate he imported an energy and firmness into the task which were unwonted and to the native mind almost startling. One of the interests into which Bell threw much enthusiasm during the war years was the establishment of the Forestry department, of which he had charge as first commissioner (1915-22). During Massey's post-war administration Bell had on more than one occasion to assume the responsibility of leading the Government.

In 1922 Bell fulfilled an ardent desire of his later years by visiting Europe and representing New Zealand at the allied conferences at Genoa and the Hague and at the assembly of the League of Nations. There he insisted on the right of the mandatory power to appeal against adverse criticism of its administration, and questioned the right of the mandates commission, which was only a committee of the council, to initiate such criticism. Firmly attached to the cause of peace, Bell came back to New Zealand filled with enthusiasm for the League of Nations Union, which seemed to him as necessary to the success of the League as popular election is to democratic government. He never succeeded in imparting to the Prime Minister his own belief in the future of the League. While in England Bell received at the hands of the Prince of Wales a casket presented to him by the Legislative Council and at a later date a gift from the members of the House of Representatives. He was promoted to G.C.M.G. in 1923, and was created a privy councillor in the same year.

In Parliament in 1923 Bell set his hand to the reform of the land laws by bringing all titles under the land transfer act. In that year he was again acting-Prime Minister during the absence of Massey in London. When Massey's health failed towards the end of 1924 Bell was the virtual head of the Government for a few months. After the death of Massey (on 10 May 1925) he became Prime Minister almost automatically and remained so from 14 to 30 May. This was merely to enable the party to elect a new leader; he declined the party's invitation to continue in office until the general election at the end of the year. There had not been a Prime Minister in the Legislative Council since Waterhouse (52 years earlier) but Bell made it clear that that was not the reason why he declined to hold office. His age and personal difficulties prevented him from acceding to the wish of the party, and he was determined to go out of office altogether as soon as the new Prime Minister had formed his ministry. He wrote to Sir James Allen: "You can understand that it is nothing but mischievous for a man who has led the orchestra to play anything else than a second violin when he loses the lead." (He had been credited by the public with having, by his personal influence and his ripe experience, practically controlled the policy of the Government for years past.) In Jan 1926 he surrendered his departmental duties and left New Zealand to accompany Coates to the Imperial Conference in London and to attend the League of Nations in Geneva. At the Prime Minister's request he remained in the executive while he was in Europe on this occasion. He also attended, at the request of the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office, the conference at Geneva relating to the International Court of Justice at the Hague, at which he was vice-president and a member of the drafting committee. Bell was deeply anxious to take such action as would encourage the United States to participate in the court. On the other hand he insisted vigorously that any dispute between different units of the British Commonwealth of Nations should not be amenable to the International Court but should be regarded as a domestic one. At the League of Nations he viewed with uneasiness the claim of some of the dominions to a seat on the council of the League. He felt that this would tend to destroy the unity of the Empire and might even on occasion result in the vote of Great Britain being neutralised by that of one of the dominions. He viewed with suspicion also the Balfour formula (which evolved into the statute of Westminster) and he was equally opposed to the idea of an empire consultative council. The council of prime ministers he held to be the true imperial council and inevitably superior to 'any conclave or cabal of ministers of second rank in London.' Bell married (1878) Caroline, daughter of the Hon. William Robinson (q.v.). He died on 13 Mar 1936. His life, by W. Downie Stewart (1937) is a judicious though intimate biography.

His son, WILLIAM HENRY DILLON BELL (1884-1917), was educated at Wellington College and Cambridge University; read for the bar at the Inner Temple and after being called joined his father's firm in Wellington. He was M.P. for Suburbs of Wellington (1911-14) and served in the war of 1914-18 with the New Zealand force at Samoa (Aug 1914) and with King Edward's Horse in France, where he was killed on 31 Jul 1917.

N.Z.P.D., pass. (notably 8 Jul 1917, 31 Mar 1936); Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Sheila Macdonald; W. Downie Stewart, op. cit. (p); Otago Daily Times, Evening Post, 15 Dec 1922, 13 Mar 1936 (p); The Dominion, N.Z. Herald, Otago Daily Times, 14 Mar 1936 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 47

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BELLAIRS, EDMUND HOOKE WILSON (1823-96) was the eldest son of Sir William Bellairs, of Mulbarton Lodge, Norfolk. Entering the army (1841), he received his commission in the 60th Rifles and transferred to the 7th Fusiliers (1842) as a lieutenant. In 1848 he retired to accept the post of exon of the Yeomen of the Guard (1849). He served in that capacity until 1852, when he retired. Bellairs in 1852 married Emilia, daughter of James Bellairs Stevenson, of Uffington, and came to New Zealand. In 1854 he accompanied W. D. B. Mantell to the south to pay the Maori owners for the Murihiku block, and he himself took up land at Waimahaka. He was appointed a justice of the peace and in 1853 was called to the Legislative Council under the new constitution. He took a prominent part in the constitutional debates in 1854. Returning to England soon afterwards he vacated his seat.

In 1859 he acted as correspondent for The Times in Paris. Between 1861-64 he was captain and adjutant of the 1st Norfolk rifle volunteers. In 1878 he was appointed vice-consul at Bayonne (France) and in the following year transferred to Biarritz, where he lived for many years. Bellairs died on 14 Sep 1896.

War Office records; Fox-Davies; Hocken, Otago; N.Z.P.D., 1854; Beattie, i; The Times, 16 Sep 1896.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BENNET, JAMES (1830-1908) was born in Forfarshire and brought up to agriculture. In 1853 he married a daughter of Alexander Findlay, of Forfarshire, and emigrated to Victoria, where he became a carter to the goldfields. Twelve years later he crossed to New Zealand, and carried on the same occupation till 1872, when he bought land in the Crookston district, and settled at Rae's Junction. In 1876 Bennet was elected to the Tuapeka county council, of which he was chairman for ten years. He served on the school committee (becoming chairman in 1895) and was a member of the Tuapeka licensing committee. From 1899 till his death (on 3 May 1908) he was Liberal member of Parliament for Tuapeka.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; N.Z.P.D., 29 Jun 1908; Don; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BENNETT, JOHN BOYLE (1808-80) was born at Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland. He studied medicine and graduated M.D., but after some years of practice forsook medicine for journalism and a few years later became editor of The Watchman, a religious paper in London. A writer of considerable ability and style, he was invited in 1849 by John Williamson (q.v.) to accept the editorship of The New Zealander (Auckland), and he held that position for six years with conspicuous success. Though his position precluded him from taking a very active part in public affairs, he was closely associated with social movements, particularly the Y.M.C.A., of which he was many years president, and the Benevolent Society (in which also Mrs Bennett was deeply interested). In 1855 Bennett was appointed registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the province of Auckland, and later registrar-general for the Colony. In 1866 he left Auckland to take up his residence in Wellington, where he died on 15 Jun 1880.

Cycl. NZ, ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 16 Jun 1880.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BENT, KIMBLE (1837-1916), the son of a master ship-builder and a half-caste Red Indian mother, was born in Eastport, Maine, United States of America. With his brother he was sent to Portland to learn the confectionery trade, but tiring of that he joined the U.S. training ship Martin and soon rose to be deckman and instructor of recruits. In 1856 he married Sarah Crosby. When she ran off with another man he went to England, where he lived wildly until his money was finished. In 1859 he enlisted with the 57th Regiment at Liverpool, but soon regretted his action and attempted to desert. He was brought back and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. He served two years with the regiment in India and came with it to Taranaki. Bent made several attempts to obtain a discharge. Eventually he deserted to the Hauhau, who accepted him as a slave. He became the personal possession of various chiefs and was constantly in danger both from the fire of the soldiers and from the distrust of his Hauhau companions. He served behind the Maori lines during Titokowaru's war (1868-69) making cartridges and cultivating the land; and was an eyewitness of many gruesome scenes, including the revival of cannibalism. In 1881 Bent came out of his bush exile, but he never returned to live amongst the whites. He gained some reputation amongst the natives as a tohunga and a medicine man. He died on 22 May 1916.

James Cowan, The Adventures of Kimble Bent, 1911 (p); Taranaki News, 28 Jun 1873; N.Z. Herald, 9 Aug 1880.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BERRY, WILLIAM (1839-1903) was born in Scotland. At the age of 12 he was apprenticed in the composing room of the Scotsman, Edinburgh, and thereafter he educated himself by private study and attending night schools. He was for some years a reader and was assistant foreman in the office. Berry came to New Zealand in 1864 under engagement to the Southern Cross (then owned by Creighton and Scales) and remained on the paper as a reporter till 1868, when he went to the Thames Advertiser which was acquired by A. G. Horton. In 1875 he returned to Auckland, and became editor of the New Zealand Herald which he controlled until his death (on 2 Oct 1903). Berry, who spoke Maori and sympathised with the natives, acted as correspondent for the Southern Cross during the Hauhau war and wrote despatches exposing the treatment of Hauhau women and children.

Morton; N.Z. Herald, 3 Oct 1903; Evening Star, 3 Oct 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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BEST, ELSDON (1856-1931) was born at Porirua, where his father, William Best (who arrived in 1844) had taken up land. Until the age of nine he lived in close touch with nature in the bush and learned much of the habits of birds and the lore of the countryside. In 1865 the family moved to Wellington and he had a few years' education in the Commercial School on Wellington Terrace. He passed the junior civil service examination and obtained a post in the office of the registrar-general.

After one year of sedentary occupation he gave up his post and went to Poverty Bay (1874). There he worked for some years on a sheep station, but when the Parihaka trouble arose he joined the Armed Constabulary. He left the force after the coup of 1881 and returned to the East Coast, where he was employed with W. D. S. Macdonald on a cattle station. In 1883, wishing to see the world, Best left for Hawaii. Thence he proceeded to California, where he worked amongst the redwoods and then farther east, ranching in Texas and the Middle West states. Returning to New Zealand after the Tarawera eruption in 1886, he worked for some years in sawmills in the Urewera country, then being opened for the first time. Then he joined the lands and survey department.

Altogether Best spent about sixteen years in the Urewera, in circumstances which enabled him to gain a competent command of the language and a rich knowledge of the customs, traditions and lore of the Tuhoe. At the suggestion of S. Percy Smith he made a special study of the Urewera from 1896. He was a tireless explorer, a patient observer and a methodical recorder, and when he returned to Wellington in the early years of the century his knowledge of the Maori people made him a desirable officer of the Dominion Museum. There in the following years he devoted study and care to the arrangement and setting forth of the vast mass of material already in his possession and to the acquisition of further stores. He wrote a series of papers on Maori life and customs which were published as Museum bulletins and monographs, holding a unique position as authoritative studies of various phases of Maori ethnology and philology. These monographs were on such topics as the Maori canoe, the pa, fishing and sea foods, storehouses, agriculture, mythology and religion. Many papers were contributed by him to the proceedings of the Polynesian Society and the New Zealand Institute and he published also several volumes of greater importance in size, though not necessarily more scholarly, than these modest bulletins. Best's first noteworthy paper, on the neolithic Maori, appeared in the Yearbook of 1892. In 1896 he published a paper on the Rangitaiki basin and in the following year one on Waikaremoana. His period of greatest output was following the great war. His material was now better digested and arranged and he was able to publish fourteen bulletins within seven years. During this period also he published his two most important works, The Maori as He Was (in 1924), and Tuhoe, the Children of the Mist (in 1925). Each was in two volumes. During the same time he provided much historical information for other purposes and wrote smaller volumes on the history and topography of certain localities.

In 1914 the New Zealand Institute honoured Best with the award of the Hector medal for research in ethnology, and five years later he was elected a fellow. He was a foundation member of the Polynesian Society (1892). Sir Apirana Ngata, speaking in 1922, said: "There is not a member of the Maori race who is fit to wipe the boots of Mr. Elsdon Best in the matter of the knowledge of the lore of the race to which we belong." Best died on 9 Sep 1931.

Polyn. Jour., pass. (notably Mar 1932 with p. and bibliog.); Trans. N.Z. Inst.; Best, op. cit.; Annals N.Z. Lit. (p); James Cowan in N.Z. Railways Magazine, 1 Jan 1936 (p); The Dominion, 10 Sep 1931 (p); Evening Post, 9 Sep 1931.

Reference: Volume 1, page 49

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BESWICK, JOSEPH SUTTON (1831-88) was born in England and came to Canterbury in the early days of the settlement, becoming interested in the Springfield estate. He represented Mandeville in the Provincial Council (1862-67, 1870-74) and was a member of the Stewart executive in 1866-67 and of the Kennaway executive in 1871-74 (in the capacity of provincial treasurer). He also represented Kaiapoi in Parliament (1866-67). Beswick was in business as a grain merchant at Ashburton for some years, and was then appointed magistrate at Lyttelton. In 1882 he was transferred to Timaru, where he remained till his death (on 3 Jun 1888).

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Acland; Timaru Herald, 5 Jun 1888.

Reference: Volume 1, page 49

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BETHUNE, JOHN HUGH (1827-94) was born at Dingwall, Scotland. He first came to New Zealand in 1851 and left shortly afterwards for New South Wales to wind up the affairs of the Auckland Islands Whaling Co. He settled in Wellington finally in 1854. He was for many years with Bethune and Hunter, and eventually in 1877 established the auctioneering business and land and estate agency of J. H. Bethune and Co. He married (1857) a daughter of George Hunter (q.v.). Bethune was a founder of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and of the Wellington Gas Co. and for many years was a government nominee on the board of the Government Life Insurance department. He was a churchwarden of St. Peter's, Wellington. His death occurred on 10 Aug 1894.

Ward (p); N.Z. Times, 11 Aug 1894.

Reference: Volume 1, page 49

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BETHUNE, KENNETH (1825-55) was a son of the Rev H. Bethune, of Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland. He came to New Zealand in the Cuba (Jan 1840) and entered into business in Wellington with G. Hunter as Bethune and Hunter. He was a burgess in 1843 and in 1846 was elected a lieutenant in the Te Aro militia. Bethune represented Wellington City in the Provincial Council (1853-54), resigning to go to England. There he married (1855) Martha Harriette, daughter of Captain Goldie, of the 76th regiment (Highland Light Infantry). He died in London on 25 Jul 1855.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Ward; N.Z. Spectator, 5 Dec 1855; Wellington Independent, 6 Dec 1870.

Reference: Volume 1, page 49

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BEVAN, JOHN (1837-1911) was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, and educated at the Jersey Grammar School. He emigrated to Victoria in 1857 and came to New Zealand nine years later. Bevan was chairman of the Westland Education Board and a member of the Westland Waste Lands Board and served on other local bodies. He represented Hokitika in Parliament (1884-87).

Harrop, Westland; Cycl. N.Z., v. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 49

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BEVAN-BROWN, CHARLES EDMUND (1854-1926) was born at Camelford, North Cornwall, the son of the Rev. William R. Brown, a Methodist minister. He began his education at the Grammar School, Louth (which Tennyson once attended). Later he moved to the Bristol Grammar School, where he remained till 1874. In 1873 he won an Oxford leaving scholarship and in 1874 an open scholarship at Lincoln College, where he went into residence. Among his contemporaries were H. H. Asquith, Herbert Gladstone, George Curzon, and Oscar Wilde. His education continued along classical lines and in 1878 he gained a second class in literae humaniores. During his term at Oxford he came under the influence of Jowett, Ruskin and Matthew Arnold. His faith in religion was almost shattered by the teachings of Arnold but later, on broader and more secure foundations, grew strong and remained with him till the end of his life. His first appointment in 1879 was as a master at Manchester Grammar School, where he had as colleagues C.F. Bourne (q.v.), afterwards headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch, and John Harkness (q.v.), some years rector of Waitaki High School.

In 1883 after having been summoned with 20 others to an interview with Professors Jowett and Sedgwick, Mr. Wilson (head of Clifton) and Sir Walter Kennaway, he was appointed to the headmastership of the Boys' High School, Christchurch. In Jan 1884 he married Annie Allen, daughter of Augustus Cridland (Exeter), and sailed for New Zealand. The school had been opened in 1881, the headmaster being Thomas Miller, who had endeared himself to pupils and parents but had resigned after a disagreement with the board. Much resentment was felt and many boys removed to other schools, until in 1886 the number had fallen as low as seventy. The new headmaster's reputation as a teacher and organiser grew rapidly, by the nineties the school was again flourishing and it became the largest secondary school in New Zealand. Its growth continued until in 1920 the roll had reached 448, the maximum set by the board of governors. In 1899, such was his reputation as a scholar and teacher that Bevan-Brown was offered the post of inspector-general of schools, which he declined. His object in teaching was the building of character and he did not measure the success of a school solely by examination results. In building character he attached supreme importance to religion and religious observance. The school day opened with prayers and in addition he established classes for religious instruction which were held in the morning prior to the general assembly. He himself instructed the senior classes, but he enlisted the services of local clergymen to take other classes. He was a great imperialist and imbued his pupils with a true sense of patriotism and a real love of the mother country and the Empire. The principles which he laid down and the force of his personality made him a great figure in the life of the school. During the war he wrote to each of the 800 old boys who served with the colours. Bevan-Brown died on 14 Jun 1926.

W.sw.; Christchurch B.H.S. Magazine, Dec 1926 (p); Lyttelton Times and The Press, 15 Jun 1926.

Reference: Volume 1, page 50

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BEVERIDGE, ANDREW (1826-74) arrived in Auckland in 1861. In 1862 he was chairman of the city board of Auckland, but he had to relinquish the post on account of pressure of other duties. Beveridge was in practice in the city with Ritchie, after whose death he carried on alone. They established themselves at Thames soon after the opening of the goldfields and enjoyed a lucrative practice. For several years Beveridge was law adviser to the provincial executive. In 1870 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Thames and in 1873 was returned for Eden. From Dec 1873 he was provincial solicitor and a member of Williamson's executive. He died 12 Sep 1874. Beveridge was a prominent freemason (a D.P.G.M. of the Scottish Constitution) and founded a lodge in Thames.

Barclay; N.Z. Herald, 24 Sep 1874.

Reference: Volume 1, page 50

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BEVERLY, ARTHUR (1822-1907) was born at Alford, Aberdeenshire. The son of a farmer, he received school education in his parish and at a night school kept by John Taylor, of Stonehaven, a shoemaker. There he made extraordinary progress and was in charge of the class in navigation. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to a watchmaker in Aberdeen, and he worked there to 1852, and in Melbourne to 1856, when he moved to Dunedin and set up in business for himself.

A confirmed student, he lived frugally and, by means of careful investment in town sections and the profits from his business, he was able to retire in 1864 and devote himself to his hobbies, gardening, science and mechanics. He was a geologist and a good botanist and on the provincial expedition to the West Coast of Otago (1862) he made an exhaustive collection of plants between Preservation Inlet and Breaksea Sound. Beverly had a genius for mathematics, made original investigations in various branches of science and was expert at manipulating formulas. He found an empirical formula for the law of expansion of aqueous vapour which gave more accuracy than existing formulas. He was an excellent optician both in theory and practice and made many microscopes and telescopes. His combined thermometer and barometer on the aneroid principle was for many years in the Fernhill club, Dunedin. He also designed new escapements for chronometers and a compensation pendulum; and made a metallic thermometer with a circular face on which the divisions of the degree were so far apart as to be visible a few yards away. For his platometer, or planimeter (exhibited at the Dunedin Exhibition in 1865) he received from the Royal Scottish Society of Arts a bronze medal and the Macdougal Brisbane prize. The instrument was afterwards perfected and patented by Professor Amsler. In connection with a paper on the measurement of distances with long steel tapes, he devised a formula for sag and made a concise table which was used all over the world.

All Beverly's investigations were carried out in the most thorough manner. He left a great volume of mathematical formulas, and was the first modern geometrist to solve the twisting angle. After an exhaustive examination of Professor C. Piozzi Smyth's book on the construction of the Great Pyramid, Beverly devised a new 'radical calculus' and new formulas in hydraulics and optics. For some years he contributed monthly 'Rough Astronomical Notes' to the Evening Star and 'Notes and Queries' to the Otago Witness; and he consistently offered advice gratuitously to farmers and others on the construction of water races and power wheels.

Beverly was unmarried. He took no part in public life beyond a short period on the town board. He was an agnostic. His death occurred on 25 Oct 1907.

Reid; N.Z. Surveyor, Dec 1907; Otago Witness, 30 Oct; Otago Daily Times, 26 Oct 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 50

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BICKERTON, ALEXANDER WILLIAM (1842-1929) was born at Alton, Hampshire, and educated at the Grammar School there. An orphan, he was taken by an uncle to Bridgewater to be educated as an engineer. He passed through the drawing office and workshop of a railway company; and gained a prize studentship, a full certificate, and several medals at the Painswick school of art. Afterwards he entered a civil engineer's office in London, and attended the classes at South Kensington. Finding the exposure necessary for an engineer too severe for his health, Bickerton relinquished that intention and devoted his attention to science. In 1864 he established a factory in the Cotswolds to develop his woodworking inventions. There he came under the influence of Stroud and took up science teaching. In 1867 he organised technical classes at Birmingham. He obtained an exhibition in the Royal School of Mines, London, gaining three national medals, six first-class advanced Queen's prizes and seven second-class. At the end of the first year's study at the school of mines he was at the head of the list. He obtained highest place in mechanical drawing and chemistry, and second place in physics (thus winning the senior Queen's scholarship). While at the school of mines, Bickerton taught evening classes of artisans which attracted considerable attention, and the only surplus Whitworth scholarship available for evening classes was awarded to them. Bickerton accepted a post on the staff of the Hartley Institution, Southampton (1870), and later was appointed lecturer in science at Winchester College, and public analyst. His publications on the correlation of heat and electricity attracted some attention and he had offers of several university chairs. He accepted that of chemistry and physics at Canterbury College, and he came out in the Atrato (1874). As the college had not been built he gave his first lectures in the Oddfellows' hall. Bickerton's occupancy of this chair, which terminated in 1903, was distinguished by the boldness and originality of his approach to scientific problems. His theory of cosmic construction by partial impact was set forth in scientific papers from 1880 onward, attracting considerable attention and some hostility in astronomical quarters. Amongst his scientific papers were: On a new relation of heat and electricity; On temporary and variable stars; On the problem of stellar collision; On the origin of double stars, of nebulae, of the solar system and universe; and On agencies tending to alter the eccentricities of planetary orbits. In 1877 he was elected a member of the Christchurch City Council. Bickerton was an enthusiastic student of systems of education. He designed several pieces of experimental apparatus, the most successful of which was a model to represent the motions, the kinetics, and the phenomena of the solar system. The Education Department printed the first part of his book of simple experiments to enable school teachers to illustrate science teaching without costly apparatus and labour of preparation. A public fund, to which the Government contributed, enabled Bickerton to propound his theories in Great Britain. He published The Romance of the Heavens, The Birth of Worlds and Systems and other volumes expounding his researches. In 1928 Canterbury College elected him professor emeritus. He died in London on 22 Jan 1929.

Cox, Men of Mark; Cycl. NZ, iii (p); Bickerton, op. cit; Hight and Candy; Evening Post, 24 Jan, 26 Apr 1929, 7 Jan 1933 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 50

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BIDDLE, BENJAMIN (1848-1933) was 20 years of age and had been a seaman when he joined the Armed Constabulary in 1868. He was attached to the force under Whitmore, serving against Te Kooti after the Poverty Bay massacre, and distinguished himself at the second battle of Ngatapa (Jun 1869), for which he was awarded the New Zealand Cross. He later did valuable service as a scout and was promoted temporary sergeant. At Ara-kanihi he pursued the Hauhau to their stockade and during the night liberated a number of settlers' horses which were in their possession. At Paengaroa (Jan 1870) while leading the advance guard of Fraser's force, he was caught in an ambuscade and had a desperate fight and a personal encounter with Peka Makarini, the half-caste Hauhau. Taking his discharge on 13 Aug 1871, Biddle settled at Opouriao, Bay of Plenty, doing contract work, and when the estate was cut up he drew a section, on which he lived for the remainder of his life. He died on 10 Mar 1933.

N.Z. Army records; Cowan; Gudgeon; Whakatane Post, 12 Mar 1933.

Reference: Volume 1, page 50

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BIDWILL, CHARLES ROBERT (1820-84), the son of Joseph Green Bidwill, was born at Exeter, Devonshire, educated in England and had commenced to study medicine when his father received letters from his elder son (John Carne Bidwill, q.v.) advising him to allow the boy to go to Australia. He sailed in the Arachne and reached Sydney early in 1841.

There for two years he gained colonial experience and in Mar 1843 sailed for New Zealand in the schooner Posthumous with 1,600 sheep. Some of these he sold at Nelson and the balance he took to Port Nicholson. A few weeks later he joined Clifford, Vavasour, Weld, Petre and William Swainson, F.L.S., on an expedition to prospect in the Wairarapa for sheep country. Bidwill got a tract of land at Kopungarara to which he started in Apr 1844 with 350 merino sheep. Driving them round the Mukamuka rocks and the western shore of Wairarapa lake, he left them to return to Wellington for his cattle. He was thus the first to arrive with sheep in the Wairarapa. His wool was sent by packhorse to Te Kopi, on Palliser Bay, and thence by small ships to Wellington. Bidwill bought some Red Devon cattle and thoroughbred horses (notably Figaro, which he purchased from James Watt, Wanganui, in 1847). In 1857 he imported merino rams which his father obtained from Saxony. By 1879 the Pihautea property consisted of 10,000 acres purchased from the Government and 250 acres from the natives. Only 70 acres was as yet cultivated.

Bidwill took a keen interest in local governing bodies and the licensing committee, and in the racing club, which he assisted to establish in the fifties. He did not own racehorses but patronised all the meetings. In 1851 he married Catherine, eldest daughter of John Orbell (Waikouaiti, Otago). Bidwill died on 21 Apr 1884 and his widow ten years later.

Bidwill; Weld; Lovat; Wairarapa Age, 27 Oct 1923.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BIDWILL, JOHN CARNE (1815-53) was born at St Thomas, Exeter, the eldest son of Joseph Green Bidwill. At the age of 17 he sailed for Canada in the ship Exmouth, returning towards the end of 1834. In 1838, with his sister Elizabeth, he sailed for Sydney in the ship Arachne in the interest of his father's mercantile business. While waiting to gain possession of land which he had selected some distance from Sydney, he sailed for New Zealand, arriving at Bay of Islands on 5 Feb 1839. He proceeded in a small schooner to Tauranga and spent three months exploring in the interior. Accompanied by several Maori and a white interpreter, he visited Rotorua, Taupo and Tongariro. In defiance of Maori advice, he climbed Tongariro alone, and returned to the coast after thirty days. Bidwill made a journey to Matamata and returned by sea from Tauranga to Thames and Bay of Islands. Thereafter he devoted himself to the business of his firm. He again visited New Zealand in 1840, and accompanied E. J. Wakefield by sea from Wellington to Whanganui.

Bidwill had a considerable knowledge of botany and was helpful in the founding of the Sydney botanical gardens, where he carried out experiments in hybridisation as early as 1841. In New Zealand he met Colenso and collected rare seeds and discovered new plants. In 1849 Bidwill was magistrate at Tinana (Maryborough) and later commissioner of crown lands and chairman of the bench of magistrates. He died on 16 Mar 1853, unmarried. His book, Rambles in New Zealand, was published in 1841. He was a brother of Charles Robert Bidwill (q.v.).

Bidwill, op. cit.; Hocken.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BIGGS, REGINALD NEWTON, who died 1868, came to New Zealand in the late fifties and settled in Rangitikei, living for some years with Major Trafford at Koreromaiwaho and afterwards at Mangiroa. He was an energetic farmer and a fine shot and horseman. In the early sixties he moved to Poverty Bay.

As a lieutenant in the Hawke's Bay volunteers (22 Apr 1865) Biggs joined the reinforcements at Turanganui and commanded the left wing in the attack on Pakairomiromi (3 Aug 1865), when 25 Hauhau of Ngati-Porou were killed. He took a leading part in the capture of Hungahungatoroa (Oct), where the surrender of 500 disaffected Ngati-Porou ended the movement amongst that tribe. For these services Biggs received the thanks of the Government and promotion to a captaincy (11 Oct). He served under Fraser throughout the East Coast campaign and at Omaru-Hakeke commanded the left wing enfilading the Hauhau retreat and storming the position (25 Dec 1865). In Nov he was appointed a justice of the peace and local magistrate.

Te Kooti was suspected of disaffection at the siege of Waerenga-a-Hika and Biggs, who was appointed magistrate at Turanganui (7 Feb 1867) recommended his deportation to the Chathams. He strongly opposed repatriating the prisoners until the confiscations in Poverty Bay were settled. When Te Kooti landed at Whareongaonga (1868) after his escape from the Chathams, Biggs took energetic measures against him, sending for help to Wairoa and Napier and mobilising the mounted rifles under Westrupp (q.v.). Te Kooti refused to surrender his arms and Biggs (who was promoted major on 1 Aug) marched with 80 men to intercept his retreat to the Urewera. He left his force at Paparatu to bring up supplies from Gisborne, and they were attacked in his absence and badly defeated. Suspecting that Te Kooti would take vengeance for his banishment, Biggs made careful dispositions to watch his movements. His own camp was situated 20 miles from Gisborne, at the crossing of the Hangaroa. Confident that he knew Te Kooti's plans, he rejected the warnings of his scouts and allowed an old track to remain unwatched and delayed calling in the settlers. While he was sitting in his home after midnight on 10 Nov writing orders for an assembly the following day the house was surrounded by Hauhau, and Biggs and his wife and child, besides many other settlers, were shot and bayonetted.

Cowan, Wars (p); Gudgeon (p); J. G. Wilson; Gascoigne (p); Whitmore.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BIRCH, JOSIAH (1833-81) was an early resident of Canterbury. He represented Kaiapoi in the Provincial Council (1861), Rangiora (1862-66) and Kaiapoi (1868-71). As a young man Birch saw service in the Austrian army. Coming to New Zealand in the Westminster (1856), he took up bush land at Rangiora, where he soon had a successful sawmill. After farming at Ashley Bank for a few years, he became a merchant in Kaiapoi, afterwards moving to Christchurch.

Canterbury P.C. Proc. 1881.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BIRCH, THOMAS (1825-80) was born at Fortrose, Ross, Scotland. He was an orphan and received only the parish education, after which he served an apprenticeship to a cabinetmaker in Aberdeen. He worked for some years in Edinburgh and London and came to Otago in the Slains Castle (1852). In Dunedin he worked at his trade for a few years. He accompanied James Macandrew and C. W. Ligar in the Star to survey the site of Invercargill, spending three days ashore at Waikawa, whence they proceeded overland to Toetoes, living in Maori whares en route. Birch erected at Invercargill a frame house which he had constructed in Dunedin. In 1858, with his wife he revisited Scotland, lecturing to promote immigration. He sat in the Otago Provincial Council for Dunedin City (1863-64) and in 1865 was elected to the first City Council. Birch was unanimously elected Mayor in 1868 and re-elected for the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh (1868-70). He created the Mayor's Court in Dunedin. In 1869 he was returned to Parliament as one of the members for Dunedin City (1869-70). In 1873 he went to Scotland again as immigration agent for Otago. He was an enthusiastic volunteer (No. 2 Scottish company 1863), and three years president of the Caledonian Society. Birch died at sea on 12 Mar 1880.

Lyttelton Times, 7 Jun 1880; Otago Daily Times; Cycl. NZ.

Portrait: Town Hall, Dunedin.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BLACK, GEORGE CHARLES CECIL (1904-32) was born at Reefton. In 1923 he became a committee clerk in the House of Representatives and in 1928 was elected as United Party member for Motueka. He was junior government whip 1928-31 and was re-elected as an Independent member in 1931. He died on 17 Oct 1932.

Evening Post, 18 Oct 1932; The Dominion, 19 Oct.

