FAGAN, STEPHEN (1816-95) was a shoemaker by trade and a passenger to Port Nicholson by the Katherine Stewart Forbes in 1841. He lived for some years at the Hutt and was a member of the Provincial Council for that constituency (1865-73). He was treasurer of the Hutt Special Settlement Association in 1868.

Fagan afterwards moved to Bulls, where he was in business as a bookseller. He was the first chairman of the town board and was a Wesleyan local preacher. He died on 21 Oct 1895.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; G. Wilson; Rangitikei Advocate, 8 Jan 1893, 22 Oct 1895.

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FAIRBURN, EDWIN (1827-1911) was born at Paihia, Bay of Islands, a son of W. T. Fairburn, of the Church Missionary Society. Educated at the mission school at Waimate, he entered the deeds registry office in Auckland. From this he transferred in 1847 to the Survey department, being its first cadet under C. W. Ligar. As a youth he went to Germany to complete his education, studying the language and engineering. He also spent some time in the deeds registry office in Sydney, and published a pamphlet on land registration in which he adumbrated some of the features of the Torrens and the New Zealand land transfer systems.

In later years Fairburn was engaged in laying out the town of Oamaru and was employed under Heale in the triangulation of lower Waikato. Having measured the baseline at Ngaruawahia with the old-fashioned standard chain, he adopted for the first time in New Zealand the continuous steel band, the use of which he urged upon both Heale and Percy Smith. In 1877 he was transferred to the new Surveyor-General's department and became a district surveyor in north Auckland. There he practically introduced the system of graded roads and in a few years replaced the old bullock dray tracks by a graded highway of 200 miles stretching to Mangonui.

Fairburn retired from the service in 1892 and died on 9 Dec 1911. He was a fine Maori scholar and published some papers on the language in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. Incidentally he studied shipbuilding and introduced some original ideas into his novel The Ships of Tarshish. He wrote also on the preservation of the mammoth in Siberia and an astronomical explanation of the flood in Genesis. He was a foundation member of the Auckland Choral Society and the first secretary of the original Agricultural Association (of which he was a life member).

N.Z. Surveyor, Dec 1911

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FAIRCHILD, JOHN (1835-98) was born near Plymouth, England, and brought up with his parents on a small farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada. He left home in his teens and engaged in fur trapping, went to sea as a carpenter and, leaving the Joseph Hensley at Liverpool (1858) took his passage to Australia in the Florence Nightingale. For some time, with a mate, he made handcart wheels to meet a demand created by the goldfields. As carpenter in a brig from Sydney he was wrecked near Manukau. He then engaged in the coastal service and in 1861 purchased the cutter Thistle, which he ran between Onehunga and Kawhia. He afterwards commanded the cutter Abeona in the same trade. Fairchild piloted warships operating on the coast during the Waikato war including the transport Prince Alfred, which was urgently needed with reinforcements. In 1864 he joined the Government service as captain of the Sturt, and he afterwards commanded the Luna, the Hinemoa and the Tutanekai. He died on 4 Jul 1898.

Cowan; Cycl. N.Z., i; Gisborne (p); Evening Post, 26 Dec 1936, 2 Jan 1937 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FAIRCLOUGH, PAUL WYNYARD (1852-1917) was born in South Australia. He came to the West Coast of the South Island at the time of the gold rush. At Staffordtown he became a Methodist local preacher and in 1871 was accepted as a candidate for the ministry. He studied under the Rev. A. R. Fitchett and subsequently under Principal J. H. Fletcher at Newington College, Sydney.

Fairclough began his ministry at Timaru in 1874. He was a deep thinker and a courageous expositor of truth, a student who did not allow the claims of scholarship to transform him into a recluse, but whose brotherliness was as marked as his intellectual brilliance. For many years he contributed astronomical notes to the daily press and he was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. A public lecture on Halley's Comet led to the formation of the Astronomical Society of Dunedin, of which he was a vice-president. For six years he rendered distinguished service as editor of his church paper. In 1902 he published a pamphlet The Early History of Missions in Otago. In 1897 Fairclough was elected president of the conference and on several occasions he represented New Zealand in the general conference of Australasia. He frequently served as chairman of synods and filled many other positions. He was a chaplain to the forces and an ardent imperialist. He took a prominent part in the agitation for women's franchise and for temperance reform. He died on 17 Apr 1917.

Cycl. NZ

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FALCONER, JOHN (1834-86) was born in Edinburgh, educated there and trained as a gardener. Before coming to New Zealand (1858) he had been head gardener at Lauriston Castle. He first settled in the Taieri as a farmer, but soon moved to Nelson, where he practised his own calling. He came to Oamaru in 1861 and had a prosperous career, making a comfortable living and taking his part in the public affairs of the young town. He was a member of the municipal council in 1871 and contested the mayoralty against W. J. Steward. In 1883 he was elected to the borough council and in 1884 he became mayor, a member of the harbour board, a governor of the Waitaki High School and chairman of the charitable aid board. He was a founder of the Presbyterian Church in Oamaru and for many years superintendent of the Sunday school. Falconer was keenly interested in the Horticultural Society and in the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of which he was president in 1885 and afterwards treasurer. He died on 11 Sep 1886.

North Otago Times, 13 Sep 1886.

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FANNIN, GEORGE THOMAS (1830-1908) was the son of William Fannin, of County Westmeath, Ireland, and was educated in England and at Trinity College, Ireland. Coming to New Zealand with his parents in the William Scott (1853), they landed in Nelson but left shortly afterwards for Hawke's Bay and settled on a run in the Ruataniwha plain.

In 1858 Fannin was appointed clerk to the Provincial Council, and he retained that position until the abolition. During the Maori wars he was secretary to McLean and Ormond when they represented the General Government on the East Coast. After the abolition Fannin was clerk to the Hawke's Bay county council and secretary to the education board until his retirement in 1906. He died on 3 Dec 1908.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); Hawke's Bay Herald, 8 Dec 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 135

🌳 Further sources

FANTHAM, ARTHUR ALBERT (1842-1904) was a native of Buckinghamshire and came to New Zealand with his parents in the Duke of Portland (1852). They settled in Canterbury and the son was educated at the Boys' High School and the Commercial School. He became a farmer, having a property near Christchurch on which he established his pedigree herd of shorthorn cattle.

In 1877 Fantham moved to Cambridge. There he took a leading part, as a member of the South Auckland cattle board, in devising and enforcing measures to combat pleuro-pneumonia. In 1880 he received a presentation in Auckland in recognition of his public spirit and disinterestedness. In 1882 he removed to Hawera, where later he was manager of the Egmont Farmers' Union. In Canterbury he was a member of the Spreydon road board and at Cambridge he was on several road boards and the cattle board. He was chairman of the Hawera road board and later of the county council.

Fantham married a daughter of John McWilliam (Canterbury). His death occurred on 16 Jan 1904.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); N.Z. Herald, 13 Nov 1880; Taranaki Herald, Jan 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

🌳 Further sources

FARJEON, BENJAMIN LEOPOLD (1838-1903) was of Jewish parents, and was born in the East End of London in 1838. Brought up humbly in Whitechapel, he was first employed at the age of 13 as devil in the Nonconformist newspaper office, where he spent more than three years. At 13 he wrote verse. He had a passion for books, and studied at a night school.

At the age of 16 Farjeon differed with his father on religion and, assisted by an uncle, he sailed for Victoria in the Ocean Wave (1854). On the voyage he produced two handwritten copies of The Ocean Record and, being transferred to the cabin on the invitation of the captain, he published twelve more issues before the end of the voyage. After a few weeks in various employments in Melbourne, Farjeon found his way to the goldfields, where he spent several years, starting newspapers here and there, each of which contained his feature 'Salmagundi on the Goldfields.' His experiences are recounted in some of his novels.