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 51

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BLACK, JAMES GOW (1835-1914) was born in Drumtochty, Scotland, and was believed to be the original of the Australian professor in Ian Maclaren's Days of Auld Lang Syne. Educated at Dunkeld and the Moray House training college and Edinburgh University, he graduated M.A. in 1864, B.Sc. in 1866 and D.Sc. in 1869, taking prizes in chemistry and experimental science. He established Scott and Black's collegiate classes in Edinburgh; inaugurated in 1871 the Field Naturalist Club, and became a fellow of the Royal Botanical Society of Edinburgh and of the Educational Institute of Scotland. He declined the chair of natural philosophy at the Andersonian College in Glasgow and in 1871 accepted that of natural science at Otago University, to which he came in the Christian McCausland. Black was selected to open the schools of mines in New Zealand (1884), conducting the inaugural classes at Thames and Reefton. He collaborated with Professor Etard, of Paris, in perfecting the permanganate system of gold extraction. His text book, Chemistry for the Goldfields, was published in 1885.

Thompson, Hist. Otago Univ.; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLACK, SOLOMON (1834-92) was born in Scotland. He came to New Zealand in 1864 and joined the Military Settlers. Later as a private in No. 1 division of the Armed Constabulary he served in engagements on the East and West Coasts of the North Island. In Jan 1869 he took part in the siege of Ngatapa (against Te Kooti) where he won the New Zealand Cross for the gallant and determined manner in which he held his position on the ridge at the rear of the fort. Black returned to Scotland in 1892 and was residing in Glasgow in 1910.

NZ Army records; Cowan (p); Gudgeon.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLACK, WILLIAM (1815-94) was born at Muiravonside, Stirlingshire. He learned the bakery trade and was for some years in the mercantile marine as steward on board passenger ships sailing to the East Indies. In 1841 he came to New Zealand as steward in the Amelia Thompson and, having married a daughter of Thomas Veale, he settled in New Plymouth, where he established a successful bakery. In 1849 he visited California, but soon returned to his business.

In the Maori war Black was a captain in the militia and served under Atkinson in the Bushrangers, also undertaking contracts to supply the Imperial troops with bread. In 1872 he retired from business and took up his soldier's grant of 200 acres at Tikorangi. He was a member of the Taranaki Provincial Council for Grey and Bell (1869-73). He was on the town board and the vestry of St Mary's and became an elder of the Presbyterian Church when that denomination was established in New Plymouth. He was president of the New Plymouth Friendly Society. An ardent freemason, he was a charter member of the Mt Egmont lodge and once walked by the coast to Wanganui to open a lodge. He died on 22 Nov 1894.

Taranaki P.C. minutes; Taranaki Herald, 23 Nov 1894, 16 May 1936. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLACKETT, JOHN (1819-93) was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated there and apprenticed to engineering with R. and W. Hawthorne (1834-41). He became draughtsman and office engineer to the Great Western Steamship Co. (1841) and in 1844 head engineer in iron shipbuilding and railway work with T. R. Guppy and Co. In 1846 he was appointed engineer to the copper mines at Cwm Avon, south Wales, and from 1848 he was in private practice as an engineer. In 1851 Blackett came to New Zealand with his family in the Sir Edward Paget and took up land near New Plymouth. In 1856 he moved to Nelson and in the following year was appointed provincial engineer. In that capacity he made wide explorations to open up the country on the West Coast and also to Marlborough and Canterbury. In 1859 he made a report on provincial works. He carried out the Nelson waterworks, reported on the goldfields (1863) and was a member of the provincial executive for some years. He was commissioner on the Nelson south west goldfields during the rush years (1864-66), his district including the Grey Valley and Inangahua and Buller counties. He had jurisdiction over about 8,000 miners and control of expenditure on public works wherever they seemed to be required. In 1871, on the inauguration of the public works policy, he was appointed acting engineer-in-chief for the colony, and had a heavy task initiating the roads and railways policy for the colony as a whole. He was also marine engineer. In 1878 the North Island was made a separate district, Blackett being in charge of it and Blair of the South Island. In 1884 Blackett became engineer-in-chief, with Blair as assistant. In 1890 he went to England as consulting and inspecting engineer to the Government. He returned to New Zealand in failing health, retired from the service and died on 8 Jan 1893.

Nelson P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); N.Z. Times, 4 Jan 1893.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLACKLOCK, JOHN (?-?) came to Otago in the fifties and at the end of 1856 went to Invercargill to arrange for starting a business there. In returning to Dunedin on foot (Feb 1857) he lost his way in the Tautuku forest and was without food for four days. He started a softgoods business with Calder at Invercargill. Blacklock took a prominent part in public affairs. He represented Invercargill in the Southland Provincial Council (1865-67); and Waihopai (1867-69); and after the reunion with Otago represented Waihopai in the Otago Council (1871-72). He was a member of the executive in Southland almost continuously from 1865 to 1869. He died in California in Jun 1905.

Roberts, Southland; Beattie, i, ii.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLAIR, JOHN RUTHERFORD (1843-1914) was born at Balphurock, Lanarkshire, Scotland. After receiving the usual Scots education, he entered the office of a wholesale paper merchant in Glasgow, and was later employed in the same trade in several other towns. In 1860 he came to Otago, but soon left for Australia and became associated with Sands and McDougall, printers and publishers. In 1869 he came back to Wellington and entered into partnership with William Lyon (q.v.) as Lyon and Blair. Later he became sole proprietor and eventually sold the business to Whitcombe and Tombs. Blair was a member of the Wellington education board from 1880, and chairman for many years from 1882. He was chairman of the technical education board and of the Wellington College board of governors (to 1899), and was a Wellington school commissioner until their abolition. In 1899 he was appointed the first chairman of the Bank of New Zealand under the reorganisation, holding that position till 1902. He was mayor of Wellington (1898-99) and a member of the harbour board (1897-99). He was a visiting justice, a member of the prison board, and a director of several important companies in Wellington. He died on 25 Nov 1914.

Cycl. N.Z., i; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Evening Post, 25 Nov 1914.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLAIR, JOHN, was apprenticed to a bookseller in Edinburgh before coming to Otago in the Dunedin (1855). He took up land at Kaikorai and later in life had a property at Owaka, but was for 16 years teaching at Green Island. He was an elder of the church and a member of the road board and represented Green Island in the Provincial Council (1863-67). Blair was a writer of pleasing verse and contributed regularly to the Otago Witness. A volume of Lays of the Old Identities was published in 1889.

Cycl. NZ, iv.

Reference: Volume 1, page 52

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BLAIR, WILLIAM NEWSHAM (1840-91) was born at Islay, Argyllshire, the son of a farmer and flourmiller who owned mills at Dumbarton, Greenock and Islay. He was educated at Ballygrant parish school and then articled to a surveyor in Oban. On the completion of his papers he entered the office in Edinburgh of Sir Thomas Bouch, constructor of the Tay Bridge. While staying with his brother in Islay, he received an engagement to survey the boundaries of the Kildalton estate. Sailing from Glasgow in the Daniel Rankine, he arrived in Otago at the end of 1863, and was at once engaged by T. Paterson on the provincial survey staff. As surveyor and road engineer he was employed on the Dunedin, Clutha, Winton and Kingston railway lines. In 1867 he married a daughter of Robert Kennedy, of Oban. The railways having been taken over by the general Government, Blair was appointed (1871) district engineer in the public works department. He made a number of reconnaissance surveys in Otago and Canterbury (1877-79) and laid down a proposed scheme of railways for the whole of the South Island, including the Otago Central and Midland. In 1878 when John Carruthers, engineer-in-chief, went to England Blair became engineer in charge of the Middle Island (Blackett occupying the same position in the North Island). In 1884 he was appointed assistant engineer-in-chief. He made an important exploration of the King Country to report on the North Island main trunk railway. In 1890 Blair was appointed engineer-in-chief and Under-Secretary for Public Works. During his regime, 113 miles of railway and many important public works were constructed, including the Wingatui viaduct and bridges on the Otago Central. He was a capable engineer and organiser and possessed a wide general knowledge. Blair was convenor of the building committee for the new First Church in Dunedin. In the sixties he prepared plans for a bridge over the Rangitata river, which was the first cylinder bridge in the Colony. Amongst Blair's publications were The Building Materials of Otago (1879) and Reminiscences of Islay (read before the Gaelic Society), and several reports on industries and public works (M.I.C.E., 1877). He died on 4 May 1891.

Cycl. NZ; Bruce Herald, 3 Sep 1875.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLAKE, EDWIN (1830-1914) was born in Hampshire and educated at Wimborne, Dorset. Trained as a civil engineer, he worked on railway construction contracts in England and came to Otago in 1861. Two years later he moved to Canterbury and was employed on the West Coast road under construction by the Canterbury provincial government. On the completion of this he settled in Westland. In 1882 he returned to Canterbury, where he engaged in sheep farming and agriculture. Blake was a member of the Avon road board and chairman for seven years. He twice contested the Hokitika Parliamentary seat against Seddon. In 1887 he was elected for Avon. He retained the seat against G. G. Stead in 1891 and was defeated by Joyce in 1893.

Cycl. NZ., iii; Harrop, Westland.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLAKISTON, CHARLES ROBERT (1825-98) was born at Okeover Park, Staffordshire, the son of Sir Matthew Blakiston. He came to Melbourne (1851) with his brother, but was persuaded to visit Canterbury (Apr 1852). There he entered into business, but soon took up land at Kaiapoi. He was M.P.C. for Lyttelton (1855-57), and for Kaiapoi (1857-61), being in the executive as provincial secretary. Blakiston was called to the Legislative Council (1857), but retired in 1862 owing to the demands of his business. In 1858 he married Mary Anna, daughter of Bishop Harper. On a visit to England in 1863 he was appointed manager of the Trust and Agency Co. of Australia in Christchurch, a position he occupied for 3 years. He was a director also of the South British Insurance and other companies; member of the diocesan synod and a governor of Christ's College. He died on 1 Sep 1898.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Col. Gent.; Acland; Lyttelton Times and The Press, 2 Sep 1898. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLANCH, GEORGE ERNEST (1863-1920) was born in England and educated privately and at Christ Church, Oxford (M.A. 1887), and London University (B.Sc.). In 1892 he was appointed mathematics and science master at Sydney Grammar School; in 1898 to the Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne and in 1915 headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch. He died on 18 Sep 1920.

Christ's Coll. List (p); The Press, 20 Sep 1920.

Reference: Volume 2, page 272

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BLASCHKE, WILLIAM JOHN, was born at Breslau, Prussia, in 1809. Passing through Basle at the time of the revolution he volunteered for service and was wounded. After serving for three years as a lieutenant in the Landwehr on the Rhine and three and a half in Algeria, he left the army as a non-commissioned officer. Having married, he came to New Zealand as a military settler for a period of ten years, arriving by the Bernicia (1848). Blaschke settled in Taranaki and became naturalised. In 1853 he was elected to represent Omata in the Provincial Council and served till 1856. Finding his means unequal to the expense of breaking in bush land, he left his family in New Plymouth and went to Melbourne to seek his fortune. Hearing of the outbreak of the Taranaki war and the removal of his wife and family to Nelson for safety he returned to New Zealand in Dec 1860 and became a volunteer. As he was not a fluent English speaker, he could not receive a commission. The Taranaki hostilities being over, Blaschke entered into negotiations with the Government and the Hamburg firm of F. C. Godeffroy and Son to bring from Germany 500 married couples between the ages of 20 and 40. The scheme was suspended on the outbreak of the Waikato war.

N.Z.C.; App. H.R., 1863 D.5.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLICK, WILLIAM (1833-82) was born in England. He came to Nelson early and was engaged for some years (from 1852) as a contractor carrying mails between Nelson and Canterbury. In 1865 he settled at Blenheim where he owned a good deal of property. He represented the town in the Marlborough Provincial Council (1870-74).

Marlborough Express, 21 May 1882.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLUETT, WILLIAM JAMES GEFFRARD (1834-85) was a native of Devon. He studied for the Church of England and was ordained. Bluett came to New Zealand, settled in Canterbury and later turned his attention to farming. He had a property at Leeston for many years, took a great interest in blood stock, cattle, sheep and pigs, and in 1873 established the New Zealand Herd Book. He was in Parliament as the representative of Coleridge (1872-75) and in Provincial politics he represented Rakaia (1873-74) and Selwyn from the latter date till the abolition. For many years he presided at all political meetings in Leeston, and he was a member of the road board, the licensing committee and the school committee. In 1870 he took over from Colonel Whitmore the New Zealand herd book of shorthorn cattle, which he published for some years. Bluett died on 23 Nov 1885.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Philpott; Lyttelton Times, 24 Nov 1885. Portrait, Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLUNDELL, HENRY (1814-78) was born in Dublin and brought up to the printing trade there. He was for 27 years connected with the management of the Evening Mail before coming to Victoria in 1860. In the following year he came to Otago and was engaged for some time on the Lyttelton Times and on the Otago Daily Times (1863). On the outbreak of the Wakamarina goldfields he moved with his family to Havelock, where with David Curle he founded the Havelock Mail. The rush having died down they took the plant to Wellington and established the Evening Post (5 Feb 1865) as a small four-page sheet. This was the first attempt to run a daily newspaper and it had as opposition the existing tri-weeklies, the Independent and the Advertiser. Curle shortly withdrew and Blundell with his sons developed the Post to a position of sound prosperity. He was a frank, quiet man, of genial temperament and unblemished integrity. In 1874 he retired from the business and he died on 15 Jun 1878.

Cycl. NZ

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLUNDELL, LOUIS PROCTOR (1849-1934), a son of Henry Blundell (q.v.), was born in Dublin, and came with his parents to Victoria (1860) and to New Zealand (1861). Educated at schools in Dublin and Melbourne and at the 'Stone School' (Dunedin), he entered the office of the Evening Post shortly after its establishment (1865) and received a general training in the management of a newspaper, mainly on the literary side. After the death of Henry Blundell in 1894 the business was formed into a limited liability company, of which Louis Blundell was for many years managing director. He was a life member of the New Zealand Newspaper Proprietors' Association and some time chairman of the New Zealand Press Association. On grounds of policy he declined to be associated with public companies or local bodies, thus preserving the independent status which was a cardinal principle of the founders of the paper. He was, however, a generous benefactor of charities and made many handsome gifts to the City of Wellington, including a large bell for the city carillon.

Blundell married (1879) Annie Elizabeth, a daughter of Captain Coker (Christchurch). She was prominently associated with the District Nursing service, the Red Cross and the Victoria League. (K.B.E. 1919). Blundell died on 5 Nov 1934 and his widow in 1935.

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Evening Post, 5 Nov 1934.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BLYTH, JAMES (1790-1862) was born at Cupar, Fifeshire, and lived as a boy in Glasgow. As a young man he went to South America, where he spent some years and had many exciting adventures during revolutionary wars. He arrived in Wellington in 1842, and after being in business in Wellington for some years he settled at Mary Bank, Wanganui, about 1859. He was elected to the Wellington Provincial Council for Wanganui and Rangitikei in 1856, and sat till the following year as a strong supporter of Featherston's policy. He was an elder of the Presbyterian Church in Wellington and in Wanganui.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Woon; Wanganui Chronicle, 16 Oct 1862.

Reference: Volume 1, page 53

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BOARDMAN, ABRAHAM (1824-97) was born near Bolton, Lancashire, and educated at a private school and Chester Diocesan Training College for teachers. Before attaining the age of 20 he was appointed to take charge of a large church school in Liverpool, and while there passed examinations for education diplomas. He became accountant in a Liverpool office and then in London, whence he sailed in 1864 for New Zealand. Letters which he wrote on the population question secured him an engagement as leader-writer on the New Zealand Herald and he received an appointment in the Superintendent's office. He made a detailed report upon claims for war compensations and was appointed curator of intestate estates. As a member of the Ponsonby highway board, Boardman resisted the proposal to create a separate borough, but helped to carry out important works, suggested amendments in municipal law and promoted the merger of Ponsonby in the City of Auckland. He was a member of the Ponsonby school committee, the harbour board and the City Council and was elected mayor of Auckland (Dec 1896) but had to resign a few months later owing to ill health. He died on 21 May 1897. Boardman was a trustee of the Auckland savings bank, was once manager of the Thames Goldmining Co. and the first general manager of the South British Insurance Co. He was a member of the Anglican synod for 17 years and of the general synod.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 12 Dec 1896 (p), 22 May 1897.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BOLLAND, WILLIAM (1820-47) was educated at University College, Oxford, where he graduated B.C.L. He came to New Zealand in 1842; was at St John's College for a year or two and was ordained by Bishop Selwyn (deacon 1843; priest 1845). Bolland was sent to New Plymouth as its first minister (Dec 1843). Young and full of zeal, he was not robust in health and died on 29 May 1847.

J. K. Davis; Jacobs; Seffern. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BOLLARD, JOHN (1839-1915) was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, educated at the Church of England school there and received a special training in agriculture. He acted as a clerk of works before emigrating to New Zealand. For a few months he was on the goldfield at Snowy River, but having no luck returned to New Zealand with 200 horses to sell as remounts to the forces engaged in the war (1861). He served as a sergeant-major and then took up land at Avondale and was in business as a land agent and valuer. He was a member of the Avondale road board for a long period (including 28 years as chairman) and was a member of the Eden licensing committee and chairman of the Auckland hospital and charitable aid board. For 51 years he was chairman and for 54 years a member of the Avondale school committee. He was a justice of the peace for 40 years and coroner for 30.

In 1896 Bollard was elected to represent Eden in Parliament and he was a member till 1914, when he retired. He supported the Conservative party, was a useful member of the stock and agricultural committee, and was the earliest advocate of workers' homes. He died on 23 Mar 1915.

N.Z.P.D., 25 Jun 1915; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; N.Z. Herald, 25 Mar 1915. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BOLLARD, RICHARD FRANCIS (1863-1927) was born at Tamaki, Auckland, the son of John Bollard (q.v.). He was educated at the public schools there and at Avondale, and was for seven years secretary of the Avondale road board. He resigned to move to Waikato, where he started a sawmill at Taupiri, which employed 60 hands and had an output of 40,000 feet per day. After operating it successfully for 40 years he sold out in 1909 and took a farm at Tamahere. Bollard was a member of the Kirikiriroa road board and of the Waikato county council and hospital board, and was a prominent supporter of the Waikato racing club and the hunt club. He married Louisa, daughter of Robert Dakin (Avondale).

In 1911 he was elected M.H.R. for Raglan. He sat in his first Parliament while his father was still a member (1911-14). Bollard represented Raglan continuously till his death (on 25 Aug 1927). He was a useful member of parliamentary committees and was chairman of the railways committee. For some time he was Reform whip, and in 1923 he joined the Massey Government as Minister of Internal Affairs. In this capacity (which he continued under Coates and Bell) he did much for the control of racing and regularised the conduct of lotteries.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; N.Z. Times, 25, 26 Aug 1927; N.Z. Herald, 26 Aug 1927 (p).

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BOLT, WILLIAM MOUAT (1838-1907). Born at Lerwick in 1838 and educated in the parish school of Sandness, Bolt for some years assisted his father (Francis Bolt, 1805-98) in the village smithy and in working small craft and fishing. In 1855 he shipped at Liverpool in a vessel chartered by the Government to carry troops to the Crimea. After two voyages in this service and six years in sailing ships trading to North and South America and Australia, he landed in New Zealand from the Nelson in 1863.

On coming to Dunedin Bolt was employed for a short time lightering from Port Chalmers and then obtained employment with Bing, Harris and Co., whom he served as storeman for 30 years. Shortly after his arrival in New Zealand he attached himself to the democratic party. He was a close friend of Sir Robert Stout and Richard Hudson and often discussed with them a socialist scheme for a settlement on Stewart Island. He himself propounded a scheme of a co-operative settlement, upon which he lectured throughout the colony and published at least one pamphlet (Industrial Settlement). It was widely endorsed by Labour organisations and he brought forward in the Legislative Council resolutions dealing with it. Other pamphlets published by him were The Religious Conditions of Europe a Century Ago and Land and Labour, and in 1891 he published a telling reply to Dr Laishley's pamphlet on the economic depression. In later life he was interested in archaeology. Bolt was prominent in the free thought movement and was first secretary and sometime vice-president of the Dunedin society. He served on the Dunedin schools committee for four years (as chairman part of the time), was a member of the first trades council (later vice-president) and a member of the council of the New Zealand federated tailoresses' union. His political ideal was the gradual advance of the people in their collective capacity by means of general industrial co-operation.

Bolt was called to the Legislative Council by Ballance on 15 Oct 1892 and remained a member until his death, which occurred 29 Apr 1907. At that time he was president of the Dunedin Progressive society. He married in 1861 a daughter of Captain Lawson, of Lerwick.

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jun 1907; N.Z. Times, 17 Oct 1892; Otago Daily Times, 1 Nov 1892, 30 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BONAR, JAMES ALEXANDER (1841-1901) was a son of Archibald Bonar, an Edinburgh banker (who was later in business in Melbourne and afterwards manager of the Invercargill savings bank, and died in Hokitika, 29 Feb 1872). Born in Edinburgh and educated at the Academy, Bonar came to Australia with his father (1854) and became shipping clerk to Henty and Co. He was a member of Knox Bible class and of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society at Scotch College, where he participated in debates on political questions (1860). In Melbourne, too, he first took an interest in volunteering, being a sergeant in the artillery. In 1863 he came to New Zealand and entered into business at Invercargill as a merchant (Henderson and Bonar). Two years later they moved to Hokitika, taking with them the agency for McMeckan, Blackwood and Co., of Melbourne, and other shipping companies, as well as Lloyds.

In 1867 Bonar was elected first mayor of Hokitika and also to represent the town in the Canterbury Provincial Council, in which he was a member of the executive and goldfields secretary (1867-68). Governor Grey visited Hokitika during his mayoralty and shortly afterwards called him to the Legislative Council (of which he was a member until his death). In 1868 Westland was given separate administration as a county and Bonar was a member of the council to 1869. When it became a province (1874) he was elected Superintendent and held office until the abolition. He showed great spirit and tact in handling the political riots (1868). Strongly attached to the district, he supported its industries and participated in every form of public service. He was chairman of the harbour and hospital boards and the school commissioners. As a volunteer he was promoted major (1884), and lieut.-colonel (1895) and received the Victoria decoration (1895). He married (1874) a daughter of William Montgomerie Ball (Melbourne). Bonar died on 7 Nov 1901.

Westland C.C. and P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Hansard, 7 Nov 1901; Col. Gent.; Cycl. N.Z., v (p); Ross (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 54

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BOOTH, GEORGE (1818-88) was born at Sunderland, Durham, educated there and apprenticed to the shipbuilding trade. On completing his articles he entered into the business in Sunderland and also took an interest in local government, being a member of the town council. In 1859 he came to New Zealand and settled at Rangiora, where he was engaged in farming and business for four years. He then moved into Christchurch and established himself as an importer of agricultural implements, which he continued until 1883. Booth lived in Sydenham and took a leading part in the formation of the municipality. Being elected the first mayor of the borough, he devoted much thought and time to its affairs and was largely responsible for its being regarded as a model borough. He was also chairman of the North Canterbury education board for some years and of the Christchurch West school committee. By religion he was a Free Methodist, and he started the first church of that denomination in Rangiora. Booth was an active temperance advocate. He died on 5 May 1888.

Lyttelton Times, 7 May 1888.

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOOTH, JAMES (1830-1900) was born in Westmorland and educated there and in London. He came to New Zealand in the Slains Castle in 1852 under engagement to the Church Missionary Society to assist the Rev. R. Taylor (q.v.). After revisiting England he settled down in 1856 with his brother at Pipiriki, farming and teaching in the capacity of a catechist.

In 1864, when Hauhau emissaries were at work on the river, Booth reported the plans of the invaders to Wanganui and took munitions and supplies to the friendlies, who were besieged at Hiruharama. He and his family were detained by the Hauhau for several days until the battle of Moutoa (May 1864), when they escaped to Wanganui. In 1865 he was appointed resident magistrate at Wanganui, and during the rest of the campaign he was constantly in the field with the commanders for Maori purposes. In 1866 he was appointed a judge of the native land court and in 1867 he was stationed at Patea. In May 1868 he issued a warrant for the arrest of two of Titokowaru's chiefs and called upon Colonel McDonnell to execute it, thus precipitating the renewal of hostilities.

In 1883 Booth was appointed magistrate at Gisborne, where he died on 14 May 1900.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Cowan, ii; Poverty Bay Herald, 5 Jan 1924.

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOOTH, WILLIAM (1837-1903) was born at Pilkington, Lancashire, educated at Lancashire College in Manchester and went into commercial life. In 1872 he came to New Zealand by the Nevada and settled in Carterton, where he established himself as a sawmiller and timber merchant. He was a member of the charitable aid board for many years and a founder of the Wairarapa A. and P. society. As a sheep farmer he carried off many prizes in export classes and he was a director and chairman of the Wellington Meat Export Co. In 1887 he assisted to found the Dalefield Dairy Co. He was a director of the Bank of New Zealand (1894-97) and a member of the Wellington harbour board (1884-1902) and chairman in 1891. Booth died on 26 Mar 1903.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); N.Z. Times, 27 Mar 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BORLASE, CHARLES BONYTHON (1820-75) came of a West country family which lived not far from the Molesworth. He was born in India, the son of Lieut.-Colonel Borlase, of a Dragoon regiment, and taken home to be educated. He studied law, and was for a while connected with the press in London as law reporter, until obtaining a partnership in a legal firm in the city. His acquaintance with the Molesworths led to an interest in New Zealand, and in 1850 he sailed with his wife and family in the Victory.

Having some little capital Borlase invested it in land in Wairarapa, but spent two years in Wellington before going on it. During the eight years that he spent on his bush-clad country he was drawn into politics. In 1857-58 he sat in the Provincial Council for Wairarapa. During that time the feud between Featherston and Wakefield culminated in Wakefield's enjoying a substantial majority in the Council, but he could not take office without a qualified solicitor as provincial solicitor. Featherston refused to accept an executive in which Wakefield held the two posts of secretary and solicitor. Wakefield therefore prevailed on Borlase to stand for a city seat. He was duly elected and he represented the City (1861-75), being provincial solicitor for part of the time. He was in the executive (1866-68).

Borlase brought his family to Wellington in the early sixties. He was a member of the first Wellington town board (1863) and some years later (1870-74) a member of the first City Council under the new act. He resigned in 1874, and was elected mayor. In 1865 he contested the Superintendency against Featherston, who defeated him by 229 votes. In the following year he stood side by side with Featherston for the City seats in the House of Representatives: Featherston, Borlase, and Waring Taylor being returned. At the general election of 1871 he was unseated. He does not appear again in colonial politics, but was provincial solicitor until his death (on 15 May 1875).

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Ward; Carter; Cycl. N.Z., i; Evening Post, 16 May 1875, 26 Sep 1929 (P).

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOSCAWEN, JOHN HUGH (1851-1937) was the eldest son of the Rev. and Hon. J. T. Boscawen (brother of Viscount Falmouth) and was born at Lamorran, Cornwall in 1851. Educated privately and at Cheltenham he then joined the training ship Britannia and served on various naval stations. He was present at the Jamestown riots in Jamaica; was in New Zealand with the flying squadron (1869-70); took part in the Ashanti war (including the capture of Kumassi) and retired with the rank of lieutenant (1875).

Boscawen came to New Zealand in the following year and joined the lands and survey department. He acted as private secretary to Lord Onslow and as aide-de-camp to Lord Ranfurly. In the lands department he became chief clerk at Auckland, from which post he retired in 1919 to reside in Cornwall, where he died on 20 Apr 1937. He was a volunteer (captain in No. 3 Native Rifles), and an artist of some ability in water colours and photography.

Burke, Peerage; Who's Who NZ, 1908; N.Z. Herald, 2 Jun 1937.

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOTHAMLEY, ARTHUR THOMAS (1846-1938) was born at Champion Hill, Surrey, educated in England and in 1868 paid a visit to Australia for his health. He joined the civil service in New Zealand as a clerk and in 1871 was appointed extra clerk to the Legislative Council, becoming later clerk assistant and retiring in 1925. Bothamley was gentleman usher of the black rod from 1892 to 1937. He was a talented amateur photographer and an oarsman, being founder and first captain of the Tainui Canoe Club (1880).

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Evening Post, 17 Dec 1938 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOURNE, CHARLES FREDERICK (1850-1913) was born in England, educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, London, and passed in 1868 to St John's College, Oxford, with two exhibitions. There he won a Casberd scholarship and graduated B.A. (1872). He was a fine cricketer and a leader in most sports. Two years in succession he won the one mile race for the challenge cup and the one mile and two mile races at college. Bourne joined the staff of the Manchester Grammar School as a classical master (1874) and in 1881 was appointed headmaster at Auckland Grammar School. From there he was invited in 1892 to be headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch. By hard work and devotion to duty during eleven years there he steadily raised the efficiency and tone of the school. He retired in 1904 and afterwards conducted a school at Sumner, acted as examiner for the University and relieved the professor of classics at Canterbury College.

Bourne married (1880) Margaret, daughter of Richard Roe, M.R.C.S., Eccles, Lancashire. He died on 29 Mar 1913.

Christ's Coll. School List; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); The Press, 1 Apr 1906

Reference: Volume 1, page 55

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BOWDEN, THOMAS ADOLPHUS (1824-1906), a son of John Saunders Bowden, solicitor, of London, was educated privately at Totteridge, Hertfordshire, and at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. (1845). In 1847 he was ordained deacon and in 1848 priest. He was curate of Holy Trinity, Brompton (1847-50) and of Tresco, Scilly Islands.

In 1851 Bowden came to Nelson and was appointed curate of Waimea South. In 1860 he was private secretary to Bishop Hobhouse and in the following year re-opened the Bishop's school, which he conducted till 1863. He then moved to Wellington with the intention of opening a private grammar school, but was appointed inspector of schools for the province. In this position he looked forward to the establishment of middle-class schools in Wellington and at the Hutt and Wanganui. In 1866 he advised H. E. Tuckey (B.A., of St John's, Cambridge) and W. S. Hamilton (of Edinburgh Training College, who had been engaged at the Geelong High School) to start a grammar school as a private venture. This they did under the superintendence of Bowden and carried on for several years, the classes being held in the Independent chapel. This school developed into Wellington College, of which Bowden became headmaster in 1869, continuing in charge till 1874. He had strong views on secondary education and disliked the proposal that his staff should give university lectures simply because they were fully employed otherwise. In 1874 Bowden retired, after a very successful term as headmaster, and opened in Featherston Street an 'educational institute' and a private school, known as the English High School. The premises soon became inadequate for the number of pupils and in 1877 Bowden's health began to fail and he resigned and withdrew from teaching.

He accepted the curacy of Greymouth (1877); was later vicar of All Saints, Nelson, and was temporarily in charge of St John's, Wakefield (1881-82). While there he became interested in fruit-growing. Bowden was a man of fine presence and a commanding personality. His views on education, which were sound and progressive, he set out in a letter to Sir William Fox in 1868. In 1869 he published his Manual of New Zealand Geography and in 1900 Words of the Wise. He died on 24 Jun 1906.

N.Z. Clergy List, 1889; Butchers; Leckie (p); Hocken, Bibliog.; Macmorran; The Colonist, 27 Jun 1906; Nelson Dioc. Gaz., Aug 1906.

Reference: Volume 1, page 56

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BOWEN, SIR CHARLES CHRISTOPHER (1830-1917) came of an old county family of Welsh origin, descended from Robert, son of John ap Owen, or Bowen, who in 1578 was granted a castle and lands at Ballyadams, Ireland, and was appointed provost-marshal of the province of Leinster and the counties of East and West Meath. Bowen was born in Milford, county Mayo, and educated for some years in France, where he gained a lifelong facility in the language. He went to Rugby and to Cambridge (to study for the bar), but before he could proceed to his degree his father had become deeply interested in the Canterbury Association, and sailed with his family in the Charlotte Jane (arriving in Lyttelton Dec 1850).