In 1861 he sailed for Otago (acting as correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) and he soon joined the staff of the Otago Daily Times, acting as manager and sub-editor under the editorship of the proprietor, Vogel (q.v.). In Dunedin Farjeon made the acquaintance of many artists who were attracted to the province by the goldfields. These included Joseph Jefferson, who arrived in 1864, and whose daughter Margaret he married in June 1877. In Nov 1864 he became a partner with Vogel in the ownership of the paper, following on the retirement of Cutten. At Christmas 1865 Farjeon published his first novel, Shadows on the Snow (which he dedicated to Charles Dickens and sent to him in the hope that he would reprint it in All the Year Round). In 1866 he published Grif, also from the office of his paper, and sent proofs to the same master. Dickens replied in May 1866 with a criticism which, while not flattering, at any rate induced Farjeon to put into effect his resolve of going to live in London. He accordingly retired from the management of the Times, and in Dec 1867 left the Colony. In London Farjeon lived a cheerful Bohemian life, meeting everybody and being seen everywhere. He met Dickens in 1870, the year in which Grif was published. This was his greatest success, the sales totalling 300,000. Blade o' Grass followed in 1871 and its sequel, Golden Grain, ten years later, followed by Joshua Marvel, London's Heart, Great Porter Square (which was the Prince of Wales's favourite), Set in a Silver Sea, The Sacred Nugget, Bread and Cheese and Kisses, The King of Noland, Something Occurred, Aaron the Jew, A Secret Inheritance, The House of White Shadows, The Betrayal of John Fordham, Miriam Rozella (contributed to the Daily Mail), The Mesmerists, and The Mystery of the Royal Mail.

Farjeon had a strong dramatic interest. In Dunedin he assisted Vogel in the dramatisation of Lady Audley's Secret (1863), and he had half a dozen of his own plays produced (including Grif). He was one of the founders of the Garrick Club in Dunedin, and he wrote the prologue for its first production, Money, in which he himself took a part. He adopted the additional name 'Leopold' when he became an author.

Farjeon died on 23 Jul 1903. A daughter, Eleanor Farjeon, is the author of many works of fiction and an autobiographical work, A Nursery in the Nineties (1935).

Eleanor Farjeon, op. cit. (p) and personal information; Paul; Otago Witness, pass. (notably 24 Nov 1866); Otago Gazette, Nov 1864.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

🌳 Further sources

FARMER, JAMES (1823-95) was born in Fifeshire, Scotland. He arrived in Auckland by the Louisa Campbell in 1847, and became interested in land and commercial undertakings. He managed the One Tree Hill estate, near Onehunga, for the firm of Brown, Campbell and Co., but being a large shareholder in the Caledonian mine at Thames, he devoted his attention to mining and made a competence, on which he returned to live in England. Farmer stood for the Provincial Council for the Pensioner Settlements in 1855, and for the parliamentary seat, but was defeated for both. In 1859 he was elected to Parliament for Marsden. Standing for Onehunga at the next election, he was defeated, but in 1867 he was returned for Raglan, which he represented till 1870. He was then called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat for three years before returning to England. He was elected to the Provincial Council for Franklin in 1861, and represented it till 1863. He later sat in the Council for Raglan (1867-69) and for Auckland West (1871-72). Farmer visited New Zealand again in the nineties. He died in 1895.

N.Z.P.D.; Auckland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. NZ., ii (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

🌳 Further sources

FARNALL, HARRY WARNER (1839-91) was born at Bath, England. Arriving in New Zealand in 1861, he took up land at Whangaparaoa, north Auckland. In 1868 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Northern Division, which he represented in 1868-69 and 1871-72. He sat for the same constituency in Parliament 1869-70 and for Rodney 1871-72.

Farnall resigned to proceed to England as immigration agent. Featherston, as Agent-general, declined to recognise the appointment and Farnall proceeded to North Ireland on behalf of the Auckland provincial government. There he got into touch with G. Vesey Stewart and, supported by the Superintendent (Williamson), negotiated the Katikati settlement and returned to New Zealand with the settlers in the Carisbrooke Castle (1875). Thereafter he identified himself with working-class politics, being secretary of trades unions and of the Trades and Labour Council for a period of more than 40 years. He had considerable literary attainments and wrote a pamphlet, The Industrial Depression in New Zealand; its Cause and its only Cure (1890) and also conducted a paper, The Watchman, to advocate the cause of the masses.

Farnall established in Auckland the Knights of Labour (of which he was recording secretary). He contested the Waitemata and City seats several times as a Liberal. In 1887 he was prominent in the Radical Reform League. He lectured on Anglo-Israelism. His death occurred on 5 Jun 1891.

Gray; N.Z. Herald, 15 Nov 1890, 19 Jun 1891; Auckland Star, 6 Jun 1891. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

🌳 Further sources

FARR, SAMUEL COLERIDGE (1827-1918) was born at Baldock, Hertfordshire, and trained as an architect. He came to New Zealand in 1850 in the Monarch. His marriage to Miss Pavitt, a fellow passenger, was the first celebrated in Christchurch.

Farr's first occupation was the adjustment of Haylock's flourmill at Grehan valley, Akaroa, the wheels of which had been incorrectly geared. He then (with Pavitt) erected several sawmills in different parts of the Peninsula. In 1862 he moved to Christchurch, where he designed many public buildings and churches, including St Paul's and the Presbyterian places of worship at Papanui, Lyttelton, Kaiapoi and Leeston. He was secretary for 22 years of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society and assisted to stock the rivers of the province with fish and to acclimatise the bumble bee. Farr opened a Sunday school at Akaroa immediately after his arrival, and established in Christchurch the first Sunday school union, of which he was president for seven years. He died in July 1918.

Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Cant. O.N.; The Press, 16 Dec 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 137

🌳 Further sources

FEARON, EDWARD (1814-69) was born at Bath, England. As a youth he ran from school to sea and eventually rose to command ships trading to North and South America, Cape Colony and Australia. He married (1840) Elizabeth Ward (Devonshire) and proceeded at once to take command of the City of Edinburgh, sailing from Gravesend to Australia. She was wrecked in Bass Strait (10 Jul) and, after living on Flinders Island for a while, they got to Sydney and returned to England in the John Renwick.

Touching at Bay of Islands they decided to settle in New Zealand, for which they sailed later in the Thomas Sparks. Once more they suffered shipwreck (near Cape Town) and lost all their belongings, but continuing their voyage they reached Nelson before the end of the year. Fearon took up land at Motueka, and represented Motueka and Massacre Bay in the Provincial Council (1855-57). The first carriage in Motueka was his wagonette, built for the 1851 Exhibition and still in good repair. Fearon was a strong supporter of the Church of England, a member of the diocesan synod and of the general synod (1859). He died on 21 Nov 1869.

(See J. C. CHAYTOR and RICHMOND HURSTHOUSE.)

Family information Miss B. E. Chaytor; Nelson P.C. Proc.; Nelson Examiner, 24, 27 Nov 1869. Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

🌳 Further sources

FEATHERSTON, ISAAC EARL (1813-76) was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 21 Mar 1813, the fourth son of Thomas Featherston, of Blackdean, Weardale, and of Cotfield House, county Durham. Delicate in health from infancy, he went to a private school in Tamworth and then to Italy, partly for his education, but mainly for his health. Returning to Edinburgh, he graduated M.D. in 1836. Three years later he married Bethia Campbell (who died on 16 Mar 1864), daughter of A. Scott (Edinburgh).

Still anxious about his health, Featherston decided to emigrate to New Zealand. He applied for a surgeoncy in the New Zealand Company's ships, and in Dec 1840, sailed for Wellington as surgeon-superintendent of the Olympus on her first voyage. Though he entered at once upon the practice of his profession, Featherston was not to remain long outside the vortex of public affairs. He does not appear to have taken any position in the community until the demand for self-government crystallised in the formation of the Settlers' Constitutional Association. He was not in any of the abortive Legislative Councils or the town board. Jerningham Wakefield, writing in 1844, does not mention him, and he is rarely mentioned in the press of the decade 1840-50. But he was himself contributing to the press, and on the formation of the Constitutional Association he at once took a leading position publicly. In 1851 he was presented with a service of plate by the Company's land purchasers for the part he took in getting their claims considered by the Government.

When the new constitution came into force (1853) Featherston was elected Superintendent without opposition. The story of his Superintendency is that of Wellington province from 1853 to 1871, and is embodied in the records - at times dignified and more often stormy - of the Provincial Council. Jerningham Wakefield (q.v.) led the opposition in an embittered political struggle, culminating in a series of constitutional crises. Featherston was four times elected Superintendent. He was a member of Parliament continuously from 1853 to 1870. He first represented Wanganui and Rangitikei (1853-55), and was returned with Clifford and Fitzherbert in 1855 for Wellington City, which he represented until retiring at the end of 1870. Each time he was at the head of the poll. A fine testimonial to Featherston's constructive work and his whole-souled devotion to the interests of the province is embodied in Fitzherbert's panegyric at the abolition of the province. Nor was Featherston allowed to restrict his services to his own province even if he had wished to do so. In the interests of the province he went to Australia and concluded a mail steamer agreement by which New Zealand and Australia became linked with England through Panama. A few years later (1869) he was sent to Australia on behalf of the General Government to persuade General Chute to assume the responsibility of keeping the Imperial troops in New Zealand until further reference to the British Government. Then he was sent to England (with Sir Francis Bell) to urge the retention of the troops in the Colony. In that they failed, but they succeeded in persuading the British Government to guarantee a loan of one million for roading native districts as a measure of security against further wars. When the Hauhau rising was at its worst Featherston put Wellington under a heavy debt to him. Though never robust in health and often suffering intensely, he took the field repeatedly with the troops. The Native levies refused to move without him. By his great influence over them and his unwavering personal courage he inspired the soldiers of both races in the most depressing hours. While he was meeting the Hauhau partisans in the Wairarapa alone and singlehanded, and daring them to open hostilities, he sent a mailman to Wellington to bring up arms for the local volunteers. When Chute was preparing for his march to New Plymouth behind the mountain, the Native friendlies refused to go until Featherston, who was scarcely able to sit his horse, cheerfully undertook the arduous adventure. Of this service General Chute wrote in a dispatch: 'I now consider it my imperative duty to recommend this officer in the highest terms for the distinctive decoration of the New Zealand Cross, in recognition of his meritorious and intrepid services during the period referred to, and more particularly at the storming and capture of that formidable pa, Otapawa, where Dr Featherston so exposed himself in the service of the Queen and country as to become, as it were, a target for the enemy's fire, thus by his noble example stimulating and encouraging the Native allies.'

Though Featherston coveted the New Zealand Cross (which was eventually awarded to him), he declined a knighthood, and always refrained from accepting cabinet office. He did on one occasion (Jul-Aug 1861) join Fox for a few weeks to meet an emergency, and again he was in the executive without portfolio in Fox's last ministry (1869-71). He was M.H.R. for Wanganui and Rangitikei (1853-55), and for City of Wellington (1855-70).

Featherston had no sooner returned from his mission to England in 1871 than he was offered the post of Agent-general, which he accepted, to the general regret of the people of Wellington. He died in London on 21 Jun 1876. His services were inadequately commemorated by a vote of £3,000 granted to his family and the naming of a street in Wellington and a small town in the Wairarapa. Several institutions, such as the Savings Bank and the Mechanics Institute, owed their beginnings to him. He saw his beloved provincial institutions doomed, but was spared by a few months witnessing their final extinction. Gisborne says: 'Like most men with strong wills, he was naturally autocratic, but he had sense enough to see that in a democratic country he must have public opinion on his side. Accordingly, he was despotic through, and not in spite of, the people. But he was no vulgar demagogue. He was a refined and highly educated gentleman, somewhat reserved in his general manner, and not at all given to hunting for popularity. His influence over men was almost magnetic, and his party was ever faithful and devoted. Another characteristic feature about him was his thorough unselfishness, in the lower sense of the term; there was nothing mean or mercenary about him. He was fond of power, but his sole aim was to use it for what he thought was the public good; and in that cause the object of his life was to spend and be spent.'

N.Z.P.D., pass.; Wellington P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; Saunders (p); Gorton; Carter; Ward (p); Cowan, ii; Whitmore; Gisborne (p); Rusden; Gudgeon (p); Wakelin; Wellington Almanac, 1877 (P); Independent, 13 Mar 1866; Otago Daily Times, 31 Jul 1876; N.Z. Times, 27 Jun 1876 (p), 21 Sep 1876; Evening Post, 27 Aug 1929 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

🌳 Further sources

FEDARB, JAMES WILLIAMSON (1817-90) was born in Kent. He arrived in north Auckland before 1840 and was connected for many years with mission work amongst the Maori. He secured some signatures of chiefs to the Treaty of Waitangi. Fedarb was an excellent Maori scholar. He died on 17 Sep 1890.

N.Z. Herald, 18 Sep 1890.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

🌳 Further sources

FEILDING, WILLIAM HENRY ADELBERT (1836-95) was the son of the 7th Earl of Denbigh. Entering the army in 1852, he became lieut-colonel in 1860 and was assistant adjutant-general in Dublin (1864-69). After seeing service in the Franco-Prussian war as attache at French headquarters (1870-71), Feilding visited Australia and New Zealand on behalf of the Colonists' Land and Loan Corporation to select 100,000 acres of land on which to settle colonists. He chose the Manchester block in Rangitikei, which was named after the chairman, the Duke of Manchester. The town was called Feilding after himself. The agreement was to settle 2,000 immigrants by 1877. Feilding commanded the 1st battalion Coldstream Guards (1874-77) and was promoted lieut-general in 1893. He visited Australia and New Zealand in 1894 and died at Bangkok, Siam, on 24 Mar 1895.

Burke; Cycl. N.Z., i; The Times (London), 26 Mar 1895.

Reference: Volume 1, page 138

🌳 Further sources

FELDWICK, HENRY (1844-1908) was born at Norwood, Surrey, and in 1858 came to New Zealand with his father, for whom he worked for some years on his farm at Kaiapoi. There he became local correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, and two years later was appointed sub-editor of the Timaru Herald. In 1871 he returned to Christchurch to take charge of the Star and Canterbury Times, and in 1876 he became a partner in the Southland Daily News. Feldwick was for three years on the Southland education board; was several times mayor of Invercargill; was a volunteer for 22 years (retiring as colonel in 1903) and a prominent freemason (S.C.). He represented Invercargill in Parliament 1878-79, being defeated in 1879 by Wakefield for Geraldine and by Bain for Invercargill. He was afterwards member for Invercargill (1881-84 and 1887-90). In 1892 he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member till his death on 3 Aug 1908.

Parltry Record; N.Z.P., 9 Aug 1908; N.Z. Times, 17 Oct 1892; Southland Times, 4 Aug 1908. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 139

🌳 Further sources

FELL, ALFRED GEORGE (1848-1917) was born in Nelson, the son of Alfred Fell, who arrived in the Lord Auckland (1842) and founded the firm of Cock and Co. Educated in London, where he lived for 12 years, he returned to New Zealand in 1871 and entered into business in Blenheim. A few years later he sold out to Levin and Co. and opened in Picton an extensive malthouse. He represented Blenheim in the Provincial Council (1874-75), was a member of the Blenheim and Picton borough councils for some years and of the Marlborough education board and chairman of the Picton hospital and charitable aid board. He died on 6 Feb 1917.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Evening Post, 7 Feb 1917; Marlborough Express, 8 Feb 1917.

Reference: Volume 1, page 139

🌳 Further sources

FENTON, FRANCIS DART (1821-98) was born at Huddersfield, Yorkshire, in 1821 of an old Yorkshire family with a long legal record. His father, Francis Fenton, was a solicitor practising in London. Educated at Sheffield Collegiate School, he entered the law office of an uncle in Huddersfield where he spent some years and was admitted to practice.