Charles Bowen, senior, played the appropriate part of leader of the settlement. He was a member for Christchurch Country district in the first Provincial Council and afterwards for Avon. Thrice he was deputy-superintendent, and for nine years (from 1855-64) speaker of the council. In 1864 he returned to England, and he died at Hastings in 1871.

When scarcely in his twenties C. C. Bowen threw himself with enthusiasm and marked ability into the life of the colony. For two years he was private secretary to Godley, the virtual governor, riding across the hills between Lyttelton and the land office at Christchurch almost every second day. He rode from end to end of the South Island, going as far as Nelson to visit Domett, who was civil secretary for the South Island. When Godley returned to England (1852) Bowen was appointed inspector of police and he had to do his part in the apprehension and prosecution of James Mackenzie for sheep-stealing. At the age of 24 he became provincial treasurer. He was never a member of the Provincial Council, though he was for some time (1858-59) in Cass's executive. His association with Moorhouse demonstrated his capacity for administration and his constructive mind. They co-operated heartily in the project for piercing the Port hills by a railway tunnel, and Bowen furnished much of the data which enabled Moorhouse to promote the scheme in the Council. In 1856 Bowen was appointed a commissioner of the waste lands board; in 1857 a justice of the peace and in 1858 a commissioner of native reserves. From the early days of the settlement he had taken part in journalism, contributing to the columns of the Lyttelton Times. In 1856 he became one of the proprietors, joining with Crosbie Ward in acquiring the property from J. Shrimpton for £5,000, and he continued to write leading articles for his colleague. In 1859 he sold his interest in the paper to William Reeves (whose partners were W. J. W. Hamilton and T. W. Maude) and resigned his official posts to visit England. Bowen's tour abroad was not only a period of travel, but an intellectual exercise. He took a ship to Peru (1860), and crossed the Andes in company with Clements Markham, who had previously spent two years there with a view to acclimatising the cinchona plant in India. That journey Bowen described in Galton's Vacation Tourists (1861), and he was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. In the United States and Canada he formed friendships with many intellectuals, including Longfellow, Lowell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Alexander Agassiz. In Great Britain he fought hard for the Lyttelton tunnel scheme, demonstrating to financiers and engineers that the conditions of Canterbury urgently demanded the adoption of bold measures, and that the proposal was not a fantastic one. Bowen spent the greater part of 1861 in England, where he married Georgina Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev D. Markham, canon of Windsor.

Returning to Canterbury (1862) he was soon back at his post as receiver of land revenues. In 1864 he was appointed resident magistrate at Christchurch, and during his tenure of that office (ending in 1874) he studied criminal psychology and formed plans of reform which later he was able to put into effect as Minister of Justice. To him is due the inauguration of the system of marks, enabling prisoners by good conduct to earn a reduction of their terms of confinement. When Moorhouse was about to retire from the Superintendency (1868) leaders of both parties in provincial politics suggested that Bowen should be nominated, but he declined. In 1872-74 he was chairman of the Canterbury education board. He was also president of the Collegiate Association (which was affiliated to the university of New Zealand as the forerunner of Canterbury College). When the college came into existence he was nominated by the Provincial Council to the first board of governors, upon which he acted in 1873-75 and 1878-85. In 1874 Vogel invited Bowen to succeed O'Rorke as Minister of Justice and Commissioner of Stamps. He accordingly resigned the magistracy and was appointed to the Legislative Council, but the opportunity was soon offered by the retirement of John Studholme for him to enter the House as member for Kaiapoi (1875). 'He was a man of very attractive manners and quick perception,' says Saunders, 'with great tact and far-reaching ability, which soon caused him to be appreciated in commercial circles and gave him an opportunity of retreat from the false step he had taken in accepting office under Mr Vogel.' In the subsequent changes of government Bowen retained his portfolio of justice and stamps (under Pollen, 1875-76; Vogel, 1876; Atkinson, 1876; and in the reconstructed Atkinson government, 1876-77). In 1877 he was permitted by Atkinson to bring forward an education bill, which eventually became law, and 'has left the most indelible mark on the history of New Zealand.' Bowen, according to Saunders, had some very valuable qualifications and experience which 'contributed to open his eyes to the real magnitude of the many stumbling blocks he would have to contend with. Intensely alive to the ridiculous and absurd, he was conciliatory and politic in all his movements, and was more amused than irritated by listening to the most frivolous objections.' The bill which Bowen brought down provided for Bible-reading in the schools, but he gave way on that and a few other points, and eventually secured the passage of the law of 1877, which established the present system of free, compulsory, and secular education. When the Whitaker-Atkinson government was defeated, Bowen retired. He remained in Parliament for Kaiapoi until 1881, when he paid another long visit to England. He then devoted himself to business and to public life in more local spheres. He was manager of the New Zealand Trust and Loan Co. In 1886 he was elected a director of the New Zealand Shipping Co. on which board he remained until his death. In 1884 he was elected first president of the West Coast Railway League, the object of which was to push on the Midland railway. In 1881-82 he was on the senate of the University of New Zealand, and again 1888-1915, being elected vice-chancellor in 1903. Just before the last Atkinson government went out of office (1891) Bowen was appointed to the Legislative Council, one of the last life-members. He was speaker 1905-15. Sir Clements Markham being now president of the Royal Geographical Society, Bowen threw himself heart and soul into the preparations in New Zealand for Scott's Antarctic expedition. In 1914 he was made a K.C.M.G. He remained a member of the Council until his death (12 Dec 1917). Lady Bowen died on 6 Jun 1921.

Gisborne says of Bowen: 'He combined with a thorough mastery of his subject persuasive powers of a high order, a conciliatory attitude, firmness where he deemed it necessary, and patient forbearance from angry retort. He has a winning and gentle manner. His speeches are good and logical, but more notable for mild persuasiveness than polemic force.' Bowen to the day of his death read French almost as freely as English, and he found mental relaxation throughout life in the Greek and Latin classics. He was one of the scholars to whom the General Assembly Library owes the strong classical character which it early acquired. As a poet Bowen held no mean place. He published in Christchurch in 1861 The Battle of the Free (including a spirited poem foreshadowing the rally of the colonies to the Mother Country). He was a lover of trees, of which he had a profound knowledge; and for many years was an active member of the Christchurch domain board.

Canterbury P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Saunders (p); Gisborne; Cox; Reeves; Hansard, 9 Apr 1915; Beaglehole; The Press, 19 Mar 1903, 15 Mar 1930 (p); Lyttelton Times, 9 Oct 1882, 13 Dec 1917. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 56

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BOWEN, SIR GEORGE FERGUSON (1821-99) was born in Ireland, the eldest son of Edward Bowen, afterwards rector of Taughboyne, county Donegal. Educated at Charterhouse, he gained a scholarship at Trinity College, Oxford, matriculated in 1840 and graduated B.A. in 1844. He was elected a fellow of Brasenose, and in 1847 graduated M.A. He was twice president of the Union. In 1844 Bowen entered Lincoln's Inn as a student.

In 1844 he was appointed president of the University of Corfu, which post he held for four years. While there he wrote his Ithaca in 1850 (published in the islands, and reprinted in several editions). This established his reputation as a scholar, Gladstone and others believing that it proved the identity of Ithaca with the island of Odysseus. In 1852 he published Mount Athos, Thessaly and Epirus. In 1848 he was in Vienna when desperate fighting took place leading up to the capture of the city by the imperial troops. In the following year before the close of the war he made a journey across Hungary, conveying a letter from refugees at Widin to Sir Stratford Canning, the British ambassador at Constantinople, which saved them from being handed over to the Turks. In 1854 Bowen was chief secretary of the Ionian islands. When Gladstone arrived there in 1858 as Lord High Commissioner to investigate the desire of the people for union with Greece, Bowen advocated surrender of the southern islands to Greece and the incorporation of the strategic islands of Corfu in the British Empire, the population of Corfu and Paxo being more Italian than Hellenic. In 1855 he was created C.M.G. and in 1856 K.C.M.G.

In 1859 Bowen was appointed first governor of Queensland, which had been separated from New South Wales. Landing at Moreton Bay on 10 Dec 1859, he spent some months instituting the machinery of government and then undertook a tour of the interior. Here, as in New Zealand later, he was quick to see the resemblances of social phenomena to those of ancient Greece. He favoured universal suffrage and the ballot as mere conservative measures in such a colony. He urged the British government to establish an efficient volunteer force for the defence of Queensland from foreign attack and to maintain order with the native population. The Queensland mounted rifles were accordingly embodied with several companies of infantry. Bowen gave every encouragement to exploration of the interior, especially to Landsborough and Dalrymple, and he accompanied an expedition which led to the establishment of a coaling station at Cape York. In 1860 he was promoted G.C.M.G. and in 1866 his term of service was extended to eight years. When the failure of the Agra and Masterman's banks caused serious embarrassment in the colony Bowen refused to sanction the Ministry's proposal to issue inconvertible paper money and was for a while unpopular.

Late in 1867 he was appointed to succeed Grey in the governorship of New Zealand and he assumed the duties of that difficult office on 5 Feb 1868. Native affairs were at a very grave pass when he took up his task and the first year of his governorship was one of the darkest periods in the history of New Zealand. Unlike his predecessors, Bowen was not as governor personally responsible for native affairs; that was part of the responsibility of the government as a whole. He cordially assisted Stafford's ministry to bring the war to a conclusion and no disagreements between governor and cabinet marred their co-operation. On the other hand Bowen had to use his pen vigorously and wholeheartedly in defence of the reputation of the settlers and government of New Zealand against charges made in Great Britain, arising in the main out of the inauguration of complete self-reliance and the adjustment of accounts for military assistance from the Home Government. In his first despatch as governor he informed the Secretary of State that the ill-feeling entertained in the colony towards the British government was due to the tone of the despatches from the Colonial Office rather than to the substance, and he hoped the continued discussion of matters which could not be improved thereby would not be insisted upon. Addressing the settlers at Wanganui a few months after his arrival in the Colony Bowen assured them they must rely only on their own stout hearts and strong arms. With fighting rampant in almost all the provinces of the North Island it is probably true, as Saunders suggests, that the only thing that saved the isolated settlements whose men were in the field was the abhorrence in which the Hauhau and their barbarities were held by the King tribes and by the wronged Wiremu Kingi and his friends. Bowen endeavoured to become acquainted with the Maori question by requiring the agents of the government in all Maori districts to make him a detailed report on their condition, numbers and wishes, their opinions of recent events and of the working of measures passed by Parliament for their good.

In an important despatch of 7 Dec 1868, while concurring in the determination of the Imperial government to withdraw all the troops from New Zealand he still advocated: (1) leaving one regiment of regular troops 'to hold the chief towns and to keep up the prestige of the Imperial power in the eyes of the Maoris'; (2) prohibiting the establishment of fresh settlements in exposed and dangerous districts; and (3) making a peaceful arrangement with Tawhiao (q.v.) which would not be inconsistent with the suzerainty of the Queen. The Secretary of State approved the two latter suggestions and guaranteed a loan of £1,000,000 towards the defence of New Zealand instead of leaving one regiment here. Featherston and Bell were sent to England to carry out the requisite negotiations. By the end of 1869 all apprehension of a general rising of disaffected tribes was past. Bowen paid four visits to Waikato, receiving many expressions of goodwill from the natives. He presented swords of honour to the friendly chiefs who had done good service in the war, and called to the Legislative Council the first two of the native race to sit in that chamber (Wi Mokena and Wi Tako Ngatata). Before leaving New Zealand he recommended the granting of a general amnesty for political offences. Thus he saw the long Maori wars brought to a termination.

Bowen conducted with the Imperial government the correspondence relating to the use of the title 'honourable' by retired ministers in the colonies. Stafford and Richmond at first declined the honour if it were only to be valid in New Zealand. Bowen also (in 1869) by order-in-council instituted the New Zealand Cross, which was afterwards sanctioned by Her Majesty. He endowed at the University of New Zealand the Bowen prize for an English essay on British or British colonial history. In 1873 he was appointed to the governorship of Victoria and he left for that post on 19 Mar. His last weeks in New Zealand were marked by ministerial crises owing to the resignation of Waterhouse. Eventually Fox agreed to assume the premiership until the return of Vogel, and Bowen was enabled to take his departure.

In Victoria Bowen encountered a parliamentary controversy between the representative chamber and the Legislative Council (which was elected for life and consequently held a position of unusual independence). Bowen took a strictly impartial attitude in the dispute, which was eventually settled by compromise and the passing of a separate supply bill. He paid a visit to Europe and America during this governorship and received from Oxford University the degree of D.C.L. (1875). On the expiration of his term in Victoria, he was appointed to Mauritius, where he landed on 4 Apr 1879. There his chief task was to inaugurate the labour code devised by his predecessor. In 1882 he was appointed governor of Hongkong, where he reconstructed the legislature and was called upon to exercise great vigilance during the war between France and China (1884-85).

In 1885 ill-health compelled him to pay a visit to Europe and in 1887 he retired from the service. He was nominated a Privy Councillor in 1886 and received the honorary LL.D. from Cambridge University. In 1887 he was chairman of the royal commission to report on the working of the constitution in Malta, his recommendations being adopted with the thanks of the Government. Bowen died at Brighton on 21 Feb 1899. He married, first (1856) Diamantina, countess Roma (d. 1893), daughter of Candiano, Count Roma, president of the Ionian Senate; and second (1896) Florence, daughter of Thomas Luby, and widow of Henry White. Besides the works already mentioned, Bowen wrote Murray's handbook for Greece (1854). Some of his letters and despatches were published by Stanley Lane Poole in 1889 as Thirty Years of Colonial Government.

App. H.R., 1868-73; Who's Who N.Z., 1932; N.Z. Gaz., 10 Mar 1869; D.N.B.; Egerton; Whitmore; Gisborne (p); Morton; Bowen, op. cit.; Saunders; Rusden; Reeves; Des Voeux.

Reference: Volume 1, page 57

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BOWLER, WILLIAM (1803-63) was born in England and brought up to commercial life in London. He became associated with the New Zealand Company in its earliest years and was colonists' clerk, closely concerned in shipping arrangements from 1840 till 1850, when he became shipping manager for the Canterbury Association. At the end of 1851 he sailed in the Stag for New Zealand and at once entered into business in Lyttelton and Christchurch with Isaac Cookson (formerly of Newcastle-on-Tyne), as merchants and shipping agents. The associated firm in Wellington was Bowler, Son and Co. Bowler took a prominent part in public affairs in Wellington. He represented Wellington in the Provincial Council (1857-61). On being defeated he retired from provincial politics, but twice tried to gain a seat in Parliament. The business was sold to Mathieson and Co., of London. Bowler had landed interests in Canterbury, being the owner of the Warren Station, on the Eyre river, in 1852. He died on 6 May 1863.

N.Z.C., papers and reports; Wellington P.C. Proc.; Acland; Godley, Letters; N.Z. Spectator and Wellington Independent, 9 May 1863; N.Z. Advertiser, 7 May 1863.

Reference: Volume 1, page 58

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BOWRING, WALTER ARMIGER (1874-1931) was born at Auckland, the son of Alfred Bowring, educated at the Auckland Grammar School and studied art. His first work was black and white sketches for the Auckland Observer, after which he became cartoonist to the Spectator (Christchurch) and the Weekly Press. In 1905 he went to London and studied for a while under Orpen and John. On returning to New Zealand he made many portraits (some of which are now in private and public galleries), and a number of important political and social cartoons, including the colour prints of the Court of Appeal and Coalition Cabinet. He also did some work for Punch and other London publications. On a visit to England (1921-23) he was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. In 1925 he moved to Sydney, where he continued his work and became a member of the Royal Art Society. Bowring married (1901) Millicent, daughter of Robert McOwen. He died on 3 Nov 1931.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Sydney Morning Herald, 6 Nov 1931 (p); The Dominion, 5 Nov (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 58

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BOYD, WILLIAM (?-?) came to New Zealand from Tasmania about 1858 and engaged in sawmilling in Southland. He represented Waianiwa in the Provincial Council for a short time in 1867.

Reference: Volume 1, page 58

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BOYLAN, JAMES THOMAS (1818-1911) was born in England, where he married in 1846. Three years later he came to Auckland and established himself in business as a hardware merchant. Boylan represented the City in the Provincial Council (1853-61) and Auckland West (1870-75), and he was a member of the executive in 1854-55 and 1856-57. He was chairman of the harbour board, a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank and a commissioner for the building of the Auckland public hospital. He died on 6 Jul 1911.

Auckland P.C. Proc; N.Z. Herald, 7 Jul 1911.

Reference: Volume 1, page 58

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BOYS, JOHN COWELL (1824-89) was born in Sussex and brought up in the village of Betshanger. At the age of 17 he was appointed a cadet on the survey staff of the New Zealand Company and came in the Will Watch to Nelson where he spent three years in exploring and surveys. He returned to England in 1845, completed his professional qualifications and again came to New Zealand in 1849. He was engaged for some time under Captain Thomas in the triangulation of the district between the Waimakariri and the Waipara and afterwards under Cass on road sectional survey in Canterbury. In 1853 he joined Colonel Campbell's staff to adjust the French claims on Banks Peninsula. He married and settled on his property, Betshanger, near Rangiora. Owing to ill-health he gave up field work as district surveyor and was inspector of surveys until the abolition of the provinces. Boys was a noted breeder of Romney sheep, and a keen advocate of acclimatisation (in which interest he paid an extended visit to the Australian colonies). He advised the introduction of the soft-billed hedge sparrow to combat the caterpillar in Canterbury. He was for many years a member of the waste lands board and the hospital and charitable aid board and chairman of the Rangiora and Mandeville road board. He died on 13 Jun 1889.

N.Z.C.; Acland; Cycl. N.Z., ii; Lyttelton Times, 14 Jun 1889.

Reference: Volume 1, page 58

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BRACKEN, THOMAS (1843-98) was born at Clones, county Monaghan, Ireland, on 21 Dec 1843. His parents were Protestants. His mother died a few days after his birth, and the death of his father left him an orphan at the age of 9.

About 1855 he was sent to Melbourne to the care of an uncle, John Kernan, J.P., an enterprising farmer of Merri, Moonee Ponds. He worked on the farm for a year and was then apprenticed to Hugh Boyd, a chemist in Bendigo. After staying there for eighteen months, he went up country and got employment on the station of Winter brothers at Colbinabbin. Tall, well-built and of a bright disposition, Bracken got on well with his mates, took aptly to the rough occupation, and was soon a good horseman and an efficient shearing hand. Already he showed a facility in making verse, and it is believed that many of the poems which were first published in Behind the Tomb and other Poems (1871) were written at Colbinabbin.

At the age of 26 Bracken came to New Zealand, landing at Dunedin in 1869. In his first book of verse is a poem dated at Dunedin on 7 Feb 1869. He was employed for a year or two on the Otago Guardian and, becoming acquainted with John Bathgate (q.v.), they co-operated in establishing the Saturday Advertiser, the first issue of which appeared on 17 Jul 1875. The Advertiser was a very popular paper and speedily attained a circulation of 6,000 copies a week. It was printed by Coulls and Culling, and Bathgate was the business manager. Bracken besides controlling the paper and writing most of the leading articles, contributed columns of original matter (both prose and verse) to every issue. He used the nom de plume 'Paddy Murphy' for his column. Some of these letters were dated from 'Lambton Quay' and some (in 1883) from Samoa, where Bracken appears to have gone on a visit with J. Lundon (q.v.). His best known poem, Not Understood, first appeared in the Advertiser on 2 Aug 1879, and God Defend New Zealand on 26 Oct 1878. Bracken did notable and unselfish service for New Zealand literature in throwing his columns open to writers of prose and verse, novelists and essayists. In 1879 the imprint of the paper was 'Mackay Bracken and Co.,' and about this time the Advertiser was issued as the weekly edition of the Morning Herald. In 1880 the title was changed to New Zealand Public Opinion, Sportsman, and Saturday Advertiser. A year later Mackay, Bracken and Co. ceased to be publishers, but Bracken was still associated with the literary side of the paper.

Bracken's incursion into politics was characteristic. He came forward at the general election of 1879 as an out-and-out Liberal of Grey's school. Parliament having been dissolved on 15 Aug, he announced himself (in the Advertiser of the 30th) as a candidate for the City of Dunedin. In a long manifesto he declared himself a supporter of the policy of Grey. 'Although "but young in politics and incompetent at present to enter into the details of political economy or the technicalities of finance, I flatter myself that, to quote Shakespeare, "I know a hawk from a handsaw," or, in other words, I am always able to distinguish justice from injustice and right from wrong.' Bracken placed the land question in the forefront, appealing for the subdivision of large estates and the creation of 'a thrifty and hardy yeomanry of the soil.' On the question of education he declared himself unequivocally, 'so that no charge of wavering or trimming may hereafter be brought against me. To me it seems clear enough that in a country like this where, thank Heaven, we have no state religion, dogmatic teaching should not be introduced into our public schools. Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, freethinker and pagan are all equal in the sight of the law, and whilst we cherish the inestimable blessing of civil and religious liberty it would be manifestly unfair to introduce any particular form of belief into our state schools. Therefore I am opposed to Bible reading, with or without comment, by our state teachers. On the other hand, I should be glad to see a scriptural textbook, containing the literary gems of the Bible, introduced into our state schools. The beauties of Job, Isaiah and David, and some of the grandest passages in the New Testament might be introduced into such a reading book. I consider the outcry against secular education raised by the Roman Catholics is unwise in the extreme, and I should, from the bottom of my very soul, desire to see the narrow sectarian partitions which divide people in the old lands removed at least from our schools so that our children might grow up a united people. But the Roman Catholics all over the world, rightly or wrongly, are determined to make any sacrifices rather than allow their children to be educated in what they are pleased to miscall "godless schools"; and the question then arises, would it not be better to give their educational institutions some encouragement than to perpetuate what they consider to be a grievance . . . Looking at the question from a point of expediency alone, I think that such a consummation as the removal of this (to Catholics) grievance would be cheaply purchased by some concession to the religious scruples of such a large and united minority of our fellow-colonists.' Bracken supported manhood suffrage and triennial parliaments. In conclusion he said: 'I do not intend to seek the assistance of any clique or committee in this contest. Nor shall I engage a hall, nor a cab, nor a canvasser to work for me. I consider the tactics employed at election time degrading and contemptible, and if elected I will willingly support any measure having for its object the suppression of the touting and button-holing and bribery which obtain to such an extent at these contests.' The poll (on 4 Sep) resulted: T. Dick 1,140, R. Oliver 1,044, W. D. Stewart, 989, J. Macassey 744, C. S. Reeves 676, T. Bracken 477. The Advertiser recorded Bracken's disappointment ('If men did not vote without being forced or dragged to the poll they did not deserve the franchise') and some resentment at the small support he received from the Catholics who, he declared, had recorded their votes for Macassey.

At the next election (1881) he stood for Dunedin Central (now a single-member electorate). There was now a definite labour sentiment evident in politics and it was due to the persuasion of the Dunedin Trades and Labour Council that Bracken came forward. Of the five candidates nominated two were men of prominence in Otago, E. B. Cargill and H. Bastings. In proposing Bracken, T. W. Kempthorne said that there was no more unselfish man in the province, a hard worker and a man of the people. Bracken, in his hustings speech, strongly advocated land nationalisation and was the only candidate who declared for protecting native industries. Bracken topped the poll with 340 votes (Cargill 320 votes, and Bastings 263). He owed his election largely to the votes of tradesmen and labourers. In Parliament Bracken severely criticised the policy of the Government against the Maori at Parihaka, contending that Te Whiti and Tohu should have been tried like any other offenders. On the education question he voted for Pyke's bill and against the attempt to introduce Bible-reading in schools, contending that the people should be allowed to educate their children as they liked, so long as they conformed to the requirements of the state. He voted to reduce the salary of the governor from £7,500 to £5,000 on the ground that a colony so deeply in debt as New Zealand should not pay more than New South Wales did. At the general election of 1884 Bracken was defeated by Bradshaw (q.v.) by the narrow margin of 499 to 496. Although Bradshaw had been an advocate and inspirer of social reforms for many years, the Trades Council considered that Bracken's conduct in Parliament had been consistently proper and that it would be ungenerous not to support him. The Constitutional Reform Association also decided to support him.

During the campaign Bracken resigned the editorship of the Evening Herald on account of its attack on Stout (Jul 1884). Having lost his seat also, he went to Wellington to seek employment, receiving a flattering farewell from the citizens of Dunedin (20 Aug). Early in 1885, in company with Bathgate and Melland, he purchased the Evening Herald (Dunedin), the issue of 3 Feb bearing the imprint 'Thomas Bracken and Company Ltd.' Bracken carried on his column 'The Humorist' under his own name, and continued to encourage local writers. On the death of Bradshaw (1 Sep 1886) he was again requisitioned to stand, W. Hutchison offering to retire in his favour. Eventually both went to the poll, which resulted: Bracken 501, Hutchison 255, C. R. Chapman 80, W. Darling 3. A dissolution occurred in Jul 1887. Bracken did not offer himself for re-election. His affairs were not flourishing, and in Sep 1890 the Evening Herald was sold and closed down, making way for a new Liberal paper, The Globe.

Bracken now turned his attention to publishing, and in 1890 brought out his most pretentious volume, Musings in Maoriland, with a preface by Sir George Grey. A considerable edition de luxe was printed in Leipzig and the person who financed it had no success in selling copies in Australia. At length he persuaded Bracken, much against his will, to visit Australia to make a personal canvass. He is said to have sold 700 copies, but there is evidence that he was in financial difficulties either on this or on a subsequent lecturing tour. During this tour he wrote God's Own Country (which first appeared in the Yea Chronicle and the New Zealand Herald, and which he considered his best poem up to that time). He had been lecturing without success and was staying with P. Galvin (q.v.), who was running the Yea Chronicle. Galvin offered to do the printing for a lecture which he was to deliver on 6 Apr 1892, the subject being 'A night with Samuel Lever.' It was another failure. Shortly afterwards Galvin had a letter asking for assistance. Bracken was unable to pay his way and had even been forced to part with his dress suit. The Premier (Seddon) offered him a post in the land and income tax department, but close clerical work did not suit his temperament. In May 1894 he was appointed a bill-reader, and he held that position till late in 1895. Many members favoured his being appointed sergeant-at-arms in the House of Representatives on the death of Colonel de Quincey (Jul 1894). He died on 16 Feb 1898.

Bracken's career was at one time full of promise. He was a staunch Liberal with a genuine sympathy for the oppressed. He was a freemason for many years and a pastmaster of the Celtic Lodge (S.C.). Though born a Protestant, he was pre-eminently an Irishman and had a good deal in common with his fellow-countrymen in New Zealand and with the Roman Catholics. When Bishop Moran was establishing the Tablet in 1874, R. A. Loughnan (q.v.), one of the provisional directors, suggested employing Bracken to canvass for shares. He had great success and the paper was started forthwith. Bracken came more closely in touch with Catholics on the question of education and he became a Catholic in 1896 and died in that faith. In 1887 he moved a resolution in the House of Representatives in favour of home rule for Ireland.

Bracken's publications are: 1871, Behind the Tomb and other Poems; 1876, Pulpit Lectures; 1877, Flowers of the Freeland; 1879, The New Zealand Tourist (containing N.Z. Anthem); 1880, Paddy Murphy's Budget; 1884, Lays of the Land of the Maori and Moa; 1886, Paddy Murphy's Annual (a record of political and social events); 1887, A Sheaf from the Sanctum; 1890, Musings in Maoriland; 1892, Dear Old Bendigo and The Triumph of Woman's Rights; 1893, Lays and Lyrics; 1896, Tom Bracken's Annual (i); 1897, Tom Bracken's Annual (ii); 1905, Not Understood and Other Poems (many later editions, the 8th in 1928).

Personal information from P. Galvin, T. L. Buick, Sir R. Stout; Bracken, op. cit.; Innes, Canterbury Sketches; N.Z.P.D., 1881-84, 1886-87; G. W. Otterson, Memoirs of Thomas Bracken, 1929; Scholefield, Union Catalogue; and notes towards a bibliography of Thomas Bracken: Hocken; Saturday Advertiser Aug-Sep 1879, 20 Dec 1879; N.Z. Herald, 19 Feb 1898; Evening Post, 6 Apr 1931; N.Z. Tablet, 11 Mar 1898; J. Cowan in Otago Daily Times, 4 May 1926; R. Irwin, ib. Aug 1930; Otago Daily Times, 8 Dec 1882, 14, 20 Aug 1884, 18 Nov 1893; Evening Star, 17, 21 Feb 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 59

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BRADEY, FREDERICK (1833-1911) was born at Greenwich. His father, Francis Bradey (1793-1864), was a grandson of a former chancellor of Ireland, served in the Royal Artillery, 1812-19, and was in business in Southwark for 20 years. He selected land under the New Zealand Company in London in 1839, brought his family to New Zealand in the Adelaide (1840) and took up land at Pauatahanui. Bradey was one of the survivors of the boat accident at Petone on 25 Aug 1840. He died on 29 Oct 1864. Frederick went to England with his father in 1841, but returned to New Zealand and remained here all his life except for two years on the Australian goldfields (1852-53). He took up a property of 2,000 acres at Pauatahanui in 1855 and greatly improved it in subsequent years. In 1872 he was a lieutenant in the rifle volunteers, of which he was in command when they were disbanded some years later. He was a justice of the peace (1882) and a vice-president of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral association, chairman of the Hutt county council (1898-99), and of the Wellington education board and a member of the Wellington harbour board (1896-1908), the benevolent trustees, the hospital and charitable aid board, the Technical College board, the Anglican diocesan synod and many other bodies. Bradey married (1855) Agnes, daughter of Richard Stuart. He died on 8 Aug 1911.

Career of F. Bradey (1906, p); Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; N.Z. Times, 9 Aug 1911; N.Z. Spectator, 15 Jun 1853.

Reference: Volume 1, page 59

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BRADNEY, JOHN HENRY (1853-1936) was born in Staffordshire and came to Auckland with his parents at the age of six. At 11 he commenced work on a farm and eventually took to the sea and was engaged in coastal trading, bushfelling at Coromandel and goldmining at Thames. He was for some years a waterman at Auckland, plying rowboats between the city and North Shore. After serving in the steamer Lily in the Kaipara service and in larger ships in overseas trade he was again a waterman in the service of the harbour board. In 1884, with his brother-in-law (E. C. Binns), he founded a firm of steamboat proprietors (afterwards J. H. Bradney and Sons). Bradney was for nine years (1907-15, 1922-23) on the Auckland harbour board; was a member of the Mount Albert borough council and represented Auckland West in Parliament (1911-14). Fond of music, he was for half a century a member of the Auckland Choral Society. He died on 25 May 1936.

NZ Herald, 27 May 1936.

Reference: Volume 1, page 60

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BRADSHAW, JAMES BENN BRADSHAIGH (1831-86), one of New Zealand's earliest labour reformers, was the son of General Joseph Bradshaw, H.E.I.C.S., and was born at Barton Blount, Lancashire. He was educated at Haileybury for the service of the East India Company, but a few months in India showed that his health would be unequal to the climate and he resigned and travelled widely in South America, in the islands of the Indian Ocean and in South Africa. He was a fine shot and horseman, a clever swordsman and a good all-round athlete. When the Kaffir war broke out in 1850 he received (through his friend Sir Harry Smith) first a post as agent for the War Office and then a commission in the field. He served until Sir Harry's recall in 1852 and then went to Isle of France and in 1855 to Victoria, attracted by the goldfields.