His health being indifferent Fenton sailed for Canterbury in the Barbara Gordon in 1850, but disembarked at Auckland (Oct) and went to live with a cousin, James Armitage, on rented land on the south bank of the Waikato, opposite Tuakau. (Armitage was afterwards resident magistrate in Lower Waikato and was killed by King natives, 7 Sep 1863). Fenton was an accomplished musician, playing both violin and cello. While living at the Rev R. Maunsell's mission station at Maraetai, he attracted the attention of Sir George Grey, who gave him an appointment in the deeds office at Auckland (1852). In Feb 1854 he was resident magistrate at Kaipara. In 1856 he was Native Secretary. A disagreement in policy occurring between him and D. McLean (then land purchase officer), the Governor decided that Fenton was subordinate and he resigned and became a magistrate at Whaingaroa (Jan 1857). Later in the year he was moved to Waikato. There he observed the growth of the King movement and pointed out repeatedly the unsettled state of native affairs and the dangers which might arise from their neglect. He rendered a carefully considered report on the wrongs and wishes of the Maori people, and suggested that they should be assisted to govern themselves. Villages should nominate native magistrates for appointment by the Governor, and officers should be appointed to assist them. Fenton was asked to draw up a Maori book of laws. Owing to political intrigue he was recalled just as his schemes were beginning to offer some hope of averting war. His report was asked for by the House of Representatives and inquired into by the select committee on Waikato affairs (1860). The committee advised the winding up of the Native department as then constituted and considered Fenton well qualified to carry out the work in Waikato. His only error had been his failure to call on Potatau on his tour (1857). In 1858 Fenton became assistant law officer of the Crown and in 1862 a parliamentary agent. In 1865, on Parliament removing to Wellington, he resigned from the law office and became chief judge of the Native Land Court. In 1864 Native affairs were entrusted to responsible ministers and Fenton was recalled to suggest remedies. Finding the act of 1862 defective, he drafted the amending native lands act of 1865, under which great progress was made in the settlement of the country, and administered this and also the N.Z. settlements act (1869) and the national reserves act. Incidentally he distributed the vote of £200,000 granted for the restoration of Taranaki.

In 1869 Fenton was called to the Legislative Council, but with the passing of the disqualification act of 1870 he had to resign (15 Aug 1871). He was afterwards for two years a district judge in Auckland as well as chief judge of the Native Land Court. He retired in 1881, and a few years later took up land in the Kaipara district, where he planted choice vines in the belief that wine would be an important production in the future. About 1895 he returned to Auckland to live.

Fenton drafted the domain act (1861) and was chairman of the Auckland domain board for many years from 1865, and a member of the board of city improvement commissioners. He founded the Auckland Choral society, of which he was permanent president. The erection of the Choral hall was due to his inspiration and energy. Appointed to the Auckland Grammar School board by Sir George Grey in 1868, Fenton was afterwards elected by members of the General Assembly and remained a member until retiring voluntarily (1886). For 50 years he was a parishioner of St Paul's. Fenton's more noteworthy publications are: Observations on the State of Aboriginal Inhabitants in New Zealand (1859) and Important Judgments of the Native Land Court. His judgment in the Orakei case (1869) is an interesting document on the Maori history of Auckland peninsula. In 1885 he published Suggestions for a History of the Origins and Migrations of the Maori People. He died on 23 Apr 1898.

App. H.R. 1860, E1c; N.Z.P.D., pass.; Brett's Almanac, 1879 (p); Fenton, op. cit.; Gorst; Gisborne; Rusden; Cox, Men of Mark; Stack; Auckland Star, 23 Apr 1898; N.Z. Herald, 13 May 1898, 4 May 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 139

🌳 Further sources

FENTON, JOHN ALBERT (1821-98) was educated at the Sheffield Grammar School and Christ Church College, Cambridge, where he graduated (B.A. 1843; M.A. 1846). Ordained priest in 1845, he was curate of Norton, Derby, until 1851 when he came to Lyttelton as chaplain of the Bangalore. He was the first licensed clergyman of the Church of England in Otago and remained in Dunedin till 1859, when he became curate of Goodwood and Waikouaiti and rural dean of Otago and Southland. In 1863 he returned to England as commissary of the Bishop of Christchurch and remained there till 1881, when he was appointed archdeacon of Oamaru. He retired in 1896, and died on 28 Jun 1898. Fenton was a scholar and a poet. He composed several hymns which have been embodied in hymnals.

Otago Daily Times, 5 Jul 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 139

🌳 Further sources

FENWICK, SIR GEORGE (1847-1929) was born at Sunderland, England, and came to Melbourne with his father, Robert Fenwick, in 1853. After a year or two on the diggings and in Melbourne, Fenwick was persuaded by W. H. Reynolds to come to Otago, and the family crossed in the schooner Challenger in 1856. George went to a school in lower High Street and also to the Dunedin Academy, which had been opened by J. G. S. Grant at the end of 1855.

At the age of 12 he entered on his apprenticeship at the Otago Witness office (where he was engaged for five years, 1859-64). He went over to the Otago Daily Times under Vogel. In 1866 he returned to Australia and saw a good deal of his uncle, Captain George Turnbull Brown, master of the East Indiaman Cornwallis. He took a post on the Cleveland Bay Express (at Townsville) but disliked the climate and, on the death of his mother, came back to Otago in the schooner Susannah Booth. James Matthew offered him a partnership in the Tuapeka Press at Lawrence, but after 18 months they found the opposition of the Tuapeka Times too strong and they sold out. The last issue of the Press was reprinted with a new heading, Cromwell Argus, and Fenwick started off at once on horseback for Cromwell, which he had already visited and prospected, so that the Argus was first published on the day he reached there (Sep 1869).

Not satisfied with his prospect Fenwick handed over his share to his brother William and returned to Dunedin, where he joined John Mackay (q.v.) in a general printing business. The property of the Otago Guardian and its weekly the Southern Mercury being put up to auction, G. M. Reed and Fenwick acquired it and determined to make it pay, but finding again that the existence of opposition newspapers in the same town was uneconomic, they made up their mind to acquire the Otago Daily Times and Witness. This they achieved through the mediation of Reynolds. On the papers being amalgamated some of the old staff started a paper of their own, the Morning Herald (May 1877) which they issued at a penny. This complication and the failure of the City of Glasgow bank, with its repercussions in Otago, compelled Fenwick and his partner to look to their laurels. They floated a limited company to take over their papers, Reed being editor and Fenwick managing director, and after 18 months' strong competition the directors at length agreed to Fenwick's suggestion and reduced the price of the paper to a penny. From that time its success was assured. The Herald became an evening paper in 1884 and ceased in 1890, being absorbed in The Globe. From 1883-90 R. E. N. Twopeny (q.v.) was editor and Fenwick managing director, but after 1890 Fenwick held the joint post continuously till 1909, when the editorship was entrusted to James Hutchison (now Sir James).

The depression of 1886 necessitated cuts in salaries throughout the staff and led to a strike by the Otago typographical association, which started a morning paper, the Daily News (only to live for two months). In the eighties Fenwick took a strong stand in the paper against industrial abuses in Dunedin. In 1888 he published a sermon by Dr Rutherford Waddell (q.v.), which was followed by a series of articles in 1889 disclosing the existence of sweating in Dunedin factories and home workshops. The Otago Daily Times took the lead in exposing these abuses and assisted in the formation of the tailoresses union. Fenwick was personally thanked by the labour organisations for his services. He afterwards mediated in a wages dispute between the tailoresses and their employers. The papers were now thoroughly established. The Times had a colonial reputation and the Witness was not only a good farmers' weekly, but also a nursery of New Zealand literature.

Fenwick continued as managing director till his death but he was assisted from 1919 by W. Easton as manager. The paper gave its powerful assistance to cultural movements in Dunedin, notably in raising £10,000 for the endowment of Otago University; in raising money for a new wing to the museum to house the collection presented by Fenwick's friend Dr T. M. Hocken, and other public objects. Fenwick was a founder in Dunedin in 1885 of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, of which he was president for many years. He was a vice-president of the Patients and Prisoners Aid Society and when the prisons board was formed he was appointed a Government member and continued to act till 1927. He was on the committee of the Hocken library and the Art Gallery (of which he was a life member) and was a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association. On principle he abstained from taking much part in public life, but he accepted nomination for the licensing committee on one occasion and was elected at the head of the poll. He was the first president of the Rotary Club in Dunedin.