Bradshaw studied auriferous drifts scientifically and was early impressed with the future of quartz mining. He followed each new rush and had considerable fortune, especially at Eaglehawk and New Bendigo. At Castlemaine he opened an assay office which he eventually sold to the Union Bank, of which he became the local agent. At this time he took a great interest in the Otago fields and proposed to the Superintendent (Richardson) opening a government assay office which would raise the price of gold to the miners. This project he afterwards pressed without success upon Macandrew, Vogel and Moorhouse. Coming to Otago about 1864, he brought 3,000 oz of gold from the fields to Waikouaiti for shipment to Dunedin before the escort was established. Bradshaw followed the rush to Queenstown and settled there as editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail (1863-64). He stoutly advocated liberal land laws, including the cancellation of pastoral leases to make way for agricultural leases; higher prices for gold, with the reduction of duty and the abolition of all special taxes. In 1864 he contested the Provincial Council seat (against Mouat) without success; but early in 1866 he defeated Main and Manders for the Goldfields seat in Parliament. On 17 Apr 1867, owing to his outstanding knowledge of mining matters, the general government delegated to Bradshaw the special powers over goldfields which were normally exercised by the Superintendent (see MACANDREW). There was strong feeling in the province, and many demonstrations against the general government until the powers were transferred to the Otago executive (Dec 1870). In 1870 Bradshaw married Harriette Clementina, daughter of Capt. R. N. Bolton, 84th Regiment (of county Meath).

On the opening of the Thames fields Bradshaw made useful reports to the government on quartz-mining and he remained at Thames for some time engaged as a sharebroker, which business he continued after his return to Dunedin. From his close friendship with Richardson, he was inspired by information and advice to persevere in projects of labour reform. In 1870 he won the Waikaia parliamentary seat, and during that Parliament he obtained the passage of his employment of females act (1873) which restricted to eight hours a day the hours of labour for women. Next year he advised some amendments of the factory act, and in 1875 he got it enacted that no child under ten years of age should work in a factory and no boy or girl between 10 and 14 should work for more than four hours a day. He assisted materially in the achievement of the Saturday half-holiday.

In 1871 Bradshaw was elected to the Otago Provincial Council for Mount Benger, and he at once joined Reid's executive, of which he was a member until Reid joined the Stafford ministry (Sep 1872). Being wrongly held responsible for the Moa Flat sale, Bradshaw lost his seat at the elections in 1873. Standing for Wakatipu at the next parliamentary elections (1876) he was defeated by Manders, largely on account of his views on secular education. Though now out of Parliament, he continued his advocacy of liberal legislation, and as a member of the Otago waste lands board from 1878 he fought strenuously against dummying and received the warm thanks of a great labour meeting in Dunedin (1884). A few months later he was elected for Dunedin Central, defeating the sitting member (Bracken, q.v.). He died on 1 Sep 1886, leaving a widow and young family. His great humanitarian services were recognised by labour organisations throughout the colony. Bradshaw played cricket against the first All England team both in Victoria and in New Zealand.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Paul, Trades Unionism; Otago Daily Times, 2 Sep 1886; Otago Witness, 24 Dec 1886; Mt. Ida Chronicle, 23 Jan 1874. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 60

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BRAME, WILLIAM RAWSON (1833-63) was the son of a Baptist minister and was preparing for the church when his health failed and he entered upon his apprenticeship to a publisher in Birmingham. For a short time he edited the Mercury there, and then settled in Brussels as foreign correspondent of several English newspapers. He had published one novel, The Last of the Czars, and was engaged on another (Excelsior) when he conceived the idea of a Nonconformist settlement in New Zealand. Being a persuasive speaker, he had considerable success and took advantage of the prevailing sentiment on the occasion of the bi-centenary of the expulsion of Nonconformists from the Church of England to promote the Albertland Christian Colonisation movement. He was appointed honorary secretary and general manager and obtained from the Auckland provincial government the agency for colonists' land orders (of which he proposed to dispose of 4,000). Land was acquired at Oruawharo in Albertland (which was named after the Prince Consort). The colonists sailed between May 1862 and Oct 1863. They encountered unexpected difficulties in getting settled on their farms and friction occurred with Brame in respect to the township sections, which he claimed he had the right to dispose of. He paid only two short visits to Albertland, his death occurring in Auckland on 21 Mar 1863.

Auckland P.C. Proc; Brett, Albertlanders (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 60

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BRANDON, ALFRED DE BATHE (1809-86) was born in London, educated for the law and had practised for some time, when, at the age of thirty years, he took his passage for New Zealand in the London (700 tons) (Aug 1840). Mrs Brandon died shortly after their arrival, and he married again (1854) Miss Poole. Brandon commenced practice at Brandon's corner, almost opposite the present Government Buildings. For many years he was crown prosecutor. In 1863 he took in as partner J. S. Moore (q.v.), who soon withdrew to accept a seat on the Supreme Court bench. In 1870 he took in W. H. Quick, and they practised together until 1875, when A. de B. Brandon, junior (q.v.) joined the firm.

Brandon was a member of the Settlers' Constitutional Association. Shortly after the provincial councils were set up he was appointed provincial solicitor, and with short intermissions he held this office throughout the long superintendency of Featherston. Wakefield's opposition to Featherston developed into a feud, and for some years the affairs of the province were held up by opposition in the Council. The Council supported Wakefield, who insisted in the name of responsible government that an executive of his nomination should take office as the Superintendent's advisers. For a short space Brandon and his colleagues stood down and Wakefield's colleagues were nominally in charge. A dissolution and a general election brought Featherston back to power with a majority, and thenceforward politics moved more smoothly.

Brandon was a member of the Provincial Council throughout the whole period of its existence - 1853-76. He sat part of the time for the Wellington Country constituency and for the remainder as the representative of Porirua. The same constituencies sent him to the House of Representatives from 1858 until he sought retirement in 1881. Two years later he was called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat until his death on 22 Sep 1886. Few public men were so continuously acceptable in politics. He was a staunch provincialist and in the colonial sphere an opponent of Stafford. He supported whole-heartedly Weld's self-reliant policy and thereafter gave his adherence to Fox until 1870, when the Vogel policy drove him into a critical opposition. He voted against the government in 1872.

Apart from politics Brandon took a great interest in education. He was the first chairman of the board of governors of Wellington College. In business life he was intimately connected with substantial companies and was for years a director of the Colonial Insurance Co. and the Australian Mutual Provident Society. He was president of the Wellington Club and of the Wellington Law Society.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Ward (p); N.Z. Times, 23 Sep 1886; Evening Post, 11 Sep 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BRANDON, ALFRED DE BATHE (1854-1938), the son of A. de B. Brandon (q.v.) was born at Wellington, and educated at Wellington College (where he entered on the opening day, 1872) and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (B.A., 1877). Called to the bar at the Middle Temple, he joined his father's practice and was, like him, president of the Wellington Law Society. Brandon was a member of the Wellington City Council (1886-91) and mayor (1893), was a member of the chamber of commerce from 1892 (councillor 1894-1900, 1903-06; president 1895, 1897 and 1898; life member 1928). He was a foundation member of the Wellington Automobile Club in 1905 (president 1907-12; and life member). He was a director of the Gear Meat Co. and of the Australian Mutual Provident Society from 1888 (chairman 1918-34). Brandon married (1879) Louisa, daughter of Thomas Kebbell. He died on 30 Jul 1938.

Ward; Cycl. NZ, i (p); The Dominion, 1 Aug 1938.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BRANIGAN, ST JOHN (1824-73) was born in King's County, Ireland. He joined the 45th regiment, resigning in Cape Colony to join the police, in which he made rapid progress and became an inspector. He was rewarded for gallantry in frontier duty against Kafirs (in which he was wounded). In 1854 he went to Victoria and after running a small schooner without success he accepted a cadetship in the police and rose to sub-inspector. In 1861 he brought a detachment of 20 mounted police from Victoria and organised the Otago force and the goldfields escorts. He became commissioner (1863) and resigned in 1869 to organise the Armed Constabulary on service against Te Kooti. Ill-health compelled him to retire in 1870 and he died on 10 Sep 1873. Branigan was the originator and organiser of the Otago industrial school.

App. H.R., 1870, D.7; Gilkison; Hocken, Otago; Larkworthy; Otago Daily Times, 23 Oct 1869, 16 Sep 1873; Otago Guardian, 11 Sep 1873.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BRASSEY, WILLOUGHBY (1818-1904) as a young man served in the British navy. Retiring in 1839, he entered the service of the East India Company and was present at the operations in Scinde, Afghanistan and against the Southern Mahrattas. He was acting field engineer at the sieges of Panalla, Powenghur, Managhur, Mansingtosh and Samunghur; was five years adjutant of his regiment and retired on half-pay with the rank of captain. Brassey being in New Zealand in 1865, the Government commissioned him as a major in the Taranaki Military Settlers, and he was sent with a force of 400 to garrison Pipiriki against a Hauhau invasion by the river route. The enemy by a surprise movement took possession of high ground overlooking the position and was only driven out by a resolute assault under Lieutenant Cleary. Some time later a relieving force arrived from Wanganui. Brassey was next sent to Opotiki (Sep 1865) and shortly afterwards retired from the force. He died at Christchurch on 29 Jan 1904.

Cowan ii; Gudgeon (p); Lyttelton Times.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BRAY, WILLIAM BAYLEY (1812-85) was born in London, the son of a wine merchant and educated as a civil engineer partly there and partly in Germany. (Assoc. I.C.E., 1836.) He was engaged on railway construction abroad and carried out important work for Robert Stephenson in Egypt in face of considerable official obstacles. In 1845 he was constructing a railway in Tuscany, Italy.

In 1851 Bray landed in Canterbury with his family. Believing that his professional life was at an end, he took up 500 acres of land at Avonhead, and (with Joseph Hill) the Bray Down run of 10,000 acres, in the forks of the Hawkins and Selwyn rivers. Bray was in the Provincial Council for Christchurch Country (1855-56) and in the first session was appointed chairman of a committee to report on the completion of the Port road. This brought him back to his profession. He took the levels in the Heathcote valley and ascertained the point at which the railway tunnel should enter the hills, and then proceeded to London, explained the project to the railway commissioners and obtained a contract at £235,000. In 1862 he reported on wharves for Lyttelton harbour, where the berthage was very exposed; and in the following year was chairman of the wharfage commission. Their report was strengthened by the opinion of Stephenson, the result of which was the breakwater at Officers point and the Gladstone pier. Bray constantly warned the people of Christchurch against an inundation of the town by the Waimakariri floods (which was fulfilled in 1868). He was a deeply religious man and a strong churchman. He died on 26 May 1885.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Acland; Lyttelton Times, 27 May 1885.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BREE, EDWARD NUGENT (1803-83) was the son of the Rev. Robert-Francis Bree, of Sydenham, England. He was curate of East Dereham, Norfolk, to 1848, and rector of All Saints, Hereford (1851-59). In the early sixties Bree came to New Zealand, and in 1864 was vicar of Whangarei. Thereafter he lived in Auckland as vicar of All Saints for a short time and then for sixteen years as vicar of St. Matthews. He was a strong evangelical and freely associated with the clergy of other denominations at church meetings. He took a great interest in social movements. In the time of the depression of the sixties he proposed a scheme of poor law relief for destitute persons, combining the principles of equal distribution of the burden and benefits and the labour test for able-bodied recipients. Another interesting social plan he outlined in 1881. Bree was president of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1864 he was a highway trustee for the Whangarei district. He died on 6 Jun 1883.

Ruvigny, Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, 1911; Southern Cross, 26 Jul 1866, 28 Oct 1873; N.Z. Herald, 9 Jan 1868, 18 Feb 1881, 7 Jun 1883, 8 Nov 1926; Auckland Star, 7 Jun 1883.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BREES, SAMUEL CHARLES (1810-65) was practising as an engineer and surveyor in Gray's Inn, London, when he was appointed in 1841 to succeed W. M. Smith (q.v.) as principal surveyor to the New Zealand Company for a period of three years. He came to New Zealand in the Brougham, arriving on 9 Feb 1842. In 1843, with Taringakuri (q.v.), Brees laid out the route from Wellington to the Wairarapa. He made some of the best known maps of Wellington, including one of the town in 1843 and a map of the reserves in 1844. He is, however, best known for his sketches of New Zealand scenery, many of which were published in 1847 in a large portfolio entitled Pictorial New Zealand, with introduction and descriptive matter by Brees. He left New Zealand with great reluctance on the conclusion of his contract, regretting that the colony had not been better understood and treated in its earlier years. He resumed the practice of his profession in London, this time at Lincoln's Inn, and lived later at Croydon and at Brighton. He died at sea on 5 May 1865.

N.Z.C., Reports; Ward; E. J. Wakefield; Brees, op. cit.; Brighton Guardian, 28 Nov 1849.

Reference: Volume 1, page 61

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BRETT, DE RENZIE JAMES (1809-89) was the son of a barrister at Wexford, Ireland. He was educated at Portora, county Fermanagh, under Dr (afterwards Bishop) Knox, and in 1825 received his ensigncy in the 31st Madras Light Infantry, in which he served 24 years (nine as adjutant and some time as fort adjutant at Bellary).

Brett had a most gallant record of service. In the Coorg campaign (1834) he distinguished himself in rearguard actions; in saving the regimental treasure when the transport bullocks had been killed; at the capture of the stockade of Cassinhully and in command of the assaulting party at the storming of the Bakh stockade (when six out of eight officers were killed). This action, which is described in Warren's History of India, was referred to by King William IV in a speech to Parliament. Brett also assisted in the capture of the Rajah of Coorg, and received his company in recognition. Returning to Ireland on a visit, he was promoted major in 1853 and served in the second Burma campaign as a volunteer, second in command of the 35th Madras Light Infantry. He captured a post far in advance of the expedition on the Irrawaddy river, commanded the flank companies at the capture of Prome and the wing in the advance from that position. When the Crimean war broke out Brett's services were requisitioned by the War Office and he was appointed (with the rank of brigadier) to command four regiments of Osmanli cavalry in the service of the Sultan of Turkey. He went to Syria and Albania and raised new formations in an incredibly short time, landing them at the Dardanelles without loss of man or horse. He commanded the Osmanli cavalry regiments throughout the campaign in the Balkans to Shumla, his services being recognised by the dignity of 'leva pasha' (with the rank of major-general) and the third-class of the Medjidieh.

Brett had no sooner reached England (to give evidence in a courtmartial) than he was summoned to India on the outbreak of the mutiny. Joining the flying column at Kurnool, he was appointed to Whitlock's personal staff until the arrival of his own regiment (the 108th Foot) and the 3rd Madras Europeans, which he led in the relief of Delhi and Lucknow and the capture of the Nabob. Whitlock's column pressed on to Kirwee, where treasure to the value of three-quarters of a million was captured and sent to Allahabad. Brett was president of the Banda and Kirwee prize court. He then, with a regiment of irregular cavalry, two guns and two companies of Europeans mounted on camels and elephants, operated for two months in pursuit of Tantia Topi (1858). Returning to England after the mutiny to look after the claims of his superior officers Brett retired on full pay with £5,000 of prize money (1863). In 1865 he arrived in Lyttelton by the Greyhound and at once took up a property in the Courtenay district, which he named Kirwee. He was a fine settler, adopting the best methods of farming and taking a prominent part in local affairs. In 1870 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Selwyn. Having already promoted some experiments in irrigation, he brought in resolutions calling upon the executive to inaugurate a system of water races for the light lands of Canterbury, especially in Courtenay, Malvern and Hororata (Aug 1871). Eventually £10,000 was voted (Dec 1872), and from this beginning irrigation was rapidly extended over a great part of northern Canterbury, with benefits so obvious that in 1887 the farmers of the district combined to make a presentation to Brett in recognition of his services. He was also largely responsible for the opening of a school in the district. Brett was called to the Legislative Council in 1871 and attended to his duties with soldierly regularity throughout his life. In the Provincial Council (1870-74) and in the General Assembly he consistently urged the need for strengthening the defences of the colony and he personally supported the volunteer system. At the time of the Russian scare he was expected to command the Canterbury Irish Rifles, but there was a prior claim on his services for the honorary reserve corps, which he had assisted to establish and of which he was commandant at his death. He was the first president of the local Agricultural and Pastoral association.

Brett moved into Christchurch a few years before his death, which took place on 16 Jun 1889. He married in 1845 Harriet Baker, daughter of Colonel Harris, of the 24th Foot.

Parltry Record; Canterbury P.C. Proc., 1870-74 (notably 1 Aug 1870, 4 Dec 1872); N.Z.P.D.; Col. Gent.; The Press, 17 Jan 1889, 27 Jan 1930 (p); Lyttelton Times, 17 Jun 1889.

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 62

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BRETT, SIR HENRY (1842-1927) was born at St Leonards, Sussex, and brought up to the printing trade with his uncle, who owned the Hastings and St Leonards Gazette and was a well-known stationer and local historian. At the age of 19 Brett became interested in the Albertland proposal, bought a section of 40 acres from the Auckland Provincial Government and received a promise of three days' work per week in the office of the settlement newspaper and the other days for his farm work. He sailed in the Hanover.

On arriving at Auckland (on 17 Sep 1862) he was offered by one of the owners of the Southern Cross a position on that paper as a reporter at £1 per day. He accepted, and soon became known as a most efficient shipping reporter. An amateur oarsman in England (where he was pair-oar champion of the South Coast), he now became an expert boatman, meeting the English ships as they arrived far down the channel and gaining many 'scoops' in advance of his competitors. Moving in 1865 to the New Zealand Herald, he enhanced his reputation there. In 1870 Brett became part owner of the Evening Star, which had just been established by Farrar and G. M. Reed (q.v.). He developed his news-getting methods by the use of pigeons and transmitting by this means photographs of political speeches which had appeared in the Thames newspapers. For some years he represented the news agency of Holt and McCarthy. By the retirement of Reed in 1876 he became sole proprietor of the Star, which made steady progress. In 1884 he moved from Wyndham street to new offices in Shortland street. In 1920 the paper was floated into a public company, of which Brett continued to be managing director until his death. He was associated with many other newspaper organisations, being a director of the Press Association for 39 years (and many years chairman), and an original member (and eventually a life member) of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association. He attended the first Empire Press Conference in 1909.

Brett introduced photo-engraving and from 1890 published the New Zealand Graphic, an illustrated weekly, and the New Zealand Farmer (monthly). For many years (from 1873) he published Brett's Auckland Almanac, the Colonists' Guide, the Gardening Guide, and the South Pacific Pilot. Of his historical works the most important was Early New Zealand (by Sherrin and Wallace) published in 1887. He published also Defenders of New Zealand, by T. W. Gudgeon (1890), White Wings (vol. i, 1924; vol. ii, 1928) and (with Henry Hook) The Albertlanders (1927), which was based on a diary kept by him during the voyage to New Zealand.

Brett took a limited part in public life. In 1874 he was a member of the Parnell highway board and he was later on the domain board, the Auckland harbour board, the city improvement commissioners and the City Council (1877-78). In 1878 he was mayor of Auckland. He was a governor of the Grammar School and University College and was associated with the Mechanics' Institute. A Liberal in politics and a supporter of the Ballance and Seddon administrations, he declined a seat in the Legislative Council (1899) and twice declined a knighthood, which eventually he accepted in 1926. He was a commissioner for the Paris Exhibition, for the International Exhibition at Christchurch (1906-07) and for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York (1901).

Brett made generous gifts to Auckland University College and the Auckland Art Gallery (1904). Keenly interested in music, he was a chorister of St Leonard's Church in England and thereafter for 72 years continuously sang in church choirs, including those of St Matthew's, St Paul's and St Peter's, Auckland. He was choirmaster of St Peter's and presented organs to that church, to the town hall in Auckland and to the Blind Institute, besides making many gifts of music to various societies. He was president for some years of the Auckland Orchestral Society (which he took to the exhibition at Christchurch) and of the Choral Society and the Bohemian Orchestra; and was a life patron of the Royal Auckland Choir. He was fond of gardening, was president of the Auckland Horticultural Society and in 1910 won a gold medal of the Royal Horticultural Society. He held few directorships except that of the Auckland Savings Bank and the Kauri Timber Co. Brett was a member of the Cinque Ports artillery volunteers, and on coming to Auckland joined the Rutland Rifles, with which he did duty during the Maori war.

He married (1864) Mary, daughter of James Moon (Westfield, Sussex). He died on 29 Jan 1927.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Brett, op. cit.; The Albertlanders (p); The Star (Auckland), 31 Jan 1927.

Reference: Volume 1, page 62

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BREWER, CHARLES BABINGTON (1816-68) was a son of T. G. Brewer, a London barrister, and brother-in-law of H. S. Chapman (q.v.). He was a barrister of the Middle Temple (1838) and was appointed crown prosecutor at Melbourne (1839). Arriving at Bay of Islands in Feb 1840, he attended a meeting of white settlers to consider the formation of a joint stock banking company and he was a member of the provisional committee. In Apr he attended a meeting in Sydney of people interested in New Zealand. A few months later he attended a meeting of land claimants at Coromandel and acted as their agent in Sydney. After the separation of New Zealand from New South Wales Brewer was appointed clerk of the peace at Auckland and registrar of the court of requests (3 Aug 1841). He was one of the commissioners appointed by the governor to inquire into the affray at Wairau (1843) and he was appointed a county court judge at Nelson and shortly afterwards a commissioner of the court of requests for the Southern division (Dec 1844). During FitzRoy's governorship Brewer went to Tasmania and then to New South Wales. In 1862 he was appointed a county court judge and he served in that capacity and as mining judge at Geelong, Portland, Colac, Sale and Beechworth. He died on 14 Jan 1868. An elder brother, WILLIAM VINCENT Brewer, who was also a barrister, arrived in New Zealand at the same time and acted with him as agents for the New Zealand Association in respect to land claims. He was shot in a duel with another lawyer (Ross) at Wellington on 26 Feb 1844.

Crown Law Office, Melbourne; Ward; Sherrin and Wallace; N.Z. Journal, 28 Sep 1844.

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BRIDGE, CHARLES JOSEPH (?-1876) was on the Liverpool stock exchange before coming to New Zealand. In 1854 he bought the Homebrook station in Canterbury, and by 1865 had a fine freehold property of 1,400 acres upon which the town of Southbridge was laid out. Bridge was on the Canterbury Provincial Executive for a few months in 1859. He died in 1876.

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BRITTAN, JOSEPH (1805-67), who was a brother of W. G. Brittan (q.v.), came to New Zealand in the William Hyde (1852) and settled in Christchurch. A practised writer, he was the first editor (1854) and for some time proprietor of the Canterbury Standard. He was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council for Christchurch City in 1855 and represented it till 1857 and again 1861-62. He was leader of the executive in 1855 and provincial secretary under Tancred (1855-57). Brittan was a fine, fluent speaker, an unequalled debater and an attentive and competent administrator. In 1857 he contested the superintendency against Moorhouse. He then withdrew from politics for a year or two and strongly opposed Moorhouse's railway policy in 1859. In 1861 he was again in the Council (representing Christchurch to Sep 1862, when he resigned). In 1863 he succeeded Hall as resident magistrate for Christchurch and Kaiapoi, but he resigned owing to ill-health in 1864. He died on 27 Oct 1867.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cox, Men of Mark; Lyttelton Times, 28 Oct 1867.

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BRITTAN, WILLIAM GUISE (1809-76) was born at Gloucester on 3 Dec 1809 and educated at the Plymouth Grammar School, where he was head of the school. He studied medicine and surgery, and made two or three voyages to India and China as surgeon of the Indiaman General Palmer. He lived for some time near Staines, and married Louisa Chandler, of London. In 1841 he moved to Castleton, Sherborne, Dorsetshire, and became editor and part-proprietor of the Sherborne Mercury, a Conservative paper.

The Mercury received advertisements from the New Zealand Company, and Brittan became interested in Canterbury. He was one of the first to enrol as a colonist and was in the chair at the historic meeting at the Adelphi rooms on 24 Apr 1850 when the Society of Canterbury Colonists was formed. He was on the committee of management, and as chairman was the medium of communication between the colonists and the Canterbury Association. Brittan in May pledged himself to fill with emigrants a ship of the largest size. He was constantly to the fore in the deliberations of the colonists and he was warmly thanked for his untiring exertions. Wakefield drafted a letter to Godley suggesting that Brittan should be given a post of trust in the colony next to that of Godley himself. "This gentleman," he wrote, "has taken, naturally as it were, a position of leadership of the body of colonists who are now preparing to depart from England. His popularity and influence with them and the marked confidence with which they regard him have manifestly been occasioned by no design on his part to win their good opinion, but have resulted from their own observation of his valuable and amiable qualities". It was Brittan who suggested that the colonists should recognise the assistance of Lord Lyttelton by giving his name to the capital city of the province. The proposal was unanimously adopted by the Society, but when the capital was removed to the plains Godley allowed the names to remain as they were. Brittan took passage in the Sir George Seymour and he was succeeded as chairman in London by Captain Charles Simeon. The Sir George Seymour sailed from Plymouth on 8 Sep 1850, and arrived at Lyttelton on 17 Dec. The Society of Canterbury Colonists then became the Society of Canterbury Land Purchasers. Brittan was again elected to the chair and was appointed by Godley to take charge of the land office, and supervise the allotment of sections in town and country. Early in 1852 the Society dissolved and two new societies were formed, one at Lyttelton and the other at Christchurch. Brittan declined to take office. From a piece of bush which he milled he supplied timber for many of the houses in the new town. His own residence, in Oxford terrace, was used in 1858 as a place by the Provincial Council, and afterwards became part of the old Clarendon hotel.

In public life Brittan took little part. He appeared on the first electoral roll in 1853 and announced himself as a candidate for the Christchurch Country District in both General Assembly and Provincial Council. Defeated in the former contest, he felt that he had been badly treated and withdrew from the other. Having had charge of the land office since Jan 1851, he was appointed by the General Government in 1853 to be commissioner of crown lands for Canterbury in succession to Colonel Campbell and a commissioner under the land claimants ordinance. In 1854 he became a trustee of the Deans estate, which he helped to manage until 1874. In 1853 he was chairman of the Christchurch Market Co. In Oct 1856 he was appointed a resident magistrate and chief commissioner of the waste lands board. He was chairman of the Halswell road board (1867), but otherwise never sought public office, except in the service of the Church of England. He was a member of the first synod of the diocese (1859); gave the site for the second church erected on the plains (at Papanui), and was largely responsible for the erection of churches at Avonside and Halswell.

Brittan was regarded as the father of cricket in Canterbury. A keen player himself, he was a moving spirit in obtaining facilities for playing. At an early date he set aside a field in which he erected a pavilion for the benefit of players. In 1871, the cricketers of Canterbury presented him with a clock in recognition of his services. He was a member of the committee which formed the Jockey Club (in 1851) (and treasurer of the club in 1854). He brought out from England two brace of partridges which he carefully guarded while they multiplied. He was a founder of the Horticultural Society and of the Farmers' Club (of which he was some time president) and chairman of the Christchurch domain board (1871-74). He died on 18 Jul 1876.

Acland; Godley, Letters; The Press, 19 July 1876, 22 Mar 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BRITTIN, DINGLEY ASKHAM, who was born in Huntingdonshire in 1823, was educated in England and passed as a solicitor. He came to New Zealand in the Minerva (1853) and took up land in Canterbury. He was M.H.R. for Christchurch Country from 1855 to 1856, when he resigned to return to England.

Parltry Record; Cycl. NZ, iii

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BROAD, LOWTHER (1840-92) was born at Kensington, London, the son of the Rev J. B. Broad, M.A., of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Educated partly in France, he came to Victoria as a youth and engaged in mining at Bendigo. In the early sixties he was attracted to Otago, where he was goldmining on the Molyneux. In 1863 he was appointed resident magistrate at Queenstown and later at Arrow, and in 1870 he was transferred to the Thames as warden and magistrate. There he was tempted to resign and enter into business as an auctioneer. In Aug 1870 he was elected to represent Thames in the Auckland Provincial Council, but he did not take his seat. A few weeks later he was appointed warden and magistrate on the Nelson South-West goldfields. In 1872 he was moved to Nelson, where in 1873 he became district court judge, a position he held until his death (on 16 Aug 1892). He was called to the bar in 1875. Broad was a man of comprehensive human sympathies and considerable ability. He was vice-president of the Nelson Exhibition in 1873 and won the prize for a tale of goldfields life. He published a number of legal works, including a digest of cases in district courts, a Resident Magistrate's Court Guide, a Justices Handbook, and The Law of Innkeepers and the New Zealand Law List (1881). He also compiled for the jubilee of Nelson a history of the province. Broad married (1867) Mary Isabella, daughter of Henry Bunny.

Col. Gent.; Broad, op. cit.; Weston; The Colonist, 16 Aug 1892; Thames Advertiser, Jul 1870.

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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BRODIE, ALEXANDER (1831-94) was born at Leith, Scotland, and as a young man joined the Royal Engineers. After a course of study he was sent to Canada and received special thanks from the War Office for assisting to save the vessel on the voyage. Arriving in New Zealand in 1863, he was attached to the troops as engineer and constructed the military telegraph line, the first in the colony, which he operated throughout the war. He then brought out his family and for many years was one of the most prominent residents on the Thames goldfields. For some time he managed the Criterion battery (Waiotahi). He was mayor of Thames (1888) and chairman of the Thames county council. Brodie was a man of considerable administrative ability and an authority on mine drainage. He contested the parliamentary seat (1881). Brodie died on 17 Apr 1894.

Weston; N.Z. Herald, 20 Apr 1894; Thames Star, 25 Jul 1927 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BRODIE, GEORGE (1833-72) was born in Scotland. After some experience as a youth in Edinburgh he arrived in Victoria at the height of the gold diggings, was in Ballarat in 1854 and worked in a co-operative party crushing quartz at Bendigo in 1855.

In 1858 he was elected at the head of the poll as a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Mandurang (with Thomas Carpenter) and he was appointed a member of the board of science. When Brodie joined the Heales cabinet early in 1861 as Commissioner of Trade and Customs, he was re-elected by his constituency without opposition. A few months later, attracted by the gold discoveries in Otago, he resigned from the ministry and from Parliament and came to New Zealand as correspondent of the Otago Daily Times on the goldfields. Brodie was elected at the head of the poll as a member of the first mining board, of which he became chairman. He was also returned (with Captain Baldwin) to represent the Goldfields in Parliament (1863). He became editor and part proprietor of the Dunstan Times and was elected in 1863 to represent the district in the Provincial Council. There, both as private member and on the executive (1865-66), he took a keen interest in education. In Parliament he directed his attention mainly to mining legislation, of which he had a competent knowledge. He did not seek re-election in 1865, and withdrew in 1866 from the Provincial Council, being appointed an inspector under the debtors and creditors act 1865, and in 1867 accountant in bankruptcy. Brodie died on 3 Nov 1872.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Pyke (p); Otago Daily Times, 20 Nov 1872.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BRODIE, WALTER ( ) was a son of the Rev. Alexander Brodie, D.D., chaplain to King George IV, his mother being a daughter of John Walter (of The Times). He first came to New Zealand in 1839, when he purchased land at Bay of Islands. In 1840 he chartered the schooner Hope to ship stock to the Chatham Islands for two stations of 300,000 acres which he had purchased for £2,000. Except for a short stay in Port Nicholson (1842) and a visit of twelve months to Tahiti, he lived at Bay of Islands till 1843. He was a witness of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Brodie travelled widely in New Zealand, purchasing land mainly with a view to mining, and claimed to have acquired valuable copper tracts. In 1844 he gave evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons. In 1845 he published a controversial book on The Past and Present State of New Zealand. In 1850 he visited California (with Carleton, q.v.) and next year published his book on Pitcairn's Island. In 1861 he again appeared as the author of a pamphlet criticising Grey's administration.

Brodie established a business in Auckland as a general merchant, retiring about 1870 and returning to live in England. He was M.P.C. for Auckland Suburbs (1855-57) and M.H.R. for the same constituency (1855-60). He had a large estate also at Mangonui, on which he liberated English sparrows and pheasants.

G.B.O.P. 1844/556; Parltry Record; Cycl. N.Z., ii; Hocken.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROHAM, THOMAS (1840-1901) was born in County Limerick and came to Victoria as a youth. He was for four years (1859-63) a member of the mounted police, engaged in gold escort duty from Bendigo, and came to the Otago goldfields to work as a digger. In Aug 1863 he joined the Canterbury police under Commissioner Shearman, under whom he had served in Australia. In 1864 he accompanied Revell with a detachment to the West Coast fields, crossing the Hurunui saddle, and was stationed there as an inspector till 1870, when he was chosen as an inspector of armed constabulary in Auckland under the General Government. In 1877 he was transferred to Christchurch, in 1882 to Timaru, and in 1888 to Auckland, whence he returned to Canterbury in 1893. He was engaged in many noteworthy criminal prosecutions, including the Hall poisoning case (Timaru), the Scott case in Auckland, and the apprehension of Cyrus Haley for the Pa farm outrage at Onehunga. Broham retired in 1900 and died on 29 Dec of that year.

Police department records; Harrop, Westland; N.Z. Herald, 18 Jan 1900.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROMLEY, WILLIAM (1816-88) was born in London and served for some years in the Navy. Coming to Wellington in the early forties, he bought land at Pahautanui and kept a hotel there. He was greatly interested in racing, owned a few horses and frequently rode at meetings at Burnham Water and Petone. He represented Wellington Country District in the Provincial Council in 1855. About 1860 Bromley took a position in the customs, in which he was a warehousekeeper until 1880. He died on 2 Nov 1888.

Ward; Evening Post, 2 Nov 1888.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROOKE, THOMAS GEORGE (1849-1931) was born at Wargrave, Berkshire. He spent his boyhood at Reading where he was baptised by the Rev. Samuel Leigh (q.v.). Brooke became a local preacher in Cumberland and was studying for the English ministry when he met the Rev. James Buller, then visiting England, who induced him to come to New Zealand. He landed at Auckland on 19 Dec 1878. He spent a year in the Kaipara as assistant to Gittos (q.v.) and in 1880 went to Three Kings College for training. His college course was interrupted in 1881 when he was sent to Leeston to replace the Rev. John Armitage (drowned in the wreck of the Tararua). In 1884 he married Fanny Rogers, daughter of George C. Waby. He was a forceful preacher, a tireless worker, a wise and capable administrator. He devoted 29 years to circuit work, filling various secretarial positions, and serving in the chair of synods. For eight years he was editor of the Methodist Outlook. In 1906 he was president of the Methodist conference, a position he filled with distinction. In 1909 he was appointed general secretary of home missions and superintendent of the Methodist Maori mission. For 15 years he rendered valuable service in this position, which involved constant travel on foot and horseback, heavy correspondence and the oversight of weak circuits and home mission stations. During his term the income of the department trebled, the number of home missionaries increased from 37 to 55 and the number of home mission stations from 48 to 65. Brooke took a leading part in raising the standard of ministerial stipends and led the movement to establish the home missionaries retiring fund. He was superannuated in 1924, but continued to preach and to serve various boards and institutions of the church until his death (on 31 Aug 1931).

M.A.R.P.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROOKFIELD, FREDERICK MORRIS PRESTON (1825-1906) was born in England, came to New Zealand in the early fifties and shortly afterwards went to Melbourne to study law. He married Maria Drakeford (d. 1902). Admitted to practise in 1855, he was for some years provincial solicitor for Auckland and afterwards crown prosecutor. He represented Onehunga in the Provincial Council (1861-63) and Pensioner Settlements (1870-73), and was on the executive in 1862 and 1869-70. Brookfield afterwards became a judge of the native land court, but resigned to resume practice with his son. He died on 4 Oct 1906.

Auckland P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; N.Z. Herald, 5 Oct 1906.

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROUGHTON, REGINALD (1831-1910), the third headmaster of Nelson College (1861-62) was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. He was a brilliant classical scholar, and became a master of Hindustani, which he had studied with a view to taking an official post in India. He left Nelson in 1862 to become headmaster of Christ's College, Christchurch. In 1864 he returned to England, where he took holy orders and subsequently became a fellow and lecturer of Hertford College.

Nelson Coll. Reg.; Beauchamp; Christ's Coll. Sch. List (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 64

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BROUN, THOMAS (1838-1919) was born and educated in Edinburgh and served in the Crimean war. He had a commission in the 35th Regiment in the Indian Mutiny, after which he was invalided with cholera and retired (1862). Having married he came to New Zealand and in the Waikato war held a commission in the 1st Waikato Regiment. (Major, N.Z.M., 1905). After the war he farmed at Opotiki for a few years, was a teacher under the Auckland education board (1876-88). Broun was government entomologist (1894-1905). For many years after 1866 he studied New Zealand insects and he described about 2,000 species in his Manual of New Zealand Coleoptera, and in British scientific publications. Broun was first drawn towards the study of entomology by observing the brilliant tropical insects in Burma. He died on 24 Aug 1919.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Trs. N.Z. Inst., vol 52 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 65

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BROWN, ALFRED NESBITT (1803-84) intended to study law but, conceiving a desire to engage in missionary work, for which the Church Missionary Society had as yet no training college, he entered the home of the Rev Edward Bickersteth, a leading member of the Society. When the institution at Islington was opened in 1825, Brown completed his studies there and was ordained by the Bishop of London in the Chapel Royal at St James's (1828). In the following year he married, and shortly afterwards sailed for New Zealand in the Elizabeth (C. Davis and his wife being fellow passengers). Arriving in Sydney in Oct 1829, Brown stayed for a short time with Marsden (q.v.) and eventually reached his destination at Bay of Islands at the end of Nov. In 1833 he accompanied William Williams on an exploration to Thames. In Feb 1834, with Hamlin, he explored the Waikato and later he made a long journey through the southern district and Waikato. Sites for stations were chosen at Otawhao, Puriri, Matamata, and Rotorua and for Brown's own station at Te Papa, Tauranga. In 1835 he opened a station in Waharoa's territory at Matamata. There he laboured for a short time and the chief's son, Tamehana Tarapipipi te Waharoa (q.v.), became a sincere convert and a powerful advocate of Christianity. A general war breaking out, Brown had to leave this station and he returned for a while to Paihia. In 1837 he accompanied Marsden in H.M.S. Rattlesnake to visit the eastern and southern settlements. In 1838 Brown took up his abode permanently at Tauranga, where he spent the rest of his life labouring with great success amongst the adjacent tribes.

As the third ordained minister sent to the New Zealand field, Brown was of great assistance to the brothers Williams and later to Bishop Selwyn, who appointed him in 1843 archdeacon of Tauranga and four years later wished to nominate him for a new bishopric. Brown was a generous benefactor of St John's College, Auckland, where he founded the Marsh scholarship in memory of his only son (who died in 1845). His wife died in 1855, and five years later he married Christina Crombie Grant Johnston (who died in 1887). During the Maori war of the sixties Brown was much distressed at the turn events had taken, involving so many of the missionary natives in hostilities with and against their own people. The mission house at Tauranga was the refuge to which all the white women in the district repaired and he intervened in every way to bring about a peaceful settlement. On 28 Apr 1864, the night before the attack at Gate Pa, he invited to communion the British officers chosen for the assault. All but Dr Manly were killed the following day. Brown was described by Mair as 'a courtly, scholarly English gentleman.' He died on 7 Sep 1884.

Sherrin and Wallace; Stock; Jacobs; Carleton; Cycl. NZ., ii (p); Brown, Brief Memorials of an Only Son (1845); Maxwell.

Reference: Volume 1, page 65

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BROWN, ANDREW (1799-1854) came to New Zealand in the Aurora (1840). He was member of the Wellington Provincial Council for Wellington Country District from 1853 till his death in Dec 1854.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Ward; Wellington Independent, Dec 1854-Jan 1855.

Reference: Volume 1, page 65

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BROWN, CHARLES (1820-1901) was the only son of Charles Armitage Brown (q.v.) and was born in Ireland. He spent the first two years with his 'native Irish' mother and thereafter lived in Italy with his father until 1834, when they returned to England for the boy's education, which was obtained at Plymouth. He learned no trade or profession.

Brown had not reached his majority when he sailed (Mar 1841) in the Amelia Thompson for New Zealand, where his father's sanguine expectations pictured a bright future. Brown brought with him the machinery for a sawmill, which he lost no time in erecting. He went through the whole gamut of the colonist, pioneering, business, journalism and public affairs, and speedily took a leading part in the life of the province. In 1849 he paid a visit to England, returning by the Cornwall. In the election for the Legislative Council of New Ulster (Oct 1852) he was returned for New Plymouth though he was only 32 years of age. In the first election of Superintendent for Taranaki (Jul 1853) he defeated Halse and Wicksteed. He served the office until Jan 1857, when he was defeated by Cutfield. Finding the press a doubtful ally, Brown's supporters established the Taranaki News to oppose the Herald and for most of his life Brown had its support, actually controlling and editing it for some years. In Nov 1855 Brown was elected to represent Grey and Bell in Parliament. He was Colonial Treasurer in the first responsible government, formed by Fox (May-Jun 1856). Private affairs compelled him to retire from Parliament, but he was reelected in 1858 (defeating F. D. Bell).

From 1855-60 Brown was a captain of the militia, which was called out for training in Feb 1858. A year later the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers were formed, Brown being senior captain and Stapp (q.v.) junior captain and instructor. The development of the Waitara dispute brought all the defence companies into training, martial law was proclaimed (22 Feb 1860) and reinforcements of H.M. troops and naval detachments came to the aid of the province. After some preliminary skirmishes the militia and volunteers came into action on 25 Mar 1860 at Manutahi. Major Herbert was now appointed commander of the district, and Brown acted as his engineer officer. Late in Mar, after consultation with Governor Gore Browne, a force of 103 volunteers and 56 militia was ordered to proceed to Waireka by the sea coast to relieve the Omata settlers, the regulars under Colonel Murray and seamen from H.M.S. Niger supporting by the road. The colonial troops were soon heavily engaged. Brown, having no experience, asked Stapp to take charge while he advanced to hold a position at Jury's farm, where the wounded were collected. The 65th were withdrawn while the Taranaki force was in difficulties, but Captain Cracroft, R.N., gallantly assaulted the enemy's pa and assisted to turn the tide and enable the Taranaki force to retire in good order. Brown made his official report on the action (29 Mar 1860) and was promoted major after Waireka. On 23 Feb 1861 he commanded the advanced line of skirmishers at Mahoetahi, where his conduct was warmly approved.

From 1861-65 Brown was again Superintendent of the province. He acted as paymaster of militia and volunteers for some time but returned to field duty and was again in action. In 1869 he had command of the local forces at the time of the massacre at White Cliffs. Throughout these troubled years he had legislative duties also. He was in the Provincial Council (for New Plymouth 1866-69) and a member of Parliament (for New Plymouth 1864-65; Omata 1868-70). He retired by choice rather than give up his military command in Taranaki, and spent the next years repairing his private affairs. He was for some years (to 1873) a member of the town board of New Plymouth. In 1873 he contested the Superintendency against Carrington and Atkinson. Two years later he succeeded Parris as civil commissioner.

Brown's first wife died in 1875. He afterwards married a daughter of W. Northcroft (q.v.). He was brought up as a Catholic, but his children belonged to the Church of England. He died on 2 Sep 1901.

Gudgeon (P); Gorton; Cowan, Wars (p); Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); Taranaki Herald, 3 Sep 1901; Taranaki News, 25 Jan 1873, 11 Oct 1873. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 65

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BROWN, CHARLES (ARMITAGE) (1786-1842) was born in South London of Scottish parentage, his father having made a competence on the stock exchange. At 14 Charles entered a counting house, and at 18 he became a merchant in St Petersburg, in partnership with a brother. Owing to the substitution of whalebone for bristles, and fear of a war with Russia, business failed (1808) and he returned to London, where he acted as agent for another brother, a local resident of the East India Company.

This brother's death placed him in enjoyment of a modest competence, which enabled him to cultivate the society of literary people. He became the associate of Dilke, John Hamilton Reynolds, Walter Savage Landor, Hood and Keats; and himself at the age of 23 composed a comic opera Narensky, or the Road to Yaroslav, which was produced at the Lyceum and yielded him £500 profit. Brown was a bon viveur, rather quaint in appearance; stout, bald and spectacled. His friendship with Keats became very close. They spent the summer of 1818 on a 600-mile walking tour of England and Scotland (where Keats developed the first symptoms of consumption). In 1819 they spent the summer at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, sketching and writing the tragedy Otho the Great, for which Brown supplied the fable, character and dramatic conduct. He left Keats at Winchester and found time to run across to Ireland where, unknown to his friends, he married a peasant woman, Abigail Donohue. Summoned back to Winchester, he brought Keats to London in a serious condition. Brown then employed himself sketching and copying Hogarth's heads. In 1820 he went to Ireland for the birth of his son (Charles, q.v.) while Keats went in search of health to Italy, where he died on 23 Feb 1821, before Brown could reach him. Brown then remained in residence in Florence, enjoying the company of Byron, Dilke, and Monckton Milnes, and later watching the education of his boy. He continued his studies in art, wrote for London magazines and translated admirably the first five cantos of Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato. In 1829 the publishers rejected his life of Keats. He made many sketches, including a portrait of Keats which came to New Zealand and was not made public until his granddaughter sent it to Sir S. Colvin. In 1834 he returned to England, settled at Plymouth and edited the Plymouth Journal. He lectured a good deal on Shakespeare and published his lectures as Shakespeare's Autobiographical Poems (1838).

Brown's interest in Shakespeare and in Keats was almost scholarly. He made an exhaustive collection of his friend's remains for publication, but had not found a publisher when he happened to attend a meeting in Plymouth to consider establishing a colony in New Zealand. He was at once infected with colonising enthusiasm, handed over his Keats task to Milnes with a biographical notice written by himself, and prepared for his migration. He sent his son in the Amelia Thompson, which sailed on 25 Mar 1841, while he sailed in the Oriental on 22 Jun, arriving in New Plymouth in Nov.

The change from good living and select artistic surroundings to colonial fare and fortune was a severe test for one no longer young, and a few months after his arrival in New Plymouth he had an apoplectic stroke and died (on 5 Jun 1842). Brown adopted the second name 'Armitage' in publishing some of his Keats papers in the Plymouth Journal.

Walls; Amy Lowell, John Keats (1925); A. Erlande, Life (1929); Taranaki News, pass.; S. Colvin, Life of John Keats (1918); H. Bolitho and J. Mulligan, The Emigrants (1939).

Portraits: E. V. Waller's Autobiography (1933); bust by L. A. Holman in Lowell, op. cit., i, p. 286.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, CHARLES HENRY JEFFRIES (1871-1917), who was born in Christchurch, went to the West Coast in the eighties, where he became well-known as an athlete and footballer. He worked as a trucker in the Brunner coal mines, spent some months on the New South Wales coalfields and returned to the Denniston mines, in which he became underground manager. Brown joined the Denniston volunteer corps in 1900, and was later transferred from this command to the New Zealand Staff Corps. When war broke out in 1914, he left with the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with the rank of captain. He served with distinction in Gallipoli, Egypt and France, first in the Canterbury Regiment, then in the Auckland Regiment, and finally, as brigadier-general in command of the 1st brigade New Zealand Infantry (Feb 1917). Brown was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in dispatches and was killed in action on 8 Jun 1917.

Studholme; Evening Post, 11 Jan 1917; London Gaz, 17 Jun 1917.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, CHARLES HUNTER, was born in Scotland, emigrated to Australia as a young man and, having gained experience there, came to Lyttelton early in 1850 with his own sheep and cattle, and occupied Double Corner. He also brought she-oak seeds which he planted with success on various properties. Brown sold Double Corner in 1859 and joined Cox for a few years at Springs. About 1863 he sold his station interests in Canterbury and invested in town property in Christchurch and in a sheep run, Long Lookout, in Nelson. In 1860 he was elected to represent Christchurch Country in Parliament, retiring at the end of the year. He travelled a good deal in Europe and the Holy Land and he was later resident magistrate at Wairoa (Hawke's Bay) in 1863-65 and again in 1868. Brown married (1861) Ellinor Jane, daughter of Augustus Abraham, barrister-at-law.

Cox; Acland; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Godley, Letters.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, DONALD FORRESTER, was a son of R. Brown, draper, of Oamaru. He served in the war 1914-18 with the Otago Infantry and repeatedly distinguished himself in the operations in France. On several occasions he attacked machine gun posts which were holding up the advance and put the guns out of action, doing much to raise the spirits of his companions by his "utter contempt for danger and coolness under fire." Sergeant Brown was killed in action on 1 Oct 1916 and was awarded the V.C. posthumously for conspicuous bravery and determination on 15 Sep.

Byrne; Official Hist. of the Otago Regiment in the Great War (p); London Gaz., 14 Jun 1917; Studholme; The New Zealander (London), 22 Jun 1917.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, FREDERICK DOUGLAS (1851-1922) was born at Woodford, Essex, and educated in England and at Strasbourg University, where he graduated. It was then a university of France. (Honorary M.A., Oxford; B.Sc., London.) He proceeded to study chemistry at St Bartholomew's Hospital (1870), the Royal College of Chemistry and Leipzig University. Graduating B.Sc. at London in 1873, he entered on research in organic chemistry at the Royal Institution, London, and physical chemistry in the Royal School of Mines. In 1880 he became a lecturer at Oxford and he taught at Clifton and Cheltenham until 1883 when he was appointed professor of chemistry at Auckland University College. This post he held to 1914, when he was appointed emeritus professor. He was a director of the Auckland Gas Co. and vice-chairman of the Grammar School board. Brown died on 2 Aug 1922.

Cycl. NZ., ii; N.Z. Herald, 10 Apr 1883, 3 Aug 1922

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, HENRY (1842-1921) was born in Lincolnshire, the son of the Rev. H. H. Brown (1813-93); educated at Neuwied (Germany) and Lausanne, and arrived in Taranaki with his parents in the Eclipse in 1859. He served in the Maori war for four years as a volunteer, being present at Waireka and Mahoetahi and a member of Atkinson's company of Forest Rangers. He became ensign in the Rifles (1863), lieutenant (1865) and captain in the militia (1871). Brown engaged in the timber trade for ten years in the vicinity of New Plymouth and in 1877 started a mill at Inglewood. He was chairman of the town board for some years and a member of the Taranaki county council (1876-92). In 1896 he was elected M.H.R. for Taranaki, defeating E. M. Smith, to whom he lost the seat in 1899. Brown died on 10 Mar 1921. He married (1867) a daughter of J. Brooking, of New Plymouth.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; N.Z.P.D., 23 Sep 1921. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, JAMES (1819-77) was born at Milngavie, near Glasgow. He was trained as a calico printer and worked at his trade for some years. He evinced artistic talent at a very early age, and his employer considerately transferred him from printing to designing. Ambitious for a wider field, he moved to Manchester, but though he received higher pay there he suffered during the depression of the forties, and accordingly decided to come to New Zealand (1850). Unable to work at his own trade in Otago, he taught himself engraving and became highly proficient. He was also a caricaturist and made many cartoons for reproduction, notably in J. Barr's Old Identities (1879). Brown was an office-bearer of the First Church. He was described as a man of distinct idiosyncrasies, simple habits and warm affections, unobtrusive and self-depreciative. He died on 12 Sep 1877.

Barr, op. cit.; Otago Daily Times, 15 Sep 1877.

Reference: Volume 1, page 66

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BROWN, JAMES CLARK (1830-91) was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, the son of a British naval officer; educated at a private school in the neighbourhood, and apprenticed to a merchant. In 1852 he emigrated to Victoria, where he was occupied in mining for a few years. His friends in England having sent out a small steamer, the Macclesfield, Brown ran it for a few years without loss in the trade between Sydney and Tasmania. In 1861 he sold it and came to Otago for the diggings, entering into business as a storekeeper at Wetherstones, Queenstown and Gabriel's Gully. He became a substantial merchant.

In 1865 he was elected to the Otago Provincial Council for Lawrence, in 1867 for Goldfields and in 1871 for Tuapeka, which he represented until 1875. In 1870 he was elected M.H.R. for Bruce and the following year for Tuapeka, which he represented until 1890 (when he was defeated by Valentine). He took a great interest in mining and in the Lawrence railway, which he was mainly instrumental in promoting. He was a liberal supporter of charities. Brown married (1879) the widow of Dr Ebenezer Halley. He died on 6 Feb 1891, and his widow in 1938.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Kinross; Evening Star, 7 Feb 1891. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, JAMES ELDER (1823-1900) was born in Banffshire, trained as a school teacher and came to Otago in the Ajax (1849). He first accepted an engagement to erect Valpy's flourmill at Water of Leith and in 1850 he relieved James Blackie as the first teacher of a public school in Otago. His parents and brothers having now arrived in the colony, Brown assisted them to erect, at Grant's Braes for Dr Burns, a threshing mill made entirely of native materials. He showed a model of this machine at the exhibition of 1889-90. The family also made 25 winnowing machines. In 1856, under the new regulations, Brown and his father settled on 105 acres in Tokomairiro adjoining the land which P. McGill had taken for a flourmill, and they assisted to erect the mill (1857). In 1860 he sold half an acre to W. H. Mansford to open a store, and thus the town of Milton came into existence, McGill cutting up 25 acres for town lots. In 1866 Milton was incorporated. Brown was mayor for the first three years and he carried on the surveys and engineering work for 14 years. In 1882 he retired from business and gave his attention to public affairs. He was chairman of the school committee (1878, 1880-81) and secretary for a long period, and a justice of the peace for 30 years. Brown died on 16 Jan 1900.

Brown; Scholefield, Tokomairiro D.H.S., 1856-1931; Otago Daily Times, 17 Jan 1900.

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, JAMES MACMILLAN (1846-1935) was born at Irvine, Scotland, the son of a shipowner, and educated in the first place at Irvine Academy. He proceeded to the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow (where he graduated with first-class honours in mental philosophy and gained the rector's prize for an essay). There also he gained a five-year Snell exhibition on which he proceeded to Balliol College, Oxford, in 1869. Owing to indifferent health he could not complete his course, and spent some time on the geological survey in Scotland (1873-74).

On the foundation of Canterbury College in 1875 Brown was appointed professor of classics and English. Five years later the onerous duties of this double chair were rearranged and he taught English history and English literature till 1895, when he resigned on account of ill-health. Brown devised a new and practical method of treating English composition, which was specially useful with backward students. Several volumes of his notes on English classics were published in New Zealand (including Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice and Esmond). He also published (in 1894) a manual of English literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Brown was a member of the royal commission on higher education (1879-82) and was a member of the University Senate from 1879, vice-chancellor from 1916, and chancellor from 1923 till his death (on 18 Jan 1935). In 1901 he published, under the pseudonym of 'Godfrey Sweven', a novel entitled Riallaro, satirising life and politics in New Zealand. This was followed in 1903 by Limanora, a Utopia.

Brown rendered valuable service to New Zealand by his researches in Polynesian anthropology and ethnology, to which he devoted himself after his retirement, travelling widely in Pacific countries every year. About 1907 began his series of publications on the Polynesian people, including Maori and Polynesian (1907), The Riddle of the Pacific (1924), and Peoples and Problems of the Pacific (1927). In 1908 he published a volume, Modern Education and in 1914 a travel book, The Dutch East. His fine collection of curios and native art he left to Canterbury College, together with his library and an endowment for upkeep and £2,500 towards a library building. The residue of his estate he left to found a school of Pacific studies at that institution.

Brown married in 1887 Helen Connon, the first woman M.A. in New Zealand and the first woman to take the M.A. degree with honours at a British university. She was principal of the Christchurch Girls' High School (1882-94).

Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Hight and Candy (p); Beaglehole; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; E. S. Grossman, In Memoriam, 1903 and Life of Helen M. Brown, 1905; The Press, 23 Feb 1903; 19, 21, 22, 23 Jan 1935 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, JOHN EVANS (1827-95) was born at Lewistown, Pennsylvania, United States, where he was educated. In 1849 he crossed to California and spent some time at his profession of a surveyor. Finding the goldfields unattractive, he went to New South Wales, where he engaged in cattle and sheep dealing on a large scale, and was for some years consul for the United States. In 1864 he came to New Zealand and spent 20 years in Canterbury, taking a prominent part in the affairs of the province. He was a member of the Provincial Council for Rangiora (1866-72 and 1875), and was during that time a member of two executives (Knight's 1869; Hall's 1870-71). Brown represented Ashley in Parliament (1871-79) and St Albans (1881-84). He was the first chairman of the Christchurch Tramway Co. In the late eighties he returned to America, where he died on 9 Jul 1895. Brown married first (1857) a daughter of J. J. Peacock and sister of the Hon J. T. Peacock (q.v.) and, second, 1883, Mrs Martin (Wellington).

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Lyttelton Times, 11 July 1895.

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, JOHN MAINWARING (1851-88) was born in England and educated at Tonbridge School and Christ's College, Cambridge (where he entered on a Judd Exhibition). He graduated B.A., 1876; LL.M., 1880; M.A., 1881. He became lecturer in history and political economy at Cambridge (under the local lectures syndicate) and in 1881 was called to the bar. In the same year he was appointed to Otago University as professor of English language and literature, constitutional history and political economy. Brown lost his life on 6 Dec 1888 while exploring (in company with Major Goring and John White), in the region of the Micalburn creek, west of Lake Te Anau.

Thompson; Otago Daily Times, 15, 27 Dec 1888.

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, RICHARD (1804-60) was born in Dublin, and educated by an uncle. As a youth he went to Tasmania and entered a mercantile office in Hobart and at the age of 20 visited Bay of Islands in a whaler. He had a good education and pleasant manners. Coming to Taranaki soon after the Colony was established, he engaged in the coastal trade and whaling and eventually settled down as a merchant in New Plymouth. Later he became also an auctioneer and for a while was a journalist on the Taranaki Herald staff. He was Provincial Councillor for Omata (1857-59). In the native feuds he supported Ihaia against Katatore. When war broke out Brown was appointed a captain in the native contingent. On 26 May 1860, while reconnoitring along the beach, he was fired on and wounded by hostile natives at the ford of the Waiongona river. He died on 31 Aug.

Taranaki P.C. Minutes, 1858; Wells, p 205; Gudgeon, p 47; Taranaki Herald, 3 Oct 1855; 8 May 1858.

Reference: Volume 1, page 67

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BROWN, WILLIAM (1809-98) was born near Dundee, Scotland, educated there, and read law with the intention of becoming a writer to the signet. He became interested in colonisation and joined the South Australian settlement, arriving in Adelaide in the early part of 1839. Soon realising that prospects were not good, he joined the Palmyra for Sydney. On the voyage he became acquainted with the surgeon, J. Logan Campbell (q.v.). On 2 Feb 1840 Brown arrived at Bay of Islands where he witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. On the 25th he arrived at Coromandel and on 13 Apr again met Campbell, who had come from Sydney in the Lady Lilford. With several others they visited the shores of the Waitemata gulf, hoping to buy land from the natives. This failing, they prospected the neighbourhood and purchased from the Coromandel natives the island of Motukorea (Brown's island). On 13 Aug they entered into possession. On 21 Dec, Mrs Brown having arrived from Sydney, they established themselves in a tent on the future site of Auckland, and in Feb 1841 they began getting timber for their building. The Black Joke was chartered to bring the timber from Whangaroa, and the partners carried it on their shoulders to the site. On 24 Jun the Brown family took possession of their home in Auckland.

Brown took part in the affairs of Auckland as soon as the town was founded. On 6 Jun 1844 he was called to the governor's Legislative Council, of which he was a member to 1845 and again 1847-48. The interval was due to his proceeding to the old country in the Bolina with a cargo belonging to his firm (1845). With S. M. Martin and Charles Clifford he protested against the native trust bill (1844) and thus got out of favour with FitzRoy.

Brown was one of the founders and a large shareholder in the Southern Cross, which was established in 1843 to represent the interests of the rank and file of the colonists and the landowners as against those of the philo-Maori party, to champion which the New Zealander was established in 1845. Feeling ran high between the two parties and politics in Auckland followed this line of cleavage for some years to come. When Brown returned to New Zealand (1847) he was again called to the Legislative Council and reappointed to the list of justices in the position he had previously occupied.

On the constitution of 1852 coming into force he contested the Superintendency of Auckland against Wynyard, but was defeated (12 Jul 1853). In Aug 1854 he was elected M.H.R. for City of Auckland. A few months later Wynyard resigned the Superintendency and Brown was elected by a large majority over Whitaker (14 Mar 1855). He had a difficult session with a Council which was generally opposed to his policy, and in Sep obtained a dissolution, which necessitated a fresh election for both Superintendent and Council. He was entering into this contest with vigour when family reasons called him to Scotland, and he retired from politics (Nov 1855). He did not return, but remained associated with Campbell until his death (on 19 Jan 1898). Brown was a man of high principle, wide experience and considerable energy and would doubtless have gone far in politics had he remained in the colony. Carleton described him as 'one of the most severely truthful and worthy men that ever set foot in the colony.' Brown wrote in 1840 the first chapter of his book New Zealand and its Aborigines, which he rewrote on the passage home and published in 1845.

G.B.ap., 1843/323, 1850/1280, 1851/1420; Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D., 1855; Campbell; Thomson; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Southern Cross, 17 Aug, 3 Sep 1852, et pass.; New Zealander, 10 Sep 1853, et pass.

Portrait: N.Z. Herald, 13 Nov 1933

Reference: Volume 1, page 68

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BROWNE, GEORGE FRANCIS COLLINS (1831-85) was the son of John Collins Browne, of Holsworthy, Devon. He was educated at Grosvenor College, Bath, and emigrated in 1852 to Melbourne. After spending ten years in Australia he came to Otago and settled at Waitahuna, where he was engaged in mining for 16 years. He represented that constituency in the Provincial Council from 1871 until the abolition. In 1876 he moved to Lawrence, where he took a leading part in public life. He was a member of the school committee and the hospital committee and leader of the opposition in the parliamentary union. In 1884 he contested the Tuapeka seat in Parliament against J. C. Brown. Browne died on 5 Jun 1885.

Tuapeka Times, 6 Jun 1885.

Reference: Volume 1, page 68

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BROWNE, SIR THOMAS GORE (1807-87) was the son of Robert Browne, J.P., D.L., of Morton House, near Buckingham, and a brother of Bishop Harold Brown, of Winchester. Commissioned as ensign in the 44th Foot (1824), he exchanged into the 28th (lieutenant, 1826; captain, 1829). He was aide de camp to Lord Nugent, High Commissioner in the Ionian islands (1832-35) and acted for a time as Colonial Secretary. Obtaining his majority in 1834, he exchanged into the 41st regiment (1836), with which he served in the first Afghan war. For a time he commanded the regiment in the absence of the two colonels. He covered the retreat after the repulse of General England's force at Hykulzi (28 Mar 1842), forming a square and driving back the enemy. He was present at the action at Kandahar (29 May), the march on Kabul and the storming of Istalif. On the return through the Khyber pass he was frequently in action with the rearguard. (Brevet lieut.-colonel 1842; C.B., 1843.) Returning to England, Browne became lieut.-colonel of the 41st regiment (1845), exchanged into the 21st in 1849, and retired on half-pay in 1851 to assume the governorship of St Helena, where he enjoyed the local rank of colonel. There he solved the long-standing problem of the water supply. In 1854 Browne was appointed to succeed Sir George Grey in the governorship of New Zealand, the duties of which he assumed on 6 Sep 1855. In the political sphere there was nothing to worry him, since the controversy over responsible government had been fought to a conclusion under the administrator (Colonel Wynyard). Browne announced himself to the Parliament (which was in session) in a message in which he stated that he would adhere to the policy of maintaining the native title to their lands inviolate and securing to them the impartial administration of justice. A man of strong social instincts and warm friendships, he visited all the provinces during the recess. Shortly after his arrival the King movement in the Waikato became prominent. Native affairs were the governor's own responsibility. He was expected to consult his responsible advisers, but not necessarily to take their advice. Unfortunately Browne did not bestir himself sufficiently to form an independent opinion on native affairs and he never acquired a personal influence over the native mind. Quite early he made the unpardonable mistake of declining to see an influential chief (Wiremu Tamihana te Waharoa, of Ngati-Haua) who wished to lay before him the grievances that were entertained by the King tribes. Tamihana accordingly threw in his lot with the Maori king. In May 1857 Browne showed a more approachable disposition at a native gathering at Rangiriri and he met some chiefs in runanga near Auckland. He made a grave mistake in yielding to the clamour of merchants and revoking Grey's wise order against supplying firearms and ammunition to natives.