Fenwick helped to organise the first press association in Dunedin and was in later years for a long period a director and sometime president of the United Press Association. He was a director also of the Newspaper Proprietors Association, the New Zealand Master Printers' Association, the Dunedin Tramways Co. and the Perpetual Trustees, Estate and Agency Co. In 1909 he attended the Empire press conference in London and was chairman of the New Zealand delegation. He took the keenest interest in gardening and trees, was an ardent walker and wrote several noteworthy pamphlets on the beauties of western Otago.

Fenwick married (1874) Jane, daughter of David Proudfoot. He was knighted in 1919 and died on 23 Sep 1929.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Paul; Otago Daily Times, 24 Sep 1929 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 140

🌳 Further sources

FENWICK, WILLIAM (1851-1906) was born in England, came to Melbourne with his parents in 1853 and to Otago in 1856. Educated at the public schools and for a while at J.L. Schaw's Grammar School, he started life as apprentice in the jobbing room of the Otago Daily Times (1864) and before finishing his five years went into the office of his brother (G. Fenwick, q.v.), the Tuapeka Press at Lawrence. He continued with his brother when he founded the Cromwell Argus (1869), in which he became a partner when his brother went to Dunedin. For a few years he was overseer in the Guardian office in Dunedin, and in 1876, with J. H. Clayton, he bought the Evening News, the name of which they changed to The Age. In 1878 Fenwick became printer of the Otago Witness and he succeeded to the editorship on the death of Robert Wilson (1879).

During the 27 years of his editorship he developed the Otago Witness in a remarkable manner, making it not only the weekly of Otago, but the recognised organ for the encouragement of New Zealand talent in prose and verse. For some years he conducted 'Chats with the Farmers' and for 11 years the theatrical column. The 'Little Folks' page was inaugurated in 1886 and carried on by Fenwick in person till his death (on 25 Sep 1906). Fenwick took no part in public life.

Otago Witness, Otago Daily Times, 26 Sep 1906; In Memory of William Fenwick, 1906 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 140

🌳 Further sources

FERARD, BINGHAM ARTHUR (born in 1830) was the son of Daniel Ferard, of Queen's Square, London. After graduating M.A. he read law at Lincoln's Inn from 1852. In 1859 he was appointed resident magistrate at Wellington. Ferard moved to Hawke's Bay, where he represented Napier Town in the Provincial Council (1868-71). Ferard in 1872 published two letters to the government advocating the undertaking of fire insurance by the state.

N.Z.P.D., 12 Aug 1862; Hawke's Bay P.C. Proc.

Reference: Volume 1, page 140

🌳 Further sources

FERGUS, THOMAS (1851-1914) was born at Ayr, Scotland, and emigrated to Victoria with his father, continuing his education there and finishing it at Otago University after their arrival here in 1869. Qualifying as a civil engineer, he joined the service of the Otago provincial government and was district engineer for the goldfields from 1872 till shortly before the extinction of the provincial system in 1876. Fergus then entered into partnership with D. Henderson as contractors and carried out the Mosgiel-Outram railway, the Patea line, the New Plymouth waterworks and the Bluff railway wharf. In 1886 he joined J. B. Blair and they constructed the Mersey-Deloraine railway in Tasmania and the Heidelberg-Alphington line in Victoria. In the nineties he gave up contracting and joined Donald Reid (whose daughter he married in 1878) as stock and station agents and grain merchants.

Fergus was invited to stand for the Wakatipu electorate in 1878, but declined for business reasons. He stood in 1881 and captured the seat, which he retained till 1893. He was Minister of Justice and Defence in the Atkinson Government (1887-89) and of Public Works and Mines (1889-91). He was a member of the Otago education board, vice-president and chairman of the Otago jubilee committee (1898) and treasurer of the Mechanics' Institute. Fergus was a director of the Kaitangata Coal Co., the Hartley and Riley Dredge Co., the Westport Coal Co., and the Bank of New Zealand (1914). He died on 30 Sep of that year.

N.Z.P.D., 30 Sep 1914; Cycl. N.Z., iv. (P); Otago Daily Times, 1 Oct 1914.

Reference: Volume 1, page 140

🌳 Further sources

FERGUSON, DUGALD (1833-1920) was born in Argyllshire, on the shores of Loch Fyne. At the age of 18 he sailed for Australia in the Sussex and was employed by an uncle on a sheep station in Wimmera. He spent about 10 years on sheep stations far up the Darling River and droving and dealing, and came to Otago in 1862. He had an interest in stations in Southland and at Tapanui and made a good deal of money selling cattle on the West Coast (1865).

Ferguson was fond of poetry and wrote much verse of good quality. His first small volume of poems appeared in the seventies, some of the verses being dated 1873. In 1883 appeared Castle Gay and Other Poems, a considerable collection, followed by Poems of the Heart (1897) and Job and Other Poems (1898). He was a sound versifier and wrote on a great variety of topics. He rarely used the Scots dialect. In 1893 he published in London Bush Life in Australia and New Zealand, an interesting story revealing many of his own experiences.

Ferguson, op. cit. (p); Hocken, Bibliog.; Otago Daily Times, 31 Jan 1920.

Reference: Volume 1, page 140

🌳 Further sources

FERGUSON, JAMES BURNE was for some years a merchant in Auckland before taking a sheep run in Hawkes Bay. He was a vice president of the Ahuriri Settlers' Association in 1858, working for separation from Wellington, and was elected to Parliament in succession to J. V. Smith as the representative of Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay (1858-60).

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FERGUSON, WILLIAM (1852-1935), who was born in London, was a son of William Ferguson, a scientific chemist of note. He was an elder brother of Sir Henry Lindo Ferguson. Educated privately and at the Burton-on-Trent Grammar School, he was apprenticed in 1867 to Courtenay and Stephens, mechanical engineers, Dublin, and after completing his articles he entered Trinity College, Dublin (1873), graduating B.A. and first respondent (1877), B.Eng. (1879) and M.A. (1881). In 1881 he became an associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and in 1893 a full member. He was a life member of the Royal Dublin Society.

In 1880 Ferguson was appointed assistant to the professor of engineering at the College and in 1883 he sailed for New Zealand. In 1884 he was appointed engineer-secretary and treasurer to the Wellington Harbour Board. In his 24 years' service there the port became one of the most efficient and well equipped in the Southern Hemisphere. In 1890 he reported on and carried out plans for the drainage of Wellington. In 1907 he retired from the harbour board, but continued as its consulting engineer until 1913. Ferguson was managing director of the Wellington Gas Co. (1908-16) and chairman of the National Efficiency Board (1916-1920). A foundation member of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, he was president in 1919-20. He married (1890) Mary Louisa, daughter of William Sefton Moorhouse (q.v.). He died on 20 Jun 1935.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; The Dominion, 21 Jun 1935; N.Z. Times, 19 Oct 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FERGUSSON, SIR JAMES (1832-1907), 6th baronet of Kilkerran, was born in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson. Educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford, he succeeded to the baronetcy in 1851. He took up his ensigncy in the Grenadier Guards, with which he served throughout the Crimean war, being wounded at Inkermann.

In 1856 Fergusson retired from the army to enter politics, having been elected for Ayrshire while on service. Defeated in 1857, he was again returned in 1859. In 1866 he was Under-secretary for India and later for Home Affairs in the Derby Government. In 1868 he was made a Privy Councillor, and Governor of South Australia, where he assisted in the inauguration of the telegraph system.

On 14 Jun 1873 Fergusson took up the duties of Governor in New Zealand. His term was not marked by any event of importance. Though an energetic and capable politician, he showed the necessary restraint as governor of a self-governing colony in such a period. In 1874 he resigned and, leaving on 3 Dec, he hastened home and contested two elections without success. (K.C.M.G. 1875). In 1880 he was appointed Governor of Bombay. There he did useful administrative work, taking a great interest in native education and in the welfare of the peasantry, for whose benefit mainly he created the first agricultural department.

Returning to England in 1881, Fergusson received the G.C.S.I. and resumed his political career as member for North-East Manchester, which seat he retained until being defeated by the Labour candidate in 1906. He was Under-secretary to the Foreign Office and later Postmaster-general. On retiring from Parliament Fergusson was deputed by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., of which he was a director, to proceed to a conference at Jamaica. On the first day of the conference at Kingston, he was killed in the earthquake (14 Jan 1907). He was a director also of the Caledonian, the London and North Western and the Glasgow and South Western Railway Cos, the P. and O. steamship line and the National Telephone Co.

Fergusson married first (1859) Lady Edith Christian (d. 1871), daughter of the Earl of Dalhousie; second (1873) Olive (d. 1882), daughter of John Henry Richman, of South Australia; and third (1893) Isabella Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev Thomas Twyden and widow of Charles Hugh Hoare. He was succeeded in the title by his eldest son Lieut.-general Sir Charles Fergusson (1865- ), who married Lady Alice, daughter of the 7th Earl of Glasgow (q.v.). He was Governor of New Zealand (1924-30).

D.N.B.; Burke, Peerage; Gisborne; The Times, 17 Jan 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FERRALL, GEORGE (1806-63) was an early resident of the district south of Auckland. He represented Southern Division in the Auckland Provincial Council (1859-61) and died on 28 Apr 1863.

Auckland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., ii, 633.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FIELD, HENRY AUGUSTUS (1852-99) was born in Wanganui, the son of Henry Claylands Field, C.E. (1825-1912), who arrived in the Simla (1851), practised as a civil engineer in Wanganui and published a book on New Zealand ferns (1890). He was educated by the Rev C. H. S. Nicholls. In 1868 he entered the Survey department as a cadet and in 1872 qualified as a surveyor. With his cousin, D. H. Monro, he undertook the survey of the Waimarino country just after the conclusion of the war, and spent two years in the difficult task of ascertaining the best lines for road and railway between the upper Whanganui river and Taupo. The information gained in this period was of great service to the North Island main trunk commission, before which he gave evidence.

Field was an accomplished Maori linguist, an original thinker and a wide reader. In 1878 he was compelled for reasons of health to retire from the service and he settled at Waikanae, where he farmed and practised his profession for the remainder of his life. In 1896 he defeated Newman for the Otaki seat in Parliament and in 1899 retained the seat against C. B. Morison, but died a few weeks later (8 Dec). He was for some years a member of the Wellington land board and president of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. He married a daughter of Thomas Wilton (Waikanae).

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Woon; N.Z.P.D., 22 Jun 1900; N.Z. Herald, 26 Nov 1892; N.Z. Surveyor, Dec 1899; N.Z. Times, 11 Dec 1899, 1 Mar 1912. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FIELD, THOMAS ANDREW HEMMING (1859-1937) was born in Victoria, the son of Thomas Field (1832-1918), who arrived in New Zealand in 1862 and settled in Nelson in 1878. Educated at Nelson College (1871-72), he succeeded his father as head of the firm of Wilkins and Field, hardware merchants, and was a director of Griffen and Sons, and chairman of Robertson Brothers. He took a prominent part in public life, being a member of the Nelson City Council from 1907, deputy mayor in 1910 and mayor in 1911-13. He was also on the hospital board, president of the chamber of commerce, a trustee of the Cawthron Institute and president of the Nelson Philosophical Society. He represented Nelson in Parliament, defeating H. Atmore in 1914, and being defeated by him in 1919. Field died on 27 Oct 1937. He was one of the first cyclists to ride from end to end of New Zealand (1885).

Cycl. N.Z., v; Who's Who N.Z., 1932; Nelson Coll. O.B. Reg.

Reference: Volume 1, page 141

🌳 Further sources

FINDLAY, SIR JOHN GEORGE (1862-1929) was the son of G. A. Findlay, merchant, and was born in Dunedin. Educated at Scott's Academy, Hokitika, he proceeded to Otago University, where he graduated LL.B. in 1886 and LL.D. in 1893. He distinguished himself in philosophy under Macgregor.

Admitted to the bar in 1887, he commenced to practise in Palmerston (Otago) in partnership with F. G. Dalziell (q.v.), and then moved to Dunedin where for one year (1893-94) he was lecturer in political economy at the University. In 1894 Findlay entered into partnership with Stout at Wellington, where he had a distinguished career at the bar. On the appointment of Stout to be Chief Justice (1899), he took Dalziel in as partner until 1914, and later, D. R. Hoggard, D. M. Findlay and J. C. Morison. Findlay's practice was a lucrative one and enabled him as the years passed to devote more of his time to the study of politics and literature, in both of which he took a keen delight. He wrote a great deal to the press on historical and literary subjects, lectured gracefully and fluently, and was a scholarly and forceful speaker. On the other hand he failed on the political platform and was never able to gain acceptance with the electors. When he first contested a seat (in Wellington City) in 1902 it was evident that his political addresses did not appeal to a democracy whose principles he so stoutly enunciated. Shortly afterwards, however, he was closely in the confidence of Seddon and assisting him in the promulgation of his manifestoes. Seddon was willing to give him a seat in the Legislative Council, but he preferred to gain admission to the elective chamber. He composed the election manifesto of 1905 with its exposition of Liberal humanitarianism.

When Sir Joseph Ward became Prime Minister he retained Pitt as Attorney-general, but his health failing before the end of the year he retired. Findlay was called to the Legislative Council (23 Nov 1906) and took the portfolio, together with that of Internal Affairs. As leader of the Government in the Legislative Council he was a marked success in spite of his lack of parliamentary experience. Tactful, hardworking, always abreast of political developments, he conducted the affairs of the Council in a manner which commanded general approval in a period which was admittedly one of the most brilliant from a debating point of view in the history of the Council. In Jun 1909, on the death of James McGowan, Findlay assumed also the portfolio of Justice. He was now close in the confidence of Ward, and accompanied him to the Imperial Conference of 1911. There he appeared to some extent to dominate his leader, who put forward a plan for an empire parliament with every appearance of not having mastered it. The conference politely but firmly rejected the proposal. Findlay tells a little of the inside history of the Conference in his gracefully written volume The Imperial Conference from Within, which he published in the following year. He was knighted (K.C.M.G.) during his visit to England. At the general election of 1911 Findlay resigned from the Council in the hope that he would be accepted as a democratic representative by gaining a seat in the House of Representatives. He stood for Parnell but was defeated by J. S. Dickson. (Dickson 3,585; Findlay, 2,971; M. J. Mack, 1,557. Second ballot: Dickson, 4,264; Findlay, 3,826) While Attorney-general, Findlay created the office in New Zealand of King's Counsel, and was himself one of the first batch appointed (Jun 1907). He also endeavoured while in Parliament to reform the Court of Appeal procedure in New Zealand. His legislation during the six years he was Attorney-general was marked by many instances of his wisdom in legal reform.

Accepting the rebuff at the hands of the electors, Findlay retired from politics for a few years, devoting his time to his practice and to his passion for writing and literature. He was elected a member of the Victoria College council (1900-05, 1906-10) and was chairman in 1906.

During the war, with a coalition Cabinet in office, the opportunity presented itself to Findlay of fulfilling his wish by entering the elective chamber. On the death of McNab he contested the Hawkes Bay seat and was returned (3 Feb 1917). (Findlay, 2,641; Simson, 2,175; Fraser, 11.) It was, however, to be a barren triumph. Owing partly to the years he had spent out of politics, but more to the special conditions of the war, he remained a private member until the next general election. The coalition had by then dissolved and he retired from politics for good. The part which he had played was unique. While still in private life he exercised what Bell described as 'a singular influence' over the legislation of the later days of Seddon, and eventually he gained a similar influence over Ward. While in office he carried through measures in law reform which expressed the views of the experienced lawyer rather than the politician; and in the wider sphere of Empire politics he took an outstanding, if not entirely successful, line at the Conference of 1911. On his subsequent withdrawal from politics he accepted philosophically the compensating opportunity which it gave for intellectual and social pastimes in which he delighted. He founded the Wellington Shakespeare Society and was president for some years.

Findlay's other publications were Humbugs and Homilies (1908), and many articles in reviews, and notably in The Citizen, the organ of the Forward Movement (1895).