Stafford, the Premier, was absent in England when Browne, accompanied by C. W. Richmond (acting leader of the Government) and McLean (native secretary) met a number of Maori chiefs at New Plymouth. Teira offered to sell to the Government 600 acres at Waitara, and Browne agreed to purchase if Teira's title was valid. Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, the paramount chief of the Ngati-Awa, declared firmly that he would not permit the sale. Ignorant as he was of Maori law, and regarding Rangitake's demeanour as discourteous and offensive to himself, Browne was determined to proceed with the purchase. Commissioners were accordingly sent to Taranaki to ascertain whether the title of Teira was good. They reported (wrongly) in the affirmative, and Browne gave orders on 25 Jan 1860 to proceed with the survey, under military protection if necessary, and to hold the block by force if there should be any resistance on the part of Wiremu Kingi. On 1 Mar he himself arrived at Taranaki with the available troops, and a blockhouse was built for the protection of the civil population. On the 13th and 14th the block was surveyed under military protection. Next day Wiremu Kingi erected a pa and burned the survey pegs. The pa was accordingly attacked (17 Mar) and destroyed after two days' operations.

Browne appealed to Australia for more troops and some hundreds of women and children were sent for refuge to Nelson. Desultory operations continued, including the battles of Waireka, Puketakauere and Mahoetahi. At an early stage Bishop Selwyn courageously intervened to protest against the unjust treatment of Wiremu Kingi. A great Maori gathering at Otaki (at which Archdeacon Hadfield was present) demanded the recall of Gore Browne. In Waikato the King chiefs, though not directly concerned, discussed the events in Taranaki and resented the action of the Governor in making war without first consulting the friendly chiefs. McLean left the meeting to avoid seeing the King flag hoisted. A few days later the benevolent old King, Te Wherowhero, died. Sir William Denison, the governor of New South Wales, loyally sent what troops he could in response to Browne's request, but he wrote to Browne strongly advising him to adopt a different policy towards the natives. Stafford, having now returned to the colony, loyally adopted the policy of the Governor, on the ground that the executive had advised him and fully concurred in the course he had taken. The House of Representatives gave its confidence by 19 votes to 17 (11 Sep 1860). During the session Hadfield and McLean appeared at the bar of the House to undergo searching examination. After the prorogation of Parliament Browne and Richmond together attended the gathering of chiefs at Orakei (Nov 1860) and on 5 Feb 1861 Browne received a deputation of seven chiefs (from Auckland, Waikato, Thames and Otaki) who made proposals of peace, one of the conditions being that the Waitara dispute should be decided by the courts. The Governor would not accept the terms; there must be restitution of plunder taken from settlers, compensation for their losses, and a due recognition of British law for the future. McLean, with the Governor's permission, accompanied the King chiefs back to Taranaki and persuaded Wiremu Tamihana to lead his taua of 400 back to their homes and Wiremu Kingi to retire inland.

Browne then visited Taranaki with Richmond and Whitaker (the attorney-general) and again made a mistake by refusing to receive Wiremu Kingi's daughter as a mediator (27 Mar 1861). He now offered terms of peace which included the investigation of Teira's title, but the survey was to proceed and the Governor was to retain all land belonging to the rebels which the troops were occupying, and the Ngati-Awa were to submit quietly to the law and not again to seek redress for grievances by force. The arrival of General Cameron from Australia just as the terms were about to be accepted caused a complete change in the position (30 Mar). On 8 Apr harsher terms were dictated, nothing was said about examining the Waitara title, and the settlers were promised that they would soon be able to return to their farms. In May a truce was agreed to, and on 3 Jun Browne opened Parliament, laying on the table the terms which he had now offered, which included a demand for restitution and compensation against the natives, but promised an investigation of the Waitara title. More alarming was the determination of the Governor to regard the King movement in itself as a cause of war and to invade the Waikato, towards which Cameron had already moved his artillery from Taranaki.

At this stage the ministry was defeated on its native policy (12 Jul 1861) and Fox came into power. A week or two later (27 Jul) the Governor received a despatch from the Duke of Newcastle (dated 25 May 1861) informing him that he was to be relieved and that Sir George Grey was to succeed him. The Duke wrote: 'I recognise with pleasure the sound and impartial judgment, the integrity, intelligence and anxiety for the public good which have characterised your government. The present juncture, however, renders it necessary to leave no expedient untried which is calculated to arrest the course of events, now unhappily so unpromising, and at the same time to provide for future difficulties, which there is only too much reason to anticipate even if the war should soon be brought to a conclusion.' He felt he would be neglecting a chance of averting a more general and disastrous war if he 'omitted to avail himself of the remarkable authority which would attach to the name and character of Grey as governor.' In the flush of sympathy for Browne, Richmond and Stafford challenged the Government with a no-confidence resolution, which was defeated by 26 to 25 (29 Jul).

Soon after assuming office, Grey withdrew the manifesto addressed by Governor Browne to the disaffected natives and approached the problem by promising to investigate the Waitara purchase and announcing a number of bills to extend to natives all over New Zealand a liberal system of local government. Browne left for Sydney in October and a few months later was appointed to the governorship of Tasmania. He was made K.C.M.G. in 1869, was Governor of Bermuda (1870-71) and died in London on 17 Aug 1887. Browne married Harriet, daughter of James Campbell, of Craigie, Ayrshire. Historians agree generally with Gisborne that Browne was distinguished for his singleness of heart, his devotion to what he held to be his duty, and many sterling and attractive qualities. His letters, preserved in the Richmond and Stafford collections, give evidence of a fine humanity, a high idealism and lofty devotion to duty. Socially he had a host of friends. In spite of the tragedy of his rule in New Zealand he left the reputation of a high-minded, well-meaning and eminently able administrator whose failure was due more to the conditions of his task than to any lack of ability on his part.

G.B.O.P., 1856-62; Saunders; Gudgeon (p); D.N.B.; App. H.R. (specially 1856-62); Hansard; Lomax, Hist. of the 41st Regiment; Gisborne (p); Rusden; Mennell; Cowan; Lovat.

Reference: Volume 1, page 69

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BROWNING, SAMUEL (1802-88) was born in London, his father holding a position in the General Post Office. He entered business life and became a member of a firm of shipowners. In 1830 he went on a tour to the Rocky mountains and in 1840 sailed to Australia in the Sea Horse. He visited all the colonies and spent a year travelling in the interior of China, where he saw something of the war. Equipped with wide experience gained in travel abroad, Browning took part in 1847 in obtaining the repeal of the navigation laws in the interest of foreign shipping visiting English ports. He gave evidence before a select committee of Parliament.

Some time later Browning came to Australia as managing inspector of the Royal Bank of Australia, and wound up its affairs. In 1855 he came to reside in Auckland. He took part in many commercial undertakings, being a director of the Bank of New Zealand and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. and the New Zealand Insurance Co. His death occurred on 11 Jun 1888. A daughter married General Sir Trevor Chute (q.v.).

N.Z. Herald, 12 Jun 1888, 18 Feb 1889.

Reference: Volume 1, page 69

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BRUCE, DAVID (1824-1911) was born at Cramond, near Edinburgh. Educated at Edinburgh University and the Free Church Divinity Hall, he was ordained in 1853 by the presbytery of Aberdeen, and shortly afterwards sailed in the Simlah for Auckland. Bruce was the first minister of the Presbyterian Church in Auckland, having been appointed by the colonial committee of the Free Church. He was introduced by the Rev W. Lawry, general superintendent of Wesleyan missions, to a charge which embraced the whole of the northern part of New Zealand and was included at first in the synod of Eastern Australia. A presbytery was formed in 1856, and in the years up to 1862 Bruce visited all the outlying districts of Auckland. In 1862 he was released by the presbytery to undertake extension work over the whole of the North Island and as much of the South as was not included in the provincial district of Otago. He was moderator of the Assembly in 1866 and delegate the following year to the conference held in Dunedin on the subject of union. His own charge meanwhile assumed the name of St Andrews. In 1877 Bruce was appointed church agent. In 1889 he went to Sydney, where he was minister of North St Leonards and moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Australia (1903-04). Bruce was a brother of Professor A. B. Bruce, of the Free Church College, Glasgow. He married Mary Alexandra Sinclair (d. 3 Dec 1870). He died on 15 Dec 1911.

Dickson (P); Johns, Australian Biography.

Reference: Volume 1, page 69

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BRUCE, ROBERT CUNNINGHAM (1843-1917) was born at Kelso, Scotland, and spent his early years in Ireland. He went to sea at the age of 14 and sailed in all parts of the world for 20 years. A fine athletic figure, he excelled in boxing and other sports and was fond of botany. He left the sea at different times to work on the goldfields of California, Australia and New Zealand. Arriving in Otago in 1860, he was for some time at Arrow and visited the Dunstan in 1862. He then returned to the sea, sailing mainly on the Atlantic and (for two years) on the American lakes. In 1877 Bruce decided to settle in New Zealand and walked from Wellington to take up land at Paraekaretu, where he spent six years. After a trip to England, working his passage before the mast, he was elected to Parliament for Rangitikei, which he represented (1884-90). He was defeated by George Hutchison for Waitotara (1890) and by McGuire for Egmont (1891), but regained the Rangitikei seat in 1892. He retired at the general election of 1893, and contested Manawatu unsuccessfully in 1896. Bruce was a brilliant speaker and a staunch freetrader. He was greatly interested in the native flora of New Zealand and on his death he left to his district a fine park at Hunterville, with a considerable amount of virgin bush. In 1914 Bruce published his reminiscences of his early life. He died on 23 Apr 1917.

N.Z.P.D., 29 Jun 1917; Cycl. N.Z., i; Who's Who N.Z., 1908. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 69

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BRUCE, THOMAS WHILLIANS (1832-1908) was born at Jedburgh, Scotland, educated there and commenced farming. In 1859 he came to New Zealand in the Indiana and for some years managed the Motunau estate in north Canterbury. About 1868, with John Macfarlane, he bought Cora Lynn, on the Waimakariri river, and in 1870 bought out his partner. Adding Riversdale, across the river, he ran altogether about 17,000 sheep. Another property which he owned was Inchbonnie, on the West Coast road, beyond Arthur's Pass. About 1890 his Canterbury estates fell into the hands of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. and he moved to Inchbonnie in 1893. In Canterbury he was chairman for many years of the Upper Waimakariri road board, which during his term erected a bridge over that river and another over the Poulter. Inchbonnie was an estate of 6,000 acres and Bruce had also a run of 13,000 acres at the Otira. He died in 1908.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Acland; Cycl. N.Z., v

Reference: Volume 1, page 70

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BRUNNER, THOMAS (? 1822-74) was a son of William Brunner, barrister-at-law, Oxford. He came to New Zealand as an assistant on the survey staff of the New Zealand Company in the expeditionary ship Whitby to prepare the way for the second settlement (at Nelson). With Captain Wakefield and the pioneer staff she arrived in Oct 1841.

In 1843 the settlement was dismayed by the loss of its leaders at the Wairau. The demand of the settlers for land being thus disappointed, Brunner was sent by Tuckett (q.v.) to prospect for good grass lands somewhere within reach of Nelson which might serve the purpose, but he returned without success. Thereafter for some years he was engaged in arduous and dangerous explorations between Nelson and the West Coast of the South Island. On the first journey William Fox (q.v.), then agent for the Company at Nelson, Charles Heaphy and Brunner (who had now left the Company's service) left Nelson on 2 Feb 1846 with the intention of exploring the country adjacent to lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa and the Tairaumea (or Marylea) river. They examined the headwaters of the river which they called the Buller and reached their farthest point at the Matukituki valley, where Fox, burdened with a heavy pack, was almost drowned in crossing the river. The party reached Nelson again on Mar 1. Thus aware of the excessively rugged character of the country to be crossed, Fox urged Brunner to make a new exploration along the sea coast to see whether there was any level land. Brunner and Heaphy started again on Mar 17 with the same native guides, intending to pass down the West Coast and then across the divide of the Southern Alps to the plains of Canterbury, where the only white settlers were the Deans brothers of Riccarton. Proceeding round Massacre Bay they crossed to West Wanganui, where the Ngati-Tama chief put obstacles in their way. They then coasted down to the mouth of the Grey (or Mawhera) river and examined the mouth of the Buller river, which Joseph Toms had entered in a 50-ton schooner in 1844. On the South Beach, between the Buller and Cape Foulwind, they discovered the remains of the old wool ship which had been cast away some years earlier. At the Mawhera the explorers stayed with the natives for some time and suffered considerable hardship and could not persuade the natives to cross the mountains. They therefore abandoned that object and returned from their farthest point at Arahura, reaching Nelson after a pilgrimage of 550 miles in 22 weeks.

In the following summer Brunner entered upon the most arduous of all his travels. With no white companions, and accompanied only by two Maori guides and their wives, he left Nelson (3 Dec 1846) with the intention of exploring the Buller from its source to the sea, and also, if possible, finding a way across to Canterbury. For the first five days of travel he had an extra man to carry loads. From the departure from Stafford's station on the 11th, he had the use of a mule as far as Lake Rotoiti, which he reached on the 13th. Leaving Lake Rotoroa on 31 Dec, Brunner reached his previous limit at the Matukituki valley on 16 Jan 1847. He was already very short of food and in the struggles of the next stage he was forced to eat his dog. Reaching at length the native settlement at Arahura, he remained there until the spring. By this time Brunner had learned how to overcome two of the greatest difficulties of the European traveller in the New Zealand bush, namely to walk barefooted and to subsist on fern root. Thus inured, he recommenced his journey in Oct 1847, his feet shod with flax sandals which had to be replaced every two days. Passing Okarito on the southern seacoast he turned back on 11 Dec at Parika or Titihara. Early in Mar he saw the plains of Canterbury, but could not persuade the natives to go there and he came to the conclusion that there was no access from coast to coast north of the Grey river nor any practicable route from the settlement at Nelson to Canterbury except along the coast and through the Wairau plain. Early in Jun 1848 Brunner was cheered by seeing the marks of many sheep in the Rotoiti region. On 15 Jun he reached Fraser's station, having been 560 days absent and given up for lost. The narrative of this amazing journey was delivered to the Royal Geographical Society, and Brunner was honoured with the award of the Society's medal. Besides exploring the Grey and the Buller from source to mouth and tracing the Inangahua down to its junction with the Buller, he discovered the existence of coal seams in the vicinity of which the town of Brunner afterwards grew up. Captain Richards, of H.M.S. Acheron, acknowledged his indebtedness to the detailed coastal survey of Brunner.

Brunner in Sep 1851 was appointed surveyor of crown lands in Nelson. He set out in 1854-55 the reserves required for native purposes in Croixelles, Pelorus and Kaituna, and was disappointed here again to find so little land suitable for cultivation. He was on the commission of the peace, a visiting justice, deputy-sheriff for the province (1866) and member of the board of health (1869). In the early seventies he retired from the government service.

He died on 22 Apr 1874. Brunner was a man of high integrity and unblemished character. His discoveries, though they did not disclose the existence of gold on the West Coast, were of the greatest value to the colony.

A. Mackay, ii; Broad; N.Z.C. papers; Buick, Marlborough; Nelson Evening Mail; N.Z. Journal, 1847, 1849; Wellington Spectator, Nov 1848; The Colonist, 18 Dec 1857.

Reference: Volume 1, page 70

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BRYCE, JOHN (1833-1913), was born at Glasgow and came to New Zealand with his father (John Bryce), an elder brother and a sister in the Bengal Merchant, arriving at Port Nicholson early in 1840. He said in 1875 that he was almost a New Zealander; he had no recollection of the ship which brought him out. Their first home was at Petone, and for some years the father carried on his business as a carpenter in Wellington. He then moved to the Hutt valley, where they farmed a bush clearing and had their first experience of Maori hostilities. Bryce had little opportunity for schooling, but by close reading equipped himself very well. When he was 18 years of age he was attracted to the goldfields in Australia, where he remained for more than two years. Returning to New Zealand in 1853 he took up a farm at Brunswick, near Wanganui (on which he lived until 1903), and in the following year he married a daughter of T. J. Campbell.

In 1859 Bryce was chairman of the Tunahaere wardens. He volunteered in the first Maori war (1860) and served under General Cameron. In 1862, when he was a warden of the North Brunswick road district, he was elected to the Wellington Provincial Council for the district of Wanganui and Rangitikei. In his first speech in the Council (on 1 May) he disapproved strongly of the native policy of the General Government, which he said had managed the Maori by bribery. As long as the Maori believed themselves a match for the soldiers there would never be a solid peace. He fought vigorously and successfully for a bridge over the Wanganui river to connect the town with the country settlement. He advocated the rights of the settlers in the outlying districts between Wellington and Taranaki provinces and fought hard for a separate local government for this area. He was, however, opposed to the whole provincial system, which he considered had outlived its usefulness. Bryce resigned from the Provincial Council in May 1863, mainly as a protest against the action of the Superintendent (Featherston) in permitting the executive to manage affairs in defiance of the Council. When he stood again (May 1865) he still insisted on preserving his independence. What he desired to see was municipal councils everywhere and the Provincial Councils abolished. He was elected at the head of the poll (Bryce 116, Kells 84, W. H. Watt 80). Still keenly desirous that local settlers should have the management of their own affairs, he presented a petition for the creation of a new province from the Manawatu river to the Taranaki border. When Halcombe threatened to create a new port at Manawatu Bryce put forward a counter-proposal to set up a provincial government in Wanganui town alone, without any hinterland. In Feb 1866 Bryce was elected to represent Wanganui in the General Assembly, defeating H. S. Harrison by 102 votes to 51. He declined to give an unqualified support to the Stafford Government. About a year later ill-health compelled him to resign from both the Provincial Council and Parliament (Feb 1867). Bryce's opinions on the Maori question were the orthodox views of the fighting frontiersman who had already served in the war of 1860 and had seen his neighbours who stuck to their farms shot down on their doorsteps. In 1866 he insisted that two British regiments should be retained for garrison duty while the farmers themselves fought the campaign in the field. In 1868, when the front of the victorious Titokowaru was within 12 miles of his farm, Bryce helped to form a local volunteer troop, the Kai-iwi Yeomanry Cavalry, and accepted a lieutenant's commission under Captain Newland. Whitmore said of this corps: "It was to a large extent upon the devotion and energy of these highly competent mounted corps that I relied for the defence of the settlement"; and (elsewhere) "they were for all the duties of frontier mounted infantry absolutely perfect." At the end of 1868, when the main force was withdrawn for service in Poverty Bay, the cavalry troop was entrusted with the duty of patrolling the front against any activity on the part of Titokowaru. In Apr 1869 Bryce scouted in canoes far up the Waitotara river in search of hostile forces belonging to the Tangahoe tribe. It was in this West Coast campaign that the engagement occurred at Handley's woolshed, Nukumaru. Unimportant in itself, this incident was destined to be exaggerated by charges brought against Bryce by G. W. Rusden (q.v.), who in his History of New Zealand accused him of cutting down Maori women and children. Bryce took proceedings against Rusden in London and gained a verdict with £5,000 damages.

In 1871 Bryce was elected to Parliament for Wanganui unopposed, and in 1876 he was again returned, with Vogel as his colleague (Bryce 380, Vogel 361, Watt 191, Pharazyn 36). At the election for Wanganui (Sep 1879) Bryce and Ballance were returned, defeating the philo-Maori Fox (Bryce 560, Ballance 547, Fox 501). Despite the weak state of his health, which had given his friends grave anxiety earlier in the year, Bryce was indicated by his wide experience and firm views as the obvious Native Minister in Hall's cabinet, in which he took office on 8 Oct 1879. In a policy speech at that time he insisted that firmness and justice were essential for the welfare of both races, and asked that for the reputation of the Colony grievances should be properly inquired into. He infused vigour and policy into the administration of native affairs, organising the Armed Constabulary and preparing communications before he laid before his colleagues his plans for breaking up the settlement of malcontents at Parihaka. Representing a frontier constituency, he held strong views on the various forms of resistance to settlement exerted by the Maori at Parihaka, and tried to persuade his colleagues that the only solution was to be found in strong action against the prophets Te Whiti and Tohu. A majority of the cabinet shrank from any action that might precipitate war. Believing that the Government could gain its end by a waiting policy, they could not be prevailed upon to adopt Bryce's plan and, as he had declared he would only hold office while he was able to do what he considered best for the country, he resigned (21 Jan 1881) and stood off in a benevolent liaison.

The Hon W. Rolleston assumed the charge of native affairs, and did his utmost to bring about a better atmosphere. Te Whiti again refused to accept the ample provision for all sections of the Maori race which was proposed by the West Coast land commission and declined to meet the Governor at Parihaka, while his followers continued fencing the roads and interrupting the farming operations of the settlers. Converted at length to Bryce's view, the Ministry invited him to resume his old office, and he was again sworn in on 19 Oct as Minister of Native Affairs and Defence on the distinct understanding that the nest of resistance at Parihaka should be eradicated by strong measures. No time was now lost in preparing his coup. A force of 959 Volunteers and 630 Armed Constabulary, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, was concentrated at Rahotu and Pungarehu under the direction of Bryce and marched on Parihaka before dawn of 5 Nov 1881. Bryce rode into the settlement and demanded the surrender of Te Whiti and Tohu, whose arrest was effected without bloodshed. The arrest included some hundreds of their followers, together with a man named Hiroki, who was wanted on a charge of murder. Rolleston joined Bryce on this occasion to share responsibility for the action of the Government. Historians and politicians have criticised the harshness of the proceedings at Parihaka, not always remembering that firmness seemed imperative in the view Bryce took of the danger which menaced the colony. Te Whiti and Tohu were kept in custody for some months. Hiroki was tried and convicted of murder, and Titokowaru was, on a charge arising elsewhere, bound over to keep the peace. After the satisfactory outcome of these operations Bryce took an active part in legislation to pacify the Maori people and redress some of their grievances. One of these measures was the West Coast peace preservation act, 1882, which empowered the Government to hold the prophets prisoner at the Queen's pleasure. In 1883 the amnesty act was passed, granting a free pardon to Te Kooti, who had been specially excepted from the earlier measure. Bryce invited Te Kooti to meet him at Whatiwhatihoe in the King Country, where he extended the Queen's pardon and shook hands with the ancient enemy of the pakeha. This incident was seized upon by his many political opponents and also figures in Rusden's history.

Bryce continued in office under Whitaker (1882-83) and Atkinson. On the defeat of the Atkinson Government in 1884 he proceeded to England in connection with his case against Rusden, and, in fact, spent in Europe most of the three years that his party was in opposition. He returned to Wanganui in the middle of 1887, when he was enthusiastically received. At the general election in Jul he was defeated for Waitotara by George Hutchison (q.v.). In 1889 he gained a seat without opposition as member for Waipa (in succession to Major Jackson) and at the general election in 1890 he was re-elected (for the new Waikato seat) also without a contest. The Atkinson Government having suffered a defeat, Bryce, who was by seniority and qualifications leader of the opposition, insisted on Atkinson staying in office for a few weeks, during which new appointments were made to the Legislative Council. Bryce led the party in opposition for only a few months. In his first session (Aug 1891) he was named by the Speaker for using words in the heat of debate which reflected on the Premier. Refusing to withdraw, he repeated the words and incurred the censure of the House (by 38 to 24). Bryce withdrew, and a telegram of resignation the following day terminated his political career in a manner typical of his stern, uncompromising temperament.

He was a man of resolute will and sterling honesty; sensitive to a degree; fair but candid; strong-willed and uncompromising; lacking that tact towards the pakeha or suavity towards the Maori which have carried less able men farther. He used no soft speech with political opponents and received hard knocks in return. Bryce retired to his farm, to devote his time to pastoral pursuit, books, chess and occasionally bowls. But his influence did not cease to be felt in the political affairs of the country. In 1903 he intervened in a press discussion to defend the action of Rolleston at Parihaka, and he wrote a few months later a valuable series of articles on Maori fanaticism which clearly illuminates his own native policy.

N.Z.P.D., pass. (notably 31 Jul 1866, 24 Aug 1875, 27, 31 Aug 1891, 29 Jun 1892); Gorton; Cowan (p); Gudgeon (p); Cycl. N.Z., i; J. G. Wilson; The Press, 4 Feb 1903, 23, 24, 28 Mar 1903; N.Z. Herald, 12, 19 Nov 1881 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 71

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BRYDONE, THOMAS (1837-1904) was born at West Linton, Peebleshire, and removed with his parents to Blair Athol. He was educated at Perth Academy and entered the office of a commissioner appointed to inquire into the means of lending money to landlords to improve their estates by drainage. He was two years there and then became land steward to the Earl of Buchan at Roxburn, West Lothian; and later to the Duke of Hamilton. He was afterwards a travelling inspector for the West of England Land Co. engaged in the same type of business; was factor to Lord Falmouth in Kent and returned to Roxburn, where oil was discovered. Brydone was a partner in Young's Paraffin Oil Co. (1866-67), but its prospect was defeated by American competition and he was then appointed by the Australian and New Zealand Land Co. to take charge of its properties in New Zealand. The company was an amalgamation of the Land Co. and the Canterbury and Otago Association.

Brydone's claim to the gratitude of New Zealand rests on the fact that he was the practical founder of the frozen meat and dairy industry. He worked hard to establish the Burnside freezing works (of which he was a director) and was responsible for the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to London. The dairy factory established at Edendale by his advice was the pioneer in a great expansion of dairying. He was a pioneer also in the use of lime and artificial manures, by which he greatly increased the output of the company's estates at Tokarahi, Totara, Clydevale, and Edendale. He was closely associated with the Otago A. and P. society from its inception (1876) and was president in 1880, 1884, 1885 and 1887. Brydone assisted to form the Agricultural Hall Co. and was a director of the Milburn Lime and Cement Co., and chairman of the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Co. During the dredging boom he took part in the formation of several companies. Brydone died on 17 Jun 1904.

Philpott (p); Critchell and Raymond; Otago Daily Times, 21 Jun 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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BUCHANAN, ANDREW (1806-77) was born in Jamaica, his father being a sugar planter and his mother the daughter of a planter in St Kitts. After the liberation of the slaves they settled in Dorsetshire and he was educated at Sherborne and at Paris University, where he graduated in medicine and surgery. In 1830 he volunteered for service in the Polish struggle for independence. On the suppression of the insurrection he went to St Andrews University, where he graduated M.D. In 1833 he settled in the south of England as a public vaccinator. Two years later he married a daughter of Dr Harkness (London). He was in London for about 25 years, being a governor of St George's hospital and having an estate at Chingford, Essex.

Having achieved a competence, Buchanan retired from practice and in 1857 brought his family to Auckland. In 1858 he was called to give evidence before a parliamentary committee on lunatic asylums, and in 1859 a site was chosen at Nelson for an asylum. The Taranaki war intervening, Buchanan moved to Dunedin, where he took up the Patearoa run of 75,000 acres, extending from the Lammerlaws to Sowburn point. In 1862 he brought his family and horses to Otago in the schooner Clutha. He erected a house in North East Valley, but frequently visited his run at Maniatoto. In 1862 he was called to the Legislative Council, in which body he did good service in various measures of social reform. He was particularly responsible for the committee which was set up in 1871 to consider the establishment of a central asylum for persons of unsound mind, and he kept the subject before the public both in Parliament and in the press until the appointment of Dr Macgregor as inspector general of hospitals and lunatic asylums. In 1874 he retired from the Council and returned to live in England, where he died on 4 Sep 1877. He was a strong Anglican and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Colonial Institute.

N.Z.P.D.; Fulton (p); Otago Witness, 26 Oct 1866; Mar 1898 (jubilee); Otago Daily Times, 27 Jun 1872, 12 Sep 1877.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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BUCHANAN, HUGH (1812-77) was born at Kinloch Mhor, Argyllshire, where his father had extensive pastoral farms on lease from the Earl of Breadalbane and the Stewarts of Appin. He was educated privately and, having been trained to farming, he leased Blarcreen in Argyllshire. There he farmed until 1848 when he sailed for Melbourne. Finding the climate too hot, he came to Canterbury and settled at Motunau, acquiring a property at the head of Lake Forsyth which he called Kinloch. He did much to improve his farm and to promote the interests of the district. He was chairman of the Little River road board and afterwards of the Akaroa county council and he represented Wainui in the Canterbury Provincial Council (1866-70). Buchanan died on 23 Sep 1877.

Cycl. NZ, iii (p); Playne; J Hay.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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BUCHANAN, JOHN (1819-92) was born at Woolwich, England. About 1839 he emigrated to Australia and was for many years government storekeeper at Sydney. In 1861 he came to New Zealand in the Montezuma, settled in Napier and later bought the Elsthorpe estate of 10,000 acres. He was in the Provincial Council (1865-75) representing Napier Town (1865-66), Napier Country (1867-71) and Waimarama (1871-75). At the fighting at Omarunui he was in command of the Napier Rifles. Buchanan represented Napier in Parliament (1881-84). He died in 1892.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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BUCHANAN, JOHN (1819-98) was born at Levenside, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and educated at the parish school there. Apprenticed to a pattern designer at the print and dyeworks, he made a study of botany and obtained many designs from leaves. Moving to Glasgow, he pursued his studies there until 1849, when he came to Otago in the Columbus and settled at North East Valley. There he began almost at once to collect plants, a pursuit which he maintained throughout life.

After a short visit to the Victorian goldfields he joined the staff of the triangulation survey in Otago, and when Hector took control he devoted himself to the study of the botany of the province, in pursuit of which he did much exploration and made reports on the occurrence of gold in the Clutha and Tuapeka rivers. He was afterwards permanently attached to the geological survey as botanist and draughtsman. Amongst his explorations were visits to the Campbell and Macquarie islands. He published a volume on the indigenous grasses of New Zealand (in 1880) and botanical notes on the Kaikoura mountains and Mount Egmont (1867). He was a founder of the New Zealand Institute, and contributed many papers to its transactions, besides illustrating most of the earlier volumes with his fine sketches. In 1880 he was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society. When he retired (in 1885) he was elected a life member of the Wellington Philosophical Society. Buchanan died on 18 Oct 1898.

Trans. N.Z. Inst.; Otago Daily Times, 19 Oct 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 72

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BUCHANAN, SIR WALTER CLARKE (1838-1924) was born at Glendaruel, Argyllshire, the son of Duncan Donald Buchanan, a farmer of Auchenbreck. He was educated at the parish school and at Greenock Academy; and at the age of 18 went to Victoria, where he spent six years as stockman to the Hon. Neil Black, of Glenormiston.

In 1862 he crossed to the Otago goldfields, where he engaged in carrying and stock dealing. In 1865 he moved to Canterbury with the intention of taking up land in company with a friend, John Ferguson. The discoveries of gold on the West Coast suggested the possibility of making a fortune there, and they hurried across the mountains and commenced packing between Greymouth and the Greenstone by way of Taylor's Saddle and the Teremakau. In company with Captain Leech they walked to Hokitika and marked out the channel of the river with poles to enable Leech to bring in safely a vessel which he was to load with merchandise at Nelson. Meanwhile Buchanan and Ferguson erected a store in Revell street. For the next two years they made handsome profits, then sold out and returned to their Canterbury place near Halswell where they resumed cattle dealing and shipping to the North Island.