Findlay married (1890) Josephine Emily, daughter of James Arkle (Lawrence). He died on 8 Dec 1929.

N.Z.P.D., 1907-11; 1917-19; Parltry Record; Findlay, op. cit.; Butterworth's Fortnightly Notes, 8 Dec 1925, 17 Dec 1929; Evening Post, 9, 11 Dec 1929; The Dominion, 10, 12 Dec 1929. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

🌳 Further sources

FINN, HUGH JOSEPH (1847-1927) was born at Kilkenny, Ireland, educated to the age of 12 in his own home and then sent to the French College at Blackrock, Dublin, and finally to the Jesuit College at Amiens, France. He was for a few months a member of the Pontifical Zouaves in Rome.

Coming to Melbourne, he continued his education at the Church of England Grammar School, from which he passed on to the University. In 1869 he was articled to a barrister and solicitor in Melbourne, and in 1874 was admitted to practise. In that year he arrived in Dunedin and was admitted to the bar there. He started to practise in Queenstown. In 1877 he married Elizabeth, daughter of John McLean (q.v.). Two years later he successfully contested the Wakatipu seat in Parliament (defeating Mason and Manders). During the currency of that Parliament he visited Gisborne and, having decided to make his home there, he retired from Parliament in 1882. In politics he was a member of the Young New Zealand Party (1879) and he was partly responsible for bringing out J. Carroll. He was for a time interested in a shipping business in Gisborne but withdrew finally to devote his whole attention to law. He took no part in local politics.

Finn was a keen volunteer. In Victoria he was a lieutenant in the Sandridge volunteer artillery (1873); he was captain of the Queenstown Rifles (1876-78) and thereafter of the newly formed M battery of artillery (1879-82). Finn died on 18 Dec 1927.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z. ii (p); Poverty Bay Herald, 5 Jan 1924; N.Z.P.D., 3 Jul 1928. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

🌳 Further sources

FINNIMORE, WILLIAM (1802-75), was born in England and is believed to have taken part of his medical course. He was engaged in teaching in a school at Kingston-on-Thames before sailing for Wellington in the Lady Nugent with his wife and son. Finnimore kept the Wellington Tavern for a few years, and about 1845 opened a school in Willis Street. This he conducted with considerable success (with the help of his wife) for 20 years. He also for a few months conducted St Paul's school in Thorndon, and for another short period was farming in Karori. Besides the day school, Finnimore held evening classes, in the teaching of which he was assisted by his son, WILLIAM FINNIMORE, born in 1838. The younger Finnimore left Wellington for Wanganui in the early sixties and was engaged there in the Bank of New South Wales. In 1864 he was a lieutenant in the Wanganui militia. In 1868 Finnimore raised in the town of Wanganui the larger of the two volunteer cavalry corps which did gallant service under Whitmore on the West Coast. The corps was composed mainly of the young men of the town, amongst whom John Ballance (q.v.) for a time held a cornet's commission. The two troops rendered efficient service against Titokowaru's forces, and effectively defended the district against the threatened incursion of the enemy, who were almost at Kai-iwi. When the enemy took to the bush Finnimore's troop was released from further service. (Major, 1869). Finnimore was member of the Provincial Council for Wanganui (1869-72). In 1871 he contested the Superintendency of Wellington against Fitzherbert, who defeated him by 929 votes to 458. He retired from the Council in 1872. Finnimore undertook flax culture on a considerable scale.

Macmorran; Cowan; Gudgeon, 325; Gorton; Whitmore; Ward; Wellington Independent, 21 Apr 1871.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

🌳 Further sources

FIRTH, JOSEPH (1859-1931) was the son of Aaron Firth and was born at Cobden, Westland. He proceeded to Nelson College as an education board scholar in 1873. Two years later he was appointed fourth master at the College, where he remained till 1881. He then accompanied Joseph Mackay to Wellington College as assistant master. In 1886 he accepted a similar appointment at Christ's College, Christchurch. While there he graduated B.A. at Canterbury College (1889), and two years later he was appointed headmaster of Wellington College in succession to Mackay. Firth represented Nelson province at Rugby football (1876) and played for Wellington against New South Wales in 1882. He was also a successful cricketer. While in charge of Wellington College (1891-1921) he led in all games and for years coached the first XI. He devoted his energies especially to the building of character by hard work and hard play. He was a fine administrator and an exceptional scholar, devoted to English language and literature. When he retired he left his mark upon the school in the expansion of the roll, the building of character and many improvements in buildings and grounds. Thereafter he assisted to bring about the erection of the hall as a war memorial, and devoted his energies to the Navy League (of which he was a vice-president), the National Defence League and the Community Club for territorial forces. He married (1889) Jessie, daughter of N. McRae (Marlborough). He died on 13 Apr 1931. (Firth adopted the second name 'Pentland' while he was at Nelson College.)

Nelson Coll. O.B. Reg.; Christ's Coll. List (p); J. S. Elliott, Firth of Wellington, 1937 (p); The Dominion, 14 Apr 1931 (p); Evening Post, 13 Apr 1931 (p)

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

🌳 Further sources

FIRTH, JOSIAH CLIFTON (1826-97) was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire and to the age of 16 received from his father a good classical and commercial education, after which he went into mercantile offices. In the financial crash of 1847 his father lost his fortune and young Firth during the next three years paid close attention to agriculture and gained a good knowledge of farming. In 1850 he returned to commercial life as manager of an iron business. He took a great interest in mechanics' institutes and Sunday school education and held evening classes for historical and scientific studies.

Deciding to emigrate to New Zealand, Firth sailed in 1854, and after spending a short time in Victoria and New South Wales crossed to Auckland. He purchased a block of land in Cook street, where he established a brick-yard. Some years later he was joined by D. R. Thornton and W. B. Smith, and together they started the Wharf steam flour mills in Queen street, Firth being manager. In a few years the firm practically controlled the flour market in the north.

Firth took an interest in politics a few months after his arrival in New Zealand. He intervened in the general election as secretary of the Freedom of Religion Society, opposing any form of state grants for religion or religious education. When the war broke out in Taranaki Firth was a strenuous and outspoken advocate of a vigorous policy. He served as a private in the militia and the volunteers. He was persuaded to stand for Parliament and was elected for Auckland City West (Jan 1861) on the ground of a strong war policy for the maintenance of the Queen's authority and the compensation of the colony and settlers by the confiscation of the lands of the King tribes. He resigned in Jul 1862.

Always interested in the Maori race, Firth in 1865 availed himself of his friendship with Wi Tamihana to acquire an extensive leasehold in the upper Thames district, not far from Matamata. This enterprise, which eventually extended to 50,000 acres, was in tune with his pioneering spirit, and he entered into it wholeheartedly. There was no natural grass on the land, only fern with patches of bush. Heavy expenditure and many years of hard work were necessary to bring it into cultivation and grass land. To protect his men against the danger of native hostilities, Firth erected near Matamata a concrete loopholed keep of three stories, in which arms and ammunition were stored and to which the settlers could repair on an alarm. He snagged the Thames river for a distance of fifty miles to enable his steam launches to keep up communication with the sea and planted 40,000 willows for river conservation. All through the troubles of the King movement Firth was on terms of close friendship with Wi Tamihana and on behalf of the Government discussed the terms of a settlement. He attended many native gatherings when no Government representative was present. In Jan 1870 when Te Kooti was still in the field with his guerillas, Firth met him alone at Tamihana's monument at Taurangamoana and received for communication to the Government Te Kooti's assurance that he would remain at peace if not disturbed but would not surrender on any terms.