About 1871 Buchanan moved to the North Island, and with his elder brother Donald purchased the Tupurupuru property, of 13,000 acres in Wairarapa, where he established an English Leicester flock and later specialised in Lincolns and in Shorthorn cattle. The sheep came mainly from Henry Dudding, of Riby Grove, Lincolnshire, and the cattle were founded on animals purchased from Alex McHardy, with later infusions of blood from Victoria. Buchanan took an early part in the affairs of the district, mainly in the eradication of scab and rabbits, two scourges which he was convinced would ruin the farmer if not remedied. He was one of the founders of the Wairarapa A. and P. Society (1877). Within the next few years he was a determined advocate of refrigeration, being an original promoter of the Wellington Meat Export Co. (1881) and its first chairman and a member of the board throughout life. He assisted later in the establishment of several dairy factories, being chairman of the companies at Greytown and Clareville, and took an interest in fruit growing in the Greytown district. He was chairman of the local highways board and a member for some years of the Wairarapa South county council. Buchanan represented Wairarapa South in Parliament 1881-87, and Wairarapa 1887-99, being defeated in the last year by Hornsby (q.v.). In 1902 he regained the seat, but lost it again at the following election. In 1908 the tables were again turned and Buchanan sat until 1914, when once more Hornsby defeated him. In 1915 he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a prominent member until his death. In his early days in Parliament he supported Atkinson, but as a farmer differed on protection and eventually followed Russell into opposition (1888). He was associated with Massey from his earlier entry into parliamentary life (1894) and was one of the strongest supporters of the Reform Party which eventually came into office (1913).

Buchanan was an ardent advocate of farming interests, attending for many years the Farmers' Union and Agricultural Conferences. In 1907 he formed a committee to bring about reductions in the freight on New Zealand wool to the same level as that ruling from Australia. The outcome was the formation of a farmers' shipping company (G. H. Scales and Co.), which achieved considerable improvement and in the interests of which he toured the Dominion shortly before his death. He was keenly interested in agricultural education, and his gift of £10,000 resulted in the establishment of a chair of agriculture at Victoria College and eventually led to the creation of Massey College. Buchanan was also for 30 years on the Wellington education board and assisted in the establishment of Flock House for the training of English boys and girls in farming. He was one of the founders of the meat control committee (1921) and was prominent for many years in the Council of Agriculture and the Royal Agricultural Society. Amongst his gifts to the Wairarapa district was the Buchanan Home for Incurables at Greytown. He was one of the founders of The Dominion newspaper (Wellington). Buchanan was knighted in 1913. He died, unmarried, on 19 Jul 1924.

N.Z.P.D., 1881-1924, pass.; Parltry Record; Scholefield in Wairarapa Age, 21 Jul 1924; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); iii, p 668. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUCKLAND, JOHN CHANNING (1844-1909) was a son of W. T. Buckland and was born in Auckland. Educated at the Grammar School and St John's College there, he served in the Waikato war with Nixon's cavalry and, after a trip to England, settled at Otahuhu. A few years later he took up the Tumai estate near Waikouaiti, Otago, and subsequently Lake Taieri station. In 1899 he sold his Otago interests and settled at The Glen, Akaroa. Buckland was a member of the Waikouaiti county council and road board and represented the district in Parliament (1884-87). He married (1867) a daughter of W. Fairburn. His death occurred on 4 Apr 1909.

Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Lyttelton Times, 6 Apr 1909.

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUCKLAND, WILLIAM FRANCIS (1847-1915) was born at Auckland, the son of William Thorne Buckland, who represented Southern Division in the Auckland Provincial Council (1855-61) and was on the executive (1857-61); and sat in Parliament for Raglan (1865-66) and for Franklin (1871-75). Educated at the Grammar School, Parnell, and St John's College (where he won a scholarship), W. F. Buckland entered the provincial engineer's department (1865) and two years later joined the Colonial Survey. In 1868 he resigned and became manager of the Una battery and mine at Thames. Between 1873 and 1880 he was a member of the Remuera road board, licensing committee, school committee and domain board. In 1883 he was elected to the Auckland education board and in 1884 he was called to the bar. Buckland represented Franklin North in Parliament (1884-87) and Manukau (1890-93). In 1885 he was elected to the Auckland hospital and charitable aid board. He practised law for many years in Cambridge and was mayor of the borough (1898-1902 and 1905-07). He died on 29 Dec 1915. Buckland introduced the satirical washers' and manglers' bill in Parliament in 1892.

N.Z.P.D., 10 May 1916; Parltry Record; Who's Who N.Z., 1908

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUCKLETON, SIR HENRY (1865-1934) was born in Sydney, his father being a journalist. Educated at the William Street school, he joined the Bank of New Zealand in Sydney in 1878, and in 1891 was sent to Melbourne as acting accountant. In 1892 he was accountant at Hamilton (New Zealand) and in 1893 at Auckland. In 1901 he was appointed manager at New Plymouth and in 1905 chief inspector at the head office. He returned to Auckland the following year as manager and remained there until he became general manager in 1920. He was created a knight bachelor in 1929 and retired in 1933. Buckleton married (1893) Gertrude (O.B.E.), daughter of W. A. Graham. He died on 7 Dec 1934.

Bank of New Zealand, annual reports; Who's Who N.Z., 1932; The Dominion and Evening Post, 8 Dec 1934 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUCKLEY, GEORGE, was brother-in-law of John and Allan McLean, with whom he was interested in many estates in Canterbury, including the freehold of Waikakahi. Buckley sold his share to his partners in 1875. He was a partner in the firm of Dalgety and Co.

In public life Buckley was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council for Lyttelton (1862-66) and for Waimate (1866-75); and was in the executive in 1866, 1871 and 1875-76. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1871 and remained till 1885, when he resigned.

A son, WILLIAM FREDERICK McLEAN BUCKLEY (1861-1930) graduated at Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the bar. He farmed at Dunsandel, specialising in wheat growing and breeding draught and harness horses and polo ponies. He was a fine polo player, and a good oarsman. He was some time president of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association and a member of the board of governors of Canterbury Agricultural College (1901-08, 1915-19). Buckley died on 20 Aug 1930.

Another son, GEORGE ALLAN McLEAN BUCKLEY (1866-1937) was educated at Christ's College and Cheltenham, received his commission in the East Lancashire Regiment and served in India with the Hampshire Regiment. He married Mabel Gertrude Warren and returned to New Zealand to look after estates which he had inherited from his uncle, John McLean. He instituted a profit-sharing scheme for the benefit of his employees. A fine horseman, swimmer and sportsman, Buckley accompanied an expedition to Patagonia in 1897. He was an ardent yachtsman; took his master mariner's ticket in 1904, and until over 60 years of age sailed his 30-ton ketch Truant single-handed in north European waters. In 1908 he was in charge of the ponies of Shackleton's expedition. Buckley commanded a battalion of the Leinster Regiment in the war of 1914-18 (D.S.O. 1916; C.B.E. 1919). He died on 10 Nov 1937.

Parlty Record; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Col. Gent.; Acland; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Christ's Coll. List; The Times (London), 18 Nov 1937; The Press, 22 Aug 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUCKLEY, SIR PATRICK ALPHONSUS (1841-96) was born at Castle Townsend, County Cork, Ireland. He was educated at Queen's College, Cork, and in Paris, and having matriculated entered the University of Louvain, Belgium. While there he was commissioned by Count Carlo Macdonald, private chaplain to the Pope, to conduct from Ostend to Vienna a band of volunteers to join the Papal forces against the Piedmontese (1860). Serving under General Lamoriciere, he was present at the battle of Castelfidardo, and was taken prisoner at the capture of Ancona, being twice wounded.

Returning to Louvain, Buckley qualified as a licentiate and shortly afterwards made up his mind to go to the colonies. In 1862 he sailed for Queensland and entered the law office in Brisbane of Charles Lilley (who was premier 1868-70, and chief justice 1879-93). He was admitted to the bar and commenced to practise in Brisbane, but moved to Melbourne and was admitted there and in 1865 came to New Zealand. Settling in Wellington, he was at first a partner of C. E. Button and W. S. Reid, but in 1867 joined Robert Hart (q.v.). He was afterwards a member of the Wellington firm of Buckley, Stafford and Fitzherbert.

In 1872 Buckley was elected to the Provincial Council for Karori and Makara and in the following year for Wellington, which he represented until 1875. He was for some time provincial solicitor. For two years (1871-73) he was a member of the Wellington City Council. In 1878 he was called to the Legislative Council and in 1884 became Colonial Secretary in the second Stout-Vogel ministry. In 1891 he was a member of the Ballance ministry, in which he held the portfolios of Attorney-general and Colonial Secretary, being also Minister of Marine for a few months in 1893. On 20 Dec 1895 he retired from politics on being appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. He held his first sessions at Napier, but failing health soon terminated his career and he died on 18 May 1896.

Buckley married (1869) Alice Jane, daughter of Sir Wm. Fitzherbert. He was a keen volunteer, and was captain of D battery, which he was instrumental in forming.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Ward; Reeves; Gisborne; N.Z.P.D., 11 Jun 1896; N.Z. Graphic, 13 Aug 1892, 4 Feb 1893; The Times (London), 19 May 1896; N.Z. Times, 19 May 1896. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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BUDDLE, THOMAS (1812-83) was born at Durham of a Church of England family. At the age of 17 he began to attend the Wesleyan Church at Barnard Castle, of which he became a member and local preacher. He studied theology with great diligence, and at the age of 23 was accepted by the conference as a probationer and appointed to the Daventry circuit, Northamptonshire. The remainder of his four years he spent at Huntingdon and St Neots and Peterborough.

In 1839, having passed his examinations, he was ordained at Liverpool and accepted an offer from the Wesleyan missionary committee to go to New Zealand. He married a daughter of William Dixon, of Barnard Castle, and sailed from Bristol (Sep 1839) with the Rev J. and Mrs Skevington, the Rev H. H. and Mrs Turton, Buttle, Aldred and Gideon Smales in the schooner Triton, 130 tons, the first mission ship sent out by the society. After calling at the Cape and Hobart they reached Hokianga (May 1840). Buddle and his wife landed at Kawhia and walked to their station at Whaingaroa. A few months later he was detailed at the request of Tamihana te Rauparaha to establish a mission at Porirua; but the schooner which was to take them south was wrecked on Kawhia bar. Buddle had to return to Whaingaroa. The general superintendent arriving shortly afterwards appointed him at the request of Te Rau Takerei to a new station at Kopua, on the Waipa. During four years there he baptised many important chiefs and opened schools under native teachers in villages as far afield as Mokau and Taupo. In 1844, in common with Morgan, Ashwell, Whiteley and Wallis, he accompanied his particular tribe to the great meeting at Remuera.

Much against his wish, Buddle was removed from Waipa to Auckland in the belief that he was the best qualified to take charge of the training institution for native teachers which had just been opened in Grafton road. Twenty students from all over the country were in training. Buddle also acted as financial secretary of the Wesleyan missions in the South Seas while the headquarters were in Auckland. He spent 22 years ministering to natives and Europeans in the vicinity of the city and was chairman of the Auckland district. With Whiteley he attended the first Australasian conference at Sydney, by which he was appointed to Manukau. Thereafter for ten years he filled circuits in the South, including Christchurch (1866), Wellington (1870) and Nelson (1873). Then, the conference having decided to establish Wesley College (a theological institution) at Three Kings to train young men of both races for the ministry, Buddle was appointed principal and lecturer in theology. This position he held until 1881. In the following year he resigned from full work, to continue as a supernumerary for a few years more. Buddle was in turn chairman of the Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington districts. He was president of the Australasian conference in 1861 and of the first New Zealand conference (1874). He was a fluent Maori linguist and a sound scholar and was chosen by the Bible society as one of the translators of the Bible into Maori. As an educationalist he was on the senate of the New Zealand University (1871-80) and the council of Auckland University College.

While stationed at Onehunga (1860) he was called upon to calm the excitement amongst the natives consequent upon the Taranaki war. With the Superintendent of the province (Williamson) and the Native Minister (McLean) he spent many weeks at Ngaruawahia. His accurate knowledge of the Maori mind and sympathetic understanding of their problems were of great value, but all efforts to detach the Waikato tribes from the King movement failed. Buddle saw the King proclaimed and wrote an illuminating booklet The Maori King Movement (1860). He died on 26 Jun 1883; and his widow on 1 Sep 1884.

Morley; Buller; Buddle, op. cit.; M. A. R. Pratt (information); Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); New Zealand Herald, 27, 30 Jun 1883; Public Opinion (Dunedin), 2 Apr 1881 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 74

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BUDDO, DAVID (1856-1937) was born in Edinburgh, the son of a surgeon in the Indian army. Educated in Kincardineshire and Perth, he trained as an engineer for one year and came to New Zealand in 1877. After working as an engineer in Canterbury for two years he took up land at Ellesmere, where he farmed till 1890, when he removed to Fernside.

Buddo was a member of the Springs and Mandeville-Rangiora road boards (1884-1900) and chairman of the latter; of the North Canterbury education board (1887-1909; chairman 1900-07), the Lyttelton harbour board (1897-1907), the Rangiora county council from 1896 (chairman 1897-1900), the Christchurch domain board and the board of governors of Canterbury Agricultural College from 1915 (chairman 1930). He was captain of the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles (1901-3). Buddo entered Parliament in 1893 as a Liberal (defeating R. Moore for Kaiapoi), and represented that constituency until 1928 (except for two parliaments). He was defeated in 1898 and 1919. He was Minister of Internal Affairs in the Ward Government (1909-12). Called to the Legislative Council in 1930, Buddo remained a member until 1937, in which year he died (8 Dec). He married (1886) Janet, daughter of James Rollo.

Parlty Record; Hansard; The Dominion, 9 Dec 1937 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 74

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BUDGE, WILLIAM (1816-71) came to New Zealand as an assistant surveyor in the Will Watch (1841) and worked for the New Zealand Company for some years. In 1848 he was sent to survey the Wairau and Queen Charlotte Sound and he lived on Budge's Island until it was submerged in an earthquake in 1855. He then took up a run at the Bluff and some farming country, which later he leased to the Redwoods. Budge represented Lower Wairau in the Marlborough Provincial Council (1862-64). He died on 30 Oct 1871.

Marlborough P.C. Proc.; Buick, Marlborough

Reference: Volume 1, page 74

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BUICK, DAVID (1848-1918) was born at Karori, the son of William Buick, who arrived in the Arab (1841) and in 1852 settled at the Hutt. There David was educated and worked until 1885, when he bought 550 acres of first-class grazing land near Palmerston North. Buick was a well known breeder of Romney Marsh sheep and owned successful racehorses. In public life he was a member of the Hutt road board, and chairman of the Manawatu road board and drainage board. He was a prominent supporter of the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral association. In 1896 he contested the Manawatu seat in Parliament. In 1908 he was elected for that constituency which he represented in the Reform interest till his death (on 18 Nov 1918).

N.Z.P.D., 19 Nov 1918; Evening Post, 19 Nov 1918.

Reference: Volume 1, page 74

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BUICK, THOMAS LINDSAY (1866-1938) was born at Oamaru, the son of John Walker Buick, educated at the South school there and taught the trade of a carpenter. At the age of 18 he moved to Blenheim, where he took his first interest in public affairs. He joined the local branch of the Irish National League and lectured in favour of home rule in Wellington and Christchurch.

In 1890 he was elected to Parliament as the representative of Wairau, defeating A. P. Seymour. He was one of the first labour members of the House. As secretary of the Liberal Association Buick was selected by Ballance as organising secretary of the Liberal Federation. Re-elected to Parliament in 1893, he became Liberal whip but showed a degree of independence, especially in his denunciation of the abolition of the railway commissioners. Having lost his seat at the following election (1896), he devoted himself to journalism, purchasing a third interest in the Manawatu Standard at Palmerston North. While living there Buick published his first volumes on New Zealand history, Old Marlborough (1900) and Old Manawatu (1903). In 1903 he moved to Dannevirke, acquiring an interest in the Advocate. While there he published (1911) his life of Te Rauparaha under the title of An Old New Zealander. In that year he visited England and on his return he sold his interest in the paper and moved to Wellington, where in 1913 he joined the staff of the United Press Association, of which he was first assistant when he retired (1933). In 1914 he published the first edition of The Treaty of Waitangi, of which the third appeared in 1933. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He published later New Zealand's First War (1926), The French at Akaroa (1928), and The Mystery of the Moa (1931). In 1933 Buick retired from journalism to devote his whole time to history. For the last year or two of his life he occupied an official post at the Turnbull Library in succession to Elsdon Best. His later historical works were The Discovery of Dinornis (1936), The Moa Hunters of New Zealand (1937) and Waitangi, Ninety-four Years After (1934). Though without training in historical method, Buick was an avid researcher and a well-balanced historian with a graceful style of popular prose. He was chairman of the Wellington provincial historical committee (1937-38). He was devoted to music and for many years attended the brass bands competitions in New Zealand. He published in 1935 a story of Mendelssohn's Elijah and in 1927 The Romance of the Gramophone. On his death (on 22 Feb 1938) he bequeathed £1,000 to the Hocken Library and £12,000 to the National Art Gallery. (C.M.G. 1934).

Russell; Saunders; Annals N.Z. Lit.; Evening Post, 22 Feb 1938 (p); The Dominion, 22 Feb (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 75

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BULL, JAMES (1831-92) was born in London, trained as a carpenter and worked for Grissell and Peto on the building of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. Coming to Wellington in 1859, he did some work on the provincial buildings. Having contracted to build a house at the ferry in Rangitikei, he took up land and erected a sawmill and later acquired 100 acres at Pukapukatea, where he established his Pukenui farm (now Ohakea). Bull had a hotel and store at a spot afterwards called Bull Town, and eventually Bulls. He was carrying for some years between there and Wanganui.

Cycl. NZ, i; J. G. Wilson.

Reference: Volume 1, page 75

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BULLER, JAMES (1812-84). Born in Cornwall in 1812, Buller as a young man felt drawn towards the Church and acted as a Wesleyan local preacher. In Oct 1835, with his wife, he sailed for Australia by the Platina. In Sydney he met the Rev N. Turner (q.v.) who engaged him as tutor to his young family about to return to New Zealand, and they continued their voyage in the Patriot, arriving at Hokianga on 27 Apr 1836.

During the three years that Buller spent at Mangungu he thoroughly mastered the Maori language, in which he was able to preach after 12 months residence in the country. He showed such aptitude for mission work that he was accepted by the London conference on the recommendation of the missionaries. Buller experienced many dangers, but throughout evinced unflinching courage. On the occasion of the attack on the native teachers at Rotopipiwai (1837) he went at once to the spot with his colleagues and interviewed the murderers. In the following year he was appointed to take charge of a station at Tangiteroria where, mainly under the protection of Tirarau, he spent a useful 15 years. In 1839, in view of the expected arrival of emigrants, he made a long journey on foot to Port Nicholson to secure a site for a mission. There (on 21 Jan 1840) he found the Cuba at anchor and met Wharepouri and other local chiefs. The Aurora arrived on 22 Jan and Buller preached to the emigrants on board on Sunday, 26 Jan. Returning to Bay of Islands by the Atlas, Buller reached his station on the Kaipara before the meeting to consider the Treaty of Waitangi.

During Heke's war he rendered important service to the government. In these years he paid periodical visits to Auckland to minister to the Wesleyans resident there. In 1854 he was removed to Wellington. There his duties extended to Wairarapa and Wanganui, where he opened the church in Ridgway street. He had also six native churches to visit, and was chairman of the district. In 1861 he was posted to Christchurch, with charge of the Canterbury circuit. On several visits to Timaru he launched the work of the church in south Canterbury. He opened the Durham street church in Christchurch, and added 10 places of worship to the circuit. Before his term expired he was called upon to supervise the establishment of the Church in the new mining districts of the West Coast (1865). He rode from Christchurch to Hokitika and with the Rev G. S Harper (who went by sea) he established Methodism in the west. Returning to Auckland (1866), his organising genius was again requisitioned in connection with the Thames goldfields. He opened a church in Oct 1867, two months after his arrival, and was delighted to find many miners from his native county amongst the worshippers. Thames was erected into a separate circuit in 1870 with Buller as superintendent, and a young minister as assistant at Coromandel.

In 1864 Buller presided at the Australasian conference in Melbourne. For twenty years he was chairman of one district or another: and in 1875 he was elected president of the New Zealand conference. In 1876 Buller went to England, where he spent the next five years lecturing and publishing his well known book Forty Years in New Zealand (1878). He returned to New Zealand in 1881 and settled at Christchurch, where he died on 6 Nov 1884. Mrs Buller died on 23 Dec of the same year. Buller was a man of great mental power, a fine preacher and a capable administrator. He had a thorough knowledge of the Maori people and their language and a sympathetic understanding of their modes of thought. Apart from his distinguished service as a missionary, he was always an active citizen, interested in all social movements, and in the politics of both races. He was at different periods a governor of Nelson and Canterbury Colleges.

Morley; Sherrin and Wallace; Buller, op. cit.; Marsden, L. and J.; Gorton.

Reference: Volume 1, page 75

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BULLER, WALTER LAWRY (1838-1906) was born at Newark, Bay of Islands, the son of the Rev. James Buller (q.v.). He received his early education at Wesley College, Auckland, and entered the service of the Union Bank at Auckland. There he won rapid promotion, but on medical advice took a year's rest at Wellington. Here he devoted himself to literary and scientific studies, enjoying the friendship of William Swainson, F.R.S. In 1861 he gained first prize for an essay on The Moral Welfare of New Zealand offered by the Auckland Association. In 1865 he was awarded the silver medal of the New Zealand exhibition for an essay on the ornithology of New Zealand, which was published (1865).

Having acquired a competent knowledge of Maori, Buller was appointed government interpreter at Wellington (1855). He started and edited a weekly Maori newspaper, Te Karere o Poneke, which became self-supporting and was afterwards subsidised by the government. In 1859 he was appointed native commissioner for the Southern Provinces, where he carried through the partition and individualisation of the Kaiapoi reserve. In 1861 he acted as secretary of the Kohimarama conference of native chiefs, and prepared the proceedings for publication. In the same year he was appointed editor of the official Maori Messenger (a bimonthly journal in English and Maori), and he was likewise the promoter and first editor of Te Manuhiri Tuarangi, or Maori Intelligencer. In Feb 1862 he was gazetted a justice of the peace, and in Apr resident magistrate at Manawatu. In 1865 he was appointed a judge of the native land court, in which capacity he frequently earned the thanks of the government. He saw a good deal of active service and showed great personal courage on the West Coast, especially at Weraroa and in the Ruahine ranges. He published many papers on biological subjects, mainly ornithology. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean, Geological and Royal Geographical societies, and a corresponding member of the Zoological Society of London. In 1866 he was appointed resident magistrate and sheriff at Wanganui. These appointments he held till 1871, when he went to England as secretary to the agent-general. While there he was called to the bar at the Inner Temple, and published his first important work, A History of the Birds of New Zealand (1873). In recognition of its merit the university of Tubingen conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor of science. Buller presented to the Colonial museum the collection of birds on which the letter-press was founded. In 1875 he was created a C.M.G., and in 1876 was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. Returning to New Zealand in 1874 he was admitted to the bar and for the next 30 years he devoted himself to practice. Devoting himself especially to native work, he appeared for the Ngati-Apa in the Rangatira block case (1882) and the Horowhenua case (1895). In 1881 he contested the Foxton seat in Parliament. He continued to make contributions to zoological literature. In 1882 he prepared for official publication a Manual of the Birds of New Zealand, illustrated by photo-lithographic prints from his larger work. In 1883 he received from the New Zealand exhibition the gold medal 'for science and literature.' In 1885 he went to London to represent the colony at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. In 1886 his services were recognised by the K.C.M.G. In 1894 he was made a knight commander of the crown of Italy. At this period he was governor of the New Zealand Institute and president of the Wellington Philosophical society. In 1888 he published an enlarged edition of The Birds of New Zealand, and in 1905 he published in London his supplement, in two volumes.

Buller married (1862) Charlotte (who died in Nov 1891), daughter of Gilbert Mair (q.v.). He died on 18 July 1906.

App. H.R.; Cox, Men of Mark; Buller; Ward; Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol i, et pass; Gudgeon (p); Mair; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Evening Post, 20 Jul 1906.

Reference: Volume 1, page 75

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BUMBY, JOHN HEWGILL (1808-40) was born at Thirsk, Yorkshire. His father released him from a business career to follow his natural bent, and he went in 1827 to a boarding academy at Leeds to study for the ministry. The Wesleyan schism of 1828 intervening, he returned home, studied privately and did home mission work, especially in connection with juvenile associations. Accepted as a probationer, he served in the circuits at York, Hull, Waltham Abbey, Halifax, Holywell and Birmingham.

At Birmingham he met the Rev John Waterhouse, superintendent of the circuit, and he returned there from the London conference in 1834 as a fully acknowledged minister. Though very delicate in health and sensitive in disposition, he early showed a desire to engage in missionary work and in 1838 was designated to proceed to Australia with Ironside, Creed and Warren under the general superintendence of Waterhouse. They sailed in the James in Sep 1838 and arrived in Mar 1839. Bumby's headquarters in New Zealand were at Mangungu, on the Hokianga river. In common with other missionaries of the time he had many perilous experiences in his journeys amongst the New Zealand tribes. With Hobbs he circumnavigated the North Island and returned to Kawhia, and then with Hobbs and Whiteley travelled overland to Taranaki to put a stop to tribal fighting at Mokau. Bumby and Hobbs arrived at Port Nicholson on Friday, 7 Jun 1839, and held a service at Petone the same day. On 8 Jun they tapued land for the Wesleyan mission at Te Aro, and they preached at Te Aro pa on Sunday, 9 Jun. They left behind them the following native teachers until a European missionary should be sent from Hokianga: Moretara; Reihana, his wife and children; Hemi and wife; Ngarota and Waka. These natives laid the foundations upon which John Aldred and others afterwards built. Bumby also paid a short visit to Sydney, and then returned in the Triton to Kawhia with newly arrived missionaries. On his homeward journey to Mangungu he was drowned in the Waitemata estuary through the upsetting of a canoe near Tiritirimatangi (26 Jun 1840). Though an earnest, devout missionary and a good preacher in English, Bumby never fully mastered Maori and had not attained his full usefulness in the field. Bumby's sister, who introduced bees to Mangungu in Mar 1839, married the Rev Gideon Smales (q.v.).

Buller; Morley; M. A. R. Pratt (information); A. Barrett, Life of J. H. Bumby (1852).

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BUNBURY, THOMAS (1791-1861) was the son of a military officer and was born at Gibraltar. In 1807 he received his ensigncy in the 90th Regiment, and he was later transferred to the 3rd Foot, with which he served in Portugal. With the 20th Portuguese infantry he entered France at the end of the Peninsula campaign. (Knight of the Tower and Sword). He came to New South Wales as a major in the 80th Regiment (1837), and was commandant at Norfolk Island until the withdrawal of the troops there.

In Mar 1840 Governor Gipps requested Bunbury to come to New Zealand, in view of the indisposition of Hobson; and, if necessary, to assume the lieutenant-governorship, and he sailed in the Buffalo with 100 men of his regiment. Finding Hobson improving in health but surrounded by difficulties and incompetent advisers, Bunbury came loyally to his assistance and carried through the duties which were necessary to complete British sovereignty in New Zealand. He proceeded in H.M.S. Herald to Port Nicholson and the far south, obtaining the signatures of chiefs to the treaty of Waitangi. At Thames and Coromandel he visited the chiefs in the tender Trent. Rejoining the Herald on 15 May, he proclaimed sovereignty at Sylvan Bay (Stewart Island) on 4 Jun, and at Cloudy Bay on 17 Jun. He was gazetted a magistrate of the territory in May 1841 and was deputy-governor in FitzRoy's absence from the seat of government (18 Jan 1844). A few weeks later he was relieved as senior officer in New Zealand by Col. W. Hulme. (C.B. 1846) Bunbury afterwards served in the Indian mutiny. He wrote a very entertaining book Reminiscences of a Veteran (1861).

G.B.O., 1841/311, 1842/569; Rusden; Bunbury, op. cit. (p); Buick, First War; and Waitangi (p); Scholefield, Hobson (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BUNNY, HENRY (1823-91) was an English solicitor and an attorney of the Queen's bench before coming to Wellington in 1853. He was admitted and practised for some years. In the fifties Bunny took up land first in Rangitikei and later in the Wairarapa in the neighbourhood of Featherston. He was a member of the Provincial Council (for Wairarapa 1864-69, and for Wairarapa West 1869-75). In 1871 he was a member of the provincial executive and in the last days of the province he was provincial secretary and treasurer, and as deputy superintendent was responsible after the departure of Fitzherbert for winding up the affairs of the province.

Bunny was in Parliament for many years (representing Wairarapa 1865-81). He was a Liberal and was eventually defeated by Buchanan, against whom he unsuccessfully contested the seat on several later occasions. He acted as whip for the Stafford government for several years and was an exceptionally clever parliamentary tactician. Bunny held a major's commission in the militia and commanded the Wairarapa volunteer district (1882-89). He was a member of the education board, the waste lands board, the Wellington College board of governors, and of the Featherston town board, licensing bench and school committee. He married first a sister of the Rev Arthur Baker, and (secondly, 1867) Bessie, daughter of S. Thorne, Chapeltown, Yorkshire. Bunny died on 15 Feb 1891.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Carter; Ward; Leckie (p); Evening Post, 16 Feb 1891. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BURN, DAVID (1805-75) was in early life an officer in the Royal Navy. He married Miss Fenton in Ireland (1832). On retiring he went on the stage and had some reputation as an actor of Shakespearean parts. Indifferent health induced him to emigrate to Australia, where he engaged in journalism and other literary activities. He wrote a number of plays, some of which were produced in Australia and New Zealand; and while in Tasmania he published two volumes of Plays and Fugitive Pieces. Burn came to Auckland in the forties and was associated first with the New Zealander and afterwards with the New Zealand Herald, in which he was part proprietor with Wilson. He edited the Maori Messenger in 1849 and again in the period 1855-63, and was also connected for a while with the Southern Cross. From about 1865 he lived in retirement in poor health. Burn died on 14 Jun 1875.

Hocken, Bibliog.; Morton; Burn, letters in Mitchell Library, Sydney; N.Z. Herald, 27 Aug 1873, 15 Jun 1875.

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BURN, MARGARET GORDON (1825-1918) was born at Edinburgh, the daughter of Alexander Huie, and educated at the Circus Place School under Dr Reid and in languages under private tutors. She was for some time governess in the family of Sir William Jackson, of Liverpool. On the death of her father (in 1852) she came to Victoria and opened a small private school at Geelong. In 1857 she married Andrew Burn (who was a master at Scots College and later head of the Presbyterian School at Geelong). Her husband's health failing in 1864, Mrs Burn opened a new high school for girls on the lines of the one in Circus Place. In 1870 she was selected from a large number of applicants as the first lady principal of the Otago Girls' High School. Under her skilful management and capable teaching the school in 14 years attained a high degree of efficiency. She retired in 1884, but shortly afterwards accepted the same position in the Waitaki Girls' High School at Oamaru, where she was for five years. Mrs Burn was deeply religious and charitable and a strict disciplinarian. She died on 8 Dec 1918. Her son, DAVID WILLIAM

Cycl. NZ, iv.

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BURN, ROBERT (1823-1909) was born at Maidstone, Kent, and came to New Zealand in the Lord Auckland in 1842. He was in business for many years in Nelson as a coppersmith, and represented Nelson in the Provincial Council (1861-69 and 1872-73). Burn was a prominent freemason, and a past chief ranger in the Foresters.

Nelson P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., v, 132; The Colonist, 11 Dec 1909.

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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MURRAY BURN (1862 - ), an M.A. of New Zealand University, has published several volumes of verse, most of which he contributed to the Otago Witness and other papers under the nom de plume of "Marsyas."

Otago Girls' High School, 1871-1921 jubilee magazine (p)

Who's Who N.Z., 1932

Otago Daily Times, 10 Dec 1918

Reference: Volume 1, page 76

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BURNS, ARTHUR JOHN (1830-1901) was born at the manse at Monkton, Ayrshire, the son of the Rev Thomas Burns (q.v.), and was educated there and at Wallacetown Academy. Being apprenticed to the sea, he had experiences with pirates in the Arafura sea, and during the China war (1845-46) was called upon with other merchant seamen to assist the bluejackets. Coming to Otago with his father in the Philip Laing (1848), he took up land at Grant's Braes and was practically the founder of Mosgiel.

Burns was a member of the Provincial Council for Central (1855-59) and for Taieri (1863-66, 1867-70), and was on the executive (1865-66, 1867-68 and 1868-69), being several times leader of the government. Burns was member of Parliament for Bruce (1865-66), for Caversham (1866-70) and for Roslyn (1876-78). He strongly opposed the abolition of the provinces. He was keenly interested in manufacturing and was the founder of the Mosgiel Woollen Co., for which he bought the machinery in England (1869). Burns resigned from Parliament to promote the Westport Coal Co. (1880), of which he was manager for many years. He supervised the development works, spending four or five years on the West Coast and then returned to live in Dunedin. He again contested a parliamentary election (for Taieri) in 1890. Burns was a justice of the peace from 1850 and was a strong supporter of the Burns Club of Dunedin. He died on 15 Sep 1901.

Otago P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Cycl. N.Z., iv; N.Z.P.D., 15 Sep 1901; McIndoe; Hocken, Otago; Otago Daily Times, 16 Sep 1901. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURNS, DAVID (1811-87) was born in Scotland and trained as a builder. He came to Nelson about 1848 and after working at his trade for a good number of years was able to retire. He took little part in public affairs beyond being a member of the school committee from its inception, a member of the Nelson board of works and of the City Council. As a freemason he was a founder of Victory Lodge and member of Southern Star and of the Royal Arch Chapter. He claimed relationship with Robert Burns and was himself a minor poet. His only published volume, Scottish Echoes from New Zealand, appeared in 1883. Burns died on 2 Sep 1887.

Nelson Evening Mail, 3 Sep 1887.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURNS, THOMAS (1796-1871), the first minister of the Presbyterian congregation in Otago, was a son of Gilbert Burns (brother of the poet), and was born in the farmhouse of Mossgiel, Ayrshire, where Robert himself spent his childhood. After attending the parish school he went to Wallace Hall Academy, in Closeburn, Dumfriesshire (where Edward Irving was one of the teachers), and when his father left the farm in Dumfriesshire he went to the Grammar School at Haddington. Burns entered himself in 1812 at the University of Edinburgh to study for the ministry of the Established Church of Scotland. While still there he was tutor in the family of Sir John Dalrymple in Berwickshire, and, being licensed in 1823, he received from Sir Hugh Dalrymple the presentation of the parish of Ballantrae, to which he was inducted in 1826. There he laboured for four years, and in 1830 he accepted the parish of Monkton, Ayrshire. Early in that year he married Clementina, daughter of the Rev James Francis Grant, rector of Merston, Sussex, and a canon of Chichester Cathedral.

Burns was still ministering to the parish of Monkton when the disruption came in 1843, and, sacrificing position and emoluments amounting to £400 a year, he threw in his lot with the Free Church. He remained in Monkton as a minister of the Free Church for two years longer, and established Free Churches in various parishes where the ministers had stuck to the Established Church. In 1843 Burns became interested in the scheme for a Free Church settlement in New Zealand. It was adopted by the Assembly of the Free Church, and a few months later Burns accepted the offer of the post of minister to the first congregation in New Edinburgh. Though the scheme was temporarily suspended, Burns did not lose sight of it, and brought it before many of his farmer parishioners. When the negotiations were renewed he stuck tenaciously to the idea of a Free Church colony, with church, school and constitution complete, and he spent twelve months without salary advancing the project. The horizon being still clouded by the financial difficulties of the New Zealand Company, Burns felt himself no longer justified in remaining unemployed, and in 1846 he accepted the parish of Portobello, near Edinburgh. He spent about 18 months in that charge before the Otago scheme reached the stage at which he was able to sail with his wife and family in the Philip Laing, which reached Port Chalmers on 15 Apr 1848.

Thereafter Burns spared no energy in ministering to the spiritual needs of his widely scattered congregation. For six years, unaided, he travelled the length and breadth of the Otago block, wherever Presbyterians were settled, working the vast parish. His first relief came in 1854, when the Revs W. Bannerman and W. Will arrived to take charge respectively of the Clutha and Taieri districts. Where church and state were so closely united the minister was constantly called into counsel upon questions affecting the social, economic and even the political welfare of the people. Twenty years of arduous and at times anxious ministration took toll of his erstwhile robust health, and he welcomed sincerely the arrival of his assistant, the Rev G. Sutherland, in 1868. Sutherland took much of the work of First Church off his shoulders, so that Burns was shortly able to abstain from an active part in the affairs of the congregation. He died on 23 Jan 1871, and his widow in 1878.

Burns's labours had been crowned long since by the gratitude of the widespread congregation which he had led into the wilderness. The success of his ministry and the triumph of his personality were marked in a distinctive manner by his old University, which in 1861 conferred upon him the doctorate of divinity (one of the first honorary degrees conferred upon Free Church ministers). The passion for education was dominant in Burns throughout his life. He was elected (10 Nov 1869) chancellor of the University of Otago, but he did not live to see the inaugural ceremony. (See A. J. BURNS)

Chisholm; E. N. Merrington, A Great Coloniser 1929; Hocken, Otago; Mcindoe; Barr; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 24 Jan 1871, 5 Oct 1891, 17 Jan 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURROWS, ROBERT (1812-97) was born at Stroud, Gloucestershire. He studied at the C.M.S. college at Islington, was ordained deacon (1838) and priest (1839), and left for New Zealand at once, arriving at Bay of Islands on 8 Mar 1840. His first station was Kororareka and his next Waimate, where in 1844 he established an industrial school for young men and boys. During Heke's war Burrows acted as chaplain to the troops. He visited the hostile camp to tend the wounded, and was treated with confidence and made laudable efforts on every occasion to bring about peace. He published (1886) extracts from his diaries kept during Heke's war. Burrows visited England in 1853, and returned to fill the position of local secretary to the Church Missionary Society until 1896. He then retired and became a member of the board, besides continuing his duties as a missionary and filling pulpits as required. He was a governor of St John's College and a trustee, a member of the standing committee, of the general trust board and the Purewa cemetery board. He died on 22 Jul 1897. His wife (Charlotte Eliza, 1806-88) died on 22 Aug 1888.

Burrows, op. cit. (p); Carleton; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 24 Jul 1897.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURTON, GEORGE (1842-80) was one of the earliest settlers of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, where he was sent in the first instance to survey the town. He remained there practising his profession and farming and surveyed much of the confiscated land between Ruakituri and Waikaremoana. He once owned Whakaki estate. He represented Wairoa in the Hawke's Bay Provincial Council (1875), and was the first chairman of the Wairoa county council. Burton died on 27 Feb 1880.

Hawkes Bay P.C. Proc.; Lambert, 403-6.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURTON, GEORGE RUTT (1825-62), an early Taranaki settler, took up land at Omata. He was a member of the Provincial Council for Omata from 1853 until his death (on 4 Aug 1862). Burton was the designer of the interior defences of the Omata stockade, which was warmly praised by Maj.-General Sir James Alexander. He married (1854) Clara Hortensia, daughter of Dr Richard Kingdon. Burton was for a short time in 1862 deputy-superintendent of the province.

Cowan, Wars; Taranaki News, 7 Aug 1862.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BURTON, WILLIAM MUMFORD (1830-93) was an early settler of Taranaki, farming at Grey block. An educated man and a good public speaker, he sat in the Provincial Council of Taranaki for a number of years as member for Grey and Bell (1865-69), and for New Plymouth (1873-74). He resigned to proceed to England as emigration agent for the province. In this work he was most successful, bringing to Taranaki many useful settlers, including a large number of men from Lincolnshire. Burton died on 4 May 1893.

Taranaki P.C. Proc.

Reference: Volume 1, page 77

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BUSBY, JAMES (1800-71) was born at Glasgow, the son of John Busby, who was appointed to New South Wales as mineral surveyor and civil engineer. Before leaving Europe James Busby studied the culture of the vine in France, with the idea that wine might take the place of beer and spirits in Australia.

On the voyage to Australia (1823) he compiled his work on viticulture, which he published in 1825. He conducted practical experiments to such effect that he was able in 1831 to send the permanent under-secretary at the Colonial Office a sample case of wine. In 1824 he found employment in the civil service and during his service as superintendent of the male orphan school at Cabramatta he made his first experiments at wine culture. He then became collector of internal revenue, and a member of the land board (which carried the title of 'honourable'). He was also a commissioner to inquire into the state of penal settlements. In 1830 he retired dissatisfied with his treatment by the government in England, Lord Goderich having made an appointment which in effect superseded him. He accordingly in 1831 returned to England, and impressed himself on the Colonial Office by numerous informative reports on colonial questions (including viticulture, pauper emigration, crown lands, the jury system, and New Zealand affairs). Through the influence of Lord Haddington, which had previously been used in his favour, Lord Goderich decided to appoint him resident in New Zealand, in preference to Darling's nominee, Sturt (Mar 1832). Darling had tried to find employment for Busby, but favoured a military officer for the post in New Zealand. Goderich intended that the resident's authority should be supported by a British vessel of war permanently stationed at New Zealand, and that an act should be passed conferring on him magisterial authority over British subjects. Neither intention was carried out. The Admiralty would not do more than order occasional visits to New Zealand by warships serving in New South Wales; and the bill for extending the jurisdiction of New South Wales courts to New Zealand failed on the plea that New Zealand was not within the British dominions. Busby therefore had to rely on what moral influence he could gain over the Maori chiefs with the aid of missionaries. To Bourke, who had succeeded to the governorship of New South Wales, Busby was not persona grata, and he soon had reason to complain that he was inadequately supported by the New South Wales government. Indeed, within eighteen months, the governor was recommending his withdrawal (1 Sep 1834). His frequent requests for increased powers went unheeded, and his impotence gained him an undeserved reputation for inefficiency.

In 1832 Busby was married at Segenhoe, New South Wales, to Miss Agnes Dow. He arrived in New Zealand in May 1833, was well received by the chiefs of the North, and in due course established his official residence at Waitangi, building his house on land which he purchased at his own expense. Busby laboured to create some rudimentary organisation of the chiefs and tribes of the North, by which they might gradually acquire a sense of responsibility, and under his guidance enforce certain simple regulations for their own protection and that of the European settlers. The Sir George Murray, of Hokianga, having been seized by the Sydney customs authorities, Busby induced a conference of chiefs to adopt a national flag (20 Mar 1834) to provide New Zealand-built ships with certificates of registration. This conference brought into being a simple native tribunal to handle on behalf of the New Zealand tribes any transactions of an international character; as well as local matters such as the arrest of convicts and deserters. The flag was duly recognised by the Admiralty, and thereafter New Zealand-built vessels were granted certificates of registration by the resident in the name of the Independent Tribes of New Zealand. Busby regarded this 'national act of the New Zealand chiefs' as 'the first step towards the formation of a permanent confederation of the chiefs.' On 30 May 1834, Busby, who had now been joined by his wife, narrowly escaped death in an attack on his house by native marauders. He was wounded in the cheek by a splinter from a wooden door post. The chiefs in conference disavowed the act and promised to trace the guilty parties, but thought it better 'to let the matter sleep for the present.' The settlers at the Bay upbraided Busby for his weakness, but in Dec 1834, when H.M.S. Alligator arrived with troops, fresh from the punitive expedition against the captors of the crew of the Harriet, the culprit Rete was apprehended by the chiefs, who decided to punish him by exile and confiscation of his lands to the Crown. Busby declined the land for himself. With the departure of the Alligator, however, Rete defied Busby and boasted of his powers in having 'shot the British resident.' Busby was as much defied by Europeans as by natives. Unable to afford legal protection to person or property, and unwilling therefore to interfere in European disputes, he soon gained the title of 'No-authority Busby,' and when several petitions to the Crown for protection produced no result, the Bay settlers took the law into their own hands by forming the Kororareka Association for the administration of a species of lynch law (1838). His vexations were increased by the appointment in 1835 of Thomas McDonnell as additional British resident at Hokianga, an honorary appointment, nominally subordinate to his own, but in fact exercised by an energetic and headstrong man in complete independence of Busby's wishes. In Sep 1835, when McDonnell led a movement for prohibiting the importation and sale of spirits, by means of a 'law' enacted by the natives and the British residents, to be administered by a mixed committee, Busby sympathised with the purpose of the scheme, but believed it both ultra vires and impracticable. He also resented McDonnell's having taken independent action without consulting him as chief resident. McDonnell obtained the approval of the Governor of New South Wales, and Busby had the mortification of seeing his views set aside. His action in this matter, though fully vindicated by the complete failure of the prohibition plan in practice, brought him into undesired conflict with the missionary body, especially at Bay of Islands.

Simultaneously (Oct 1835) came the announcement by de Thierry that he intended to set himself up in New Zealand as a sovereign chief and a benefactor of the Maori race. Busby seized on this 'external threat' as an occasion for advancing his plans of native organisation a step further, and induced 36 northern chiefs to sign a Declaration of Independence, purporting to create 'a Confederation of the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand,' with exclusive powers of legislation through an assembly and of administration through a native committee advised and controlled by the British Resident. Busby believed that the chiefs would enact and enforce whatever laws the British government thought advantageous, and that in effect 'the establishment of the Independence of New Zealand under the protection of the British government would be the most effectual mode of making the country a dependency of the British crown in everything but the name.' The New South Wales government recognised the Confederation as an approach to a regular form of government in New Zealand (Feb 1836) and Glenelg gave a cautious promise of 'British support and protection' (May 1836). But it soon became evident that, in the absence of any real British authority to support it, the experiment had little chance of success. Busby's renewed appeals for legal powers as magistrate and for a police force, now more than ever necessary, produced no result. The outbreak of tribal wars, which in 1836 and 1837 spread over the whole country from Tauranga and Rotorua to Hokianga and the Bay of Islands, revealed the impotence of the new 'government.' In Jan 1836, Busby wrote that the powers of the Confederation existed only in theory, the natives had no conception of subordination to legal authority, and during their slow political education they needed the protection of British troops. When troops were refused, Busby confessed his complete impotence (May 1836); he considered his office in abeyance and asked leave (which Bourke refused) to go to England to put the needs of New Zealand before the Colonial Office. Beyond occasional arrests, four Europeans were deported by authority of the Confederation for trial and execution in Sydney in 1837, and a Maori slave was put to death in New Zealand for his share in the murder of Henry Biddle.

In 1837 Captain Hobson visited New Zealand and made proposals for its better government by adoption of a modified factory system, whereby the districts settled by Europeans should be brought under direct British rule. Busby prepared a set of counter-proposals based on his Confederation scheme, and was on the point of leaving for London to further his scheme and carry through some business proposals when he learnt of the appointment of Hobson as consul and lieutenant-governor of New Zealand, empowered to negotiate for the cession of the country. It is greatly to Busby's credit that his disappointment did not prevent his cordial co-operation with Hobson in drafting the Treaty of Waitangi and negotiating its acceptance by the chiefs. Busby's services were handsomely recognised by Hobson in his despatches.

After visiting Sydney to defend his land claims and oppose Gipps's land act for New Zealand (1840), Busby returned to New Zealand as a permanent settler. He continued to play an active part in public affairs, and published many able and interesting pamphlets on questions of land and general policy. He represented Bay of Islands in the Auckland Provincial Council from 1853-55, 1857-63, and was the leader of the unsuccessful movement to erect Auckland province into a separate colony. To further the land claims of himself and other settlers who claimed also to have been unjustly treated, Busby established a newspaper in Auckland. After 27 years of agitation he was awarded £38,000 compensation (1869) by the Colonial government. In 1870 he visited England for medical advice, and he died at Anerley on 15 Jul 1871. His widow died on 13 Oct 1889.

P.R.O. London, series C.O. 202 and 209; G.B.O.P., exp. 1832/516, 1835/585, 1836/538, 1837/425, 1837-38/122, 1838/680, 1840/238, 560, 582, 1841/311, 1845/108, 1846/337; Hist. Rec. Aust.; Auckland P.C. Proc.; Church Missionary Register, 1833-40; Marsden, L. and J., esp. p 502 n; Buick, Waitangi (p); Scholefield, Hobson; Hight and Bamford; Ramsden; Morton; Buller; Mennell; Turner; Sherrin and Wallace; Hocken in Otago Witness, 17 Dec 1896; N.Z. Herald, 16 Jan 1869.

Reference: Volume 1, page 78

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BUTLER, GEORGE EDMUND (1870-1936) was born in Southampton, England, and educated first at Taunton College. He came to Wellington in 1881, completed his education at the Te Aro School and, while assisting his father at his trade as a carpenter, studied at the School of Art (afterwards the Technical College) under J. M. Nairn (q.v.). In 1897 he went to Sydney with McGregor Wright to study the pictures in the Art Gallery, and in the following year worked his passage to London in the stokehold of the Gothic. He studied at the Lambeth School of Art and at the Academie Julian in Paris, where he gained honours. At Antwerp he won the Concours gold medal and was crowned with the laurel wreath. On returning to New Zealand Butler settled in Dunedin where in 1903-04 he taught drawing to private pupils. At this time he did a good deal of painting, and sold Spring Blossoms to the Dunedin Art Gallery. He soon returned to England, whence he exhibited year by year in the New Zealand Academy's annual exhibition and at the opening of the National Gallery. He had many pictures hung in the Royal Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy. Butler during the war of 1914-18 made many pictures as an official artist with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He had a personality of great charm and was twice married. He died on 9 Aug 1936.

Evening Post, 2 Oct 1936.

Reference: Volume 1, page 78

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BUTLER, JOHN GARE (1781-1841) as a young man went into business in London, where he spent 20 years, latterly as a clerk in a large firm of carriers. In 1798 he married Hannah Hitchman (d. 1852).

Butler evinced a religious turn of mind and took part in Church matters in Paddington, where he lived. In 1816 he was honorary secretary of the newly formed Grand Junction and Canal Bible Association, and he was prepared by the Bishop of Paddington for work under the Church Missionary Society. In 1818 he was ordained by the Bishop of Gloucester and in Dec he sailed in the convict ship Baring for Australia as the first ordained minister dedicated to the work of the Society in the New Zealand field. Though superintendent in New Zealand, he was subordinate to Marsden (q.v.), the Society's agent in Sydney. Amongst the passengers by the Baring were the chiefs Tui and Titore, returning in charge of Butler from their visit to England. In Sydney Butler had many conferences with Marsden on mission policy and met some influential New Zealand chiefs staying at Parramatta. To avoid delay Marsden chartered the ship General Gates, in which he sailed with the New Zealand party on 29 Jul 1819, arriving at Bay of Islands 12 Aug. Butler's agreement was to receive £160 a year and rations, and he was invested by the governor of New South Wales with the authority of a justice of the peace for the preservation of order in the settlements in New Zealand (24 Jul). Butler settled at Kerikeri. At an early date it became evident that he had not the personal authority to control missionaries who had been some years in New Zealand and developed habits which were detrimental to the mission cause. Kendall was troublesome and defiant from the outset and disputes soon occurred, especially in regard to the traffic in arms. Butler endeavoured to curb his colleagues, but there is evidence that he himself was compelled to traffic in guns and powder, not for private profit but to obtain necessary supplies for the mission. He tried to establish brick works and to procure timber for mission buildings, but the competition of visiting ships defeated him. He did in 1820 use the first plough in New Zealand and he was a successful gardener; but the lack of draught bullocks until early in 1820 prevented him from hauling timber for the erection of the mission buildings. Marsden's arrival in the Dromedary eased his plight somewhat, but he had no residence for his family for two years. In 1820 he made long journeys with Marsden, and late in 1821 he visited Sydney, returning in the Westmorland (Feb 1822).

When Marsden visited New Zealand in 1823 to install Henry Williams in Paihia he came to the conclusion that Butler and Kendall could not possibly remain together in Bay of Islands. Butler's own habits had deteriorated, and eventually Marsden insisted on his removal to New South Wales. There his active connection with the mission ended, though Marsden employed him for some time supervising Maori and European artisans at work at the seminary at Parramatta.

Butler sailed for England in the Midas (Aug 1824) and passed some years rather precariously in the service of the Church. For eight years he was curate at Aston Bottrell and for a few months had charge of the parish of Haddenham, Isle of Ely. Butler's dual qualification as a clergyman of the established church and a former magistrate in New Zealand recommended him to the New Zealand Company, and in 1839 he was appointed native guardian and interpreter. He sailed with his family in the Bolton and on his arrival at Port Nicholson (21 Apr 1840) took up his residence at Pito-one. His sympathetic knowledge of the Maori and command of the language were of great value in the settlement of disputes and bargains between the two peoples. In the intervals of a strenuous official life he found time to complete the manuscript of the Maori grammar which he had commenced in his earlier residence in the colony. Butler died 18 Jun 1841, and was buried at Gear Island. His daughter Hannah (born 5 Sep 1817) married Richard Barton (q.v.).

Marsden, L. and J. and Lieutenants... Ramsden; S. P. Smith, Wars; R. J. Barton, Earliest New Zealand (1927).

Reference: Volume 1, page 78

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BUTLER, SAMUEL (1835-1902) was the son of the Rev. Thomas Butler and grandson of Samuel Butler (1774-1839), Bishop of Lichfield. Born at Langar, Nottinghamshire, he was educated at Allesley, near Coventry, and at Shrewsbury school. At St John's College, Cambridge, he took a high place in the classical tripos in 1858. He was deeply influenced at an early age by Italy and music, and studied art with some success, painting passably in water colours. He was intended for the church, but his opinions made this profession distasteful to him, and after stormy scenes with his father he persuaded him to make available sufficient capital to enable the son to settle as a sheep farmer in New Zealand.

Sailing in the Roman Emperor (Sep 1859) Butler landed in Lyttelton in Jan 1860. With a companion he took long rides through the province in search of land, and eventually selected a small property up the Rangitata river which he called Mesopotamia. There he settled in Jun with a man and two cadets, their nearest neighbour being 25 miles distant. The station was of 8,000 acres and Butler soon had 3,000 sheep. His cadet, John Brabazon, had a fourth share. Though quite inexperienced, Butler showed great determination and judgment and succeeded in a few years in achieving his ambition by doubling his capital of £4,000, and thus being able to return to England. His letters home, after being severely edited by his father, were published in 1863 under the title A First Year in Canterbury Settlement. They showed that he had a fund of common-sense. By the end of 1863, aided by the reflected prosperity of the Otago goldfields, Butler sold the property to William Parkerson. While at Mesopotamia he had written for The Press some articles which he afterwards used in Erewhon, or Over the Range (1872). In these, as in many subsequent works, he satirises the Darwinian theory and conventional religion. Amongst Butler's acquaintances in New Zealand were G. S. Sale, William Rolleston, W. S. Moorhouse, Joshua Strange Williams, John Baker and von Haast. During his occupancy of Mesopotamia, but while he was temporarily absent, Dr Andrew Sinclair (q.v.) met his death in fording the Rangitata river, and was buried on the flat below the homestead. On returning to England Butler established himself at Clifford's Inn in London and devoted his attention mainly to music and painting. Between 1868 and 1876 he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy. But the publication of his book Life and Habit in 1877 convinced him that letters were his forte, and thereafter he wrote regularly. He was extremely versatile, indulging with equal thoroughness and success in classical exercises such as the translation into colloquial English of the Iliad and the Odyssey and in biological controversy. His dispute with Darwin over evolution, in the course of which he published three books, rather embittered Darwin and did not entirely satisfy Butler. With Festing Jones, afterwards his biographer, Butler composed a secular oratorio Narcissus (1888) and he had done his part of another (Ulysses) before his death. Butler died on 18 Jun 1902, and his best known novel The Way of All Flesh was published posthumously in 1903.

Festing Jones (pp); Encycl. Brit.; D.N.B.; Acland; Baker; Cant. O.N.; Wigram; Natural History of Canterbury; The Press, 25 May 1911.

Reference: Volume 1, page 80

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BUTLER, WILLIAM (1814-75) was born in England. He went to sea early and at the age of 24 he commanded a sailing ship in the Australian trade. He engaged in whaling and trading in these waters and eventually settled at Mongonui, where his first child was born (Jan 1841). There he established a flourishing business in the purchase of flax, timber and kauri gum. He was highly respected by both races and for many years was a leader of the European community.

In 1861 Butler was elected to Parliament for the Mongonui constituency, which he represented until the dissolution in 1866, though the remoteness of his home prevented him from giving regular attendance except during two sessions. His advice on native matters was particularly sound. In 1862 he was a passenger in the Lord Worsley when she was wrecked on the coast of Taranaki, and fell into the hands of unfriendly natives. To ensure the safety of the passengers and their belongings Butler and R. Graham jointly purchased the wreck for the natives and so avoided the spoliation of the survivors. Butler died on 4 Mar 1875.

A son, WILLIAM JAMES BUTLER (1848-1904), who was born at Mongonui and received his education at the Auckland Grammar School, served his articles as a surveyor and was for some years flaxmilling on the Thames goldfields. In 1878 he was native land purchase agent in the Wairarapa, and later he was private secretary successively to three native ministers (Bryce, Rolleston and Ballance). In 1881 he explained to Te Whiti and Tohu the government's proclamations. Two years later he accompanied the prisoners during portion of their tour of the colony (1882-83). He carried through the purchase of the Waimarino block and was afterwards a judge of the native land court.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; G. C. Bede, Seventy Years in Auckland; J. P. Ward, Wanderings with the Maori Prophets, 1883; Evening Post, 1 Feb 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 80

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BUTT, HENRY FRANCIS (1815-86) was a son of the Rev John Marten Butt, vicar of Oddingley, Worcestershire. To prepare for the medical profession he was articled to Dr Webb (Lilleshall, Shropshire) and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, but being attracted towards missionary life, he offered his services to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He was accepted as a catechist and sailed for New Zealand with Bishop Selwyn in the Tomatin (Dec 1841). In common with the others of the party Butt studied Maori on the voyage. On arrival in Bay of Islands (by the Bristolian from Sydney) he travelled a good deal with Selwyn and was specially employed in rendering medical service to both Maori and pakeha and giving lectures on medicine at the college at Waimate. In 1843 he was ordained deacon and married Serena (d. 1901), daughter of the Rev Richard Davis. He was appointed to Nelson and distinguished himself in charge of the bishop's school, of which he took charge in 1847, when he was ordained priest and appointed to the Nelson parish. In 1849 he laid the foundation stone of the first Nelson cathedral, which was opened by Selwyn in 1851.

While in Nelson Butt had charge of practically the whole of the South Island except Motueka, and he made many long and arduous journeys. In 1857 he was offered the missionary district of Wairau and he settled at Beavertown, erecting a house for himself at Amersfoort and preaching in the courthouse. Two years later Hobhouse (the first Bishop of Nelson) licensed him as curate of Wairau and Waitohi, and shortly afterwards Waitohi and Picton were made a separate district. Early in 1860 the first church was commenced in Blenheim, the church of the Nativity being dedicated in Dec 1861. Blenheim later became a separate parish. In 1868 Butt was collated the first archdeacon of Marlborough, and in succeeding years he saw many new parishes formed and churches built. He resigned owing to failing health in 1884 and died on 20 Dec 1886. Butt continued to an advanced age to administer medical help where called for. All fees received as a doctor in his early days in New Zealand he paid into the sick fund of the church.

Tucker; Coleman; Davis; Annals Dioc. N.Z.; Marlborough Express, 24 Dec 1886; Church of Nativity (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 80

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BUTT, JOHN (1830-79) was born in Sussex. He became a master mariner and commanded vessels for Henderson and Macfarlane (including some of the Circular Saw line) between Auckland and San Francisco. He was afterwards in business with Captain Anderson as shipchandlers and stevedores. In 1867 he joined the Thames rush, and erected a hotel and theatre at Thames. On the outbreak of the Whangamata rush, he erected a large hotel there, but lost heavily and having sold out went into business with Onyon as shipping and commission agents. He took a keen interest in politics and was M.P.C. for Thames (1869), supporting Williamson. Butt was on the first Thames borough council. He died on 26 Jul 1879.

Thames Advertiser and Star, 28 Jul 1879.

Reference: Volume 1, page 80

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BUTTON, CHARLES EDWARD (1838-1920) was born in Launceston, the seventh son of a settler of 1833 who was a member of the first Hobart municipal council. Educated at the Launceston Grammar School and the High School at Hobart, he was articled to a firm of solicitors in Launceston, admitted to the bar in 1861 and practised for a short time in his native town.

In 1863 he came to New Zealand and started practice at Invercargill. Two years later he entered into partnership at Hokitika with W. S. Reid (q.v.), and he was soon regarded as one of the leading authorities on mining law. In his practice in the wardens' courts he became a close friend, though a professional opponent, of Seddon (q.v.), then a prominent miners' advocate. Button was for a few months a member of the Westland county council for Hokitika and for two years represented Totara (1870-72). He was mayor of Hokitika in 1869. In 1876 Button was elected one of the members of Parliament for Hokitika. He resigned in 1878 because he could not support Grey, as his constituency desired. In 1880 he removed to Christchurch, where he practised for two years, and in 1882 he joined the Auckland firm of Whitaker and Russell. In 1893 Button was elected to Parliament for the City of Auckland, but he was defeated in 1896. He was the first mayor of the borough of Birkenhead (1888) and held office for twelve years. In 1907 he was appointed temporary judge of the supreme court, in which capacity he acted for about a year.

Button was keenly interested in science, and over a period of 40 years lectured frequently on such subjects as voltaic electricity (1863) and chemistry. He was a staunch adherent of the Congregational Church, in which he filled many offices, and was also an elder of the Presbyterian Church at Hokitika and Christchurch. In Auckland he strongly supported the Y.M.C.A.

He married in 1862 a daughter of Henry Cowell, of Cullenswood, Tasmania. He died on 27 Dec 1920.

N.Z.P.D., 1876-78, 1893-96; Harrop, Westland; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 80

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BUTTS, JOHN GEORGE (1840-91) was born at Hartest, Suffolk, the son of the Rev Drury Butts, and was brought up at Melplash, Bridport. In 1861 he entered the army as an ensign in the 2nd battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, with which he served in Jersey and Isle of Wight. Coming to New Zealand with his regiment, he served through the Waikato and Wanganui campaigns. On his return to England he was promoted captain and transferred to the 1st battalion, with which he went to Malta and in 1874 to India. Being invalided from Afghanistan (1880), he retired the following year and came to New Zealand. In 1887 he was appointed adjutant of volunteers. He died on 5 Dec 1891.

N.Z. Times, 7 Dec 1891.

Reference: Volume 1, page 81

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BUXTON, SEARBY (1832-1919) was born in Lancashire, came to New Zealand in 1865 and took up land at Springston, Canterbury, and later at Rangitata Island. Eventually he acquired the Clifton station in Totara Valley, where he farmed until retiring to live in Ashburton. Buxton in 1887 contested the Rangitata seat in Parliament and defeated Rolleston. At the following election he stood for Geraldine and was defeated by A. E. G. Rhodes. He was quiet and unostentatious, and he seldom spoke in Parliament, but was a zealous religious and temperance worker.

N.Z.P.D., 29 Aug 1919; Who's Who N.Z., 1924, 1932. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 81

🌳 Further sources

BUXTON, THOMAS (1863-1939), son of Searby Buxton, was born at Holbeach, Lincolnshire, and accompanied his father to New Zealand at the age of three. He was educated at the public schools, and was for some years in business in Temuka, Timaru and Christchurch. He was 10 years mayor of Temuka and represented it in Parliament 1908-14. A staunch Liberal, he was minister without portfolio in the Mackenzie Government (1912). Buxton organised the election campaign for the United party in 1928. He died on 28 May 1939.

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Christchurch Star-Sun, 29 May 1939.

Reference: Volume 1, page 81

🌳 Further sources