Besides the heavy expenditure incurred in developing his estate Firth lost much money on the Thames goldfields. At considerable cost he established the Wild Missouri battery at Tararu, and when Hone Werehiko discovered the New Find at Te Aroha Firth embarked on a new undertaking at Waiorongomai. Both ventures failed; and he was embarrassed at the same time by the fall in prices of produce. As a result he lost his fine estate and the flour mills and had to commence life again. Firth devoted much attention to invention, notably in the utilisation of pumice as insulating material for refrigerating chambers in place of charcoal. As a pioneer he had considerable vision and was resolute, enterprising and energetic; a tireless rider who travelled long distances between Waikato and Auckland winter and summer. He took part not only in the material development of the Colony, but in every phase of its social life. He was a forceful speaker; an interesting conversationalist, never tame or insipid; a keen advocate of education and of science in industry; a warm supporter of the volunteer movement. He was a member (and chairman) at different times of the chamber of commerce, of the Auckland harbour board and the waste lands board; president of the Auckland Institute and of the Acclimatisation Society. At his own expense he brought salmon ova from California (but without success). He sent 50,000 ova to Victoria and he placed 500,000 whitefish ova in the thermal lakes. In 1887-88 he installed electric lighting in Queen street, Auckland.

A prominent member of the Congregational Church, Firth maintained his interest in Sunday schools (being president of the Auckland Sunday Schools Union) and he was treasurer of the Auckland auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. He took an interest in various charities and in the Mechanics' Institute and believed in instilling the spirit of self-reliance into the youth of the country and settled many families on small farms. Firth's literary bent was evidenced in many contributions to the Auckland papers and in several books, notably Lions in the Way and Luck and Nation Making (1890). His death occurred on 11 Dec 1897.

NZ.P.D., 1861-62; App. H.R., 1869 A12; Cycl. NZ., ii (p); NZ. Herald, 24 Sep 1872, 17 Sep 1881, 17 Feb 1885; 23, 28 Apr 1886; 18 Jul 1887; 14 Jan 1888; 13 Jul 1889; 12, 13 Dec 1897. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 143

🌳 Further sources

FISH, HENRY SMITH (1838-97) was born in a London suburb, where his father (who died in Dunedin) was a prosperous painter and glazier. Educated at Cave House School, Uxbridge, he sailed with his parents in 1849 for Melbourne, finished his education and training as an oil and colour merchant there, and in 1863 came to Otago. He married (1867) Jane, daughter of Captain Carr.

Fish was elected M.P.C. for Dunedin City 1870 and sat in the Council until the abolition, being provincial secretary in the executive of D. Reid (1875). He was first elected to Parliament (for Dunedin South) in 1881. In 1884 he was defeated by James Gore but he regained the seat in 1887, and retained it in the combined City electorate in 1890. In 1893 he was again defeated, but he was returned to Parliament again in 1896. He was a diligent legislator, a good speaker and a determined advocate. Fish's principal public service, however, was in the City Council, to which he gave nearly 30 years of conscientious, disinterested and farseeing work. Elected to the Council first in 1868, he contested the mayoralty in 1869 against Birch (who won by 54 votes). In 1870 he was elected (defeating John Griffin) and in 1873 he retired and was defeated in the Council election (by Evan Prosser). In 1874 he re-entered the Council, but retired in 1875, was re-elected in 1876, resigned shortly afterwards to qualify for nomination to the Otago harbour board, and then regained his seat in the Council (1877). H. J. Walter defeated him for the mayoralty in 1878, and having turned the tables the following year, Fish was disqualified as a council contractor. He was defeated in 1880 by A. H. Ross and in 1881 he retired from the Council for five years. He again contested the mayoralty (against Haynes) in 1892, and was elected in 1893 and 1894. In 1895 he was defeated by Wales. He resigned from the Council in 1897, having been six times mayor.

Fish exercised a determined and forceful influence on civic affairs, especially on the development of essential public works and finance. He was prominent also in friendly societies and other forms of working-class cooperation. He was 40 years a member of the M.U.I.O.O.F. (which he joined in Melbourne); in 1877 he was D.P.G.M. and 1878 P.G.M. In 1896 he was first chief of the Lodge Hope of Dunedin I.O.G.T. He was a director of the Otago Caledonian Society, and president in 1893-94. Throughout his life Fish was an active supporter of charities and sports societies. He died on 23 Sep 1897.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Otago Daily Times, 15 Dec 1890, 24 Sep 1897. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 143

🌳 Further sources

FISHER, FRANCIS, who was Attorney-General under Governor Hobson, left a good position in Cambridge in 1835 to come to New South Wales. He was crown solicitor at Sydney when he received the appointment (in Oct 1840) of land claims commissioner (with E. L. Godfrey and M. Richmond) to examine titles in New Zealand. Owing to ill-health he resigned this post and became Attorney-General (3 May 1841). In Aug he was appointed commissioner of the Auckland court of requests and a month later chairman of the court of quarter sessions, acting police magistrate and a member of the Legislative Council. Fisher shortly afterwards left New Zealand. His son was Professor W. R. Fisher, of Oxford.

Reference: Volume 1, page 143

🌳 Further sources

FISHER, GEORGE (1843-1905) was born in Dublin of Scots parentage, and at the age of nine was employed in a printing office in Fetter Lane, London. In 1857 his parents moved to Melbourne and he became a reader boy in the Age office, later being apprenticed to Ferguson and Moore, printers. In 1863 he came to the Otago diggings, but soon drifted to journalism in Invercargill and in 1865 moved to Christchurch, where he was on the Lyttelton Times (1865-69). Then he joined the staff of the Government Printing Office. In 1872 he became a reporter on the Independent, and thereafter was for 11 years on the staff of Hansard.

In 1877 Fisher was elected to the Wellington City Council, from which he resigned in 1881 and defeated the sitting mayor (C.J. Hutchison q.v.). Fisher was mayor for three years (1881-84) and a member of the harbour board. He distinguished himself by his energetic administration and grasp of public affairs. In 1884 he was elected to Parliament for Wellington South and in 1887 for Wellington East. He was Minister of Education and Commissioner of Customs in the Atkinson ministry (1887-89) but resigned owing to a difference of opinion. In 1890 he was returned at the head of the poll for Wellington City, but in 1893 he was defeated by H. D. Bell and John Duthie. In 1896 he came back as junior member for the City, and in that year was elected for the fifth time mayor of Wellington.

Fisher was one of the finest speakers in the New Zealand Parliament, lucid and trenchant; a vigorous personality, but impatient of control or cabinet responsibility. In his later years in Parliament he was almost alone as a 'Fourth Party.' As mayor he helped to found the Home for the Aged and Needy, and promoted the building of the town hall and public library. He died on 14 Mar 1905.

Fisher married (1866) Laura Emma, daughter of James H. Tompkins (Christchurch). A son,

Cycl. NZ, i; Evening Post, 14 Mar 1905.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FISHER, JAMES BICKERTON (1843-1910) was born at Diss, Norfolk, the son of the Rev Thomas R. Fisher, and came to Wellington in the Myrtle (1857). He completed his education at Christ's College, Christchurch (1859-60); was articled to W. P. Cowlishaw (1863) and called to the bar (1868). He commenced to practise in Westport (1870) where he was later crown prosecutor. He represented Westport in the Nelson Provincial Council (1873-74) and in the House of Representatives (1879-81). He then retired from politics and returned to Christchurch to continue the practice of his profession as a partner in Garrick and Cowlishaw. Fisher married a daughter of Andrew Brown (Victoria). He died on 23 Jan 1910.

Cycl. NZ, iii, vi; Christ's Coll. List; Westport News, 28 Dec 1926.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FISHER, JAMES TEMPLE (1828-1905) was born at St Margaret's, Kent, and educated there. At the age of 16 he entered the Royal Navy, serving for some years on the China station. He was in Australia and is said to have visited New Zealand first in the Flying Childers in 1846. He was back in England in 1849 and his term of service having concluded, he emigrated with the Canterbury Pilgrims in the Charlotte Jane (1850). Fisher selected land in the Heathcote valley and farmed successfully for many years. There he first took a part in public life as a member of the Heathcote road board (of which he was chairman), the Waimakariri river board and later the Sydenham school committee. He represented Heathcote in the Provincial Council from 1870 until the abolition. In 1876 he was elected to Parliament for Heathcote, representing the agricultural electors as distinguished from the squatters. He sat until the end of 1881, when he was defeated by Wynn Williams. Fisher was Postmaster-general and Commissioner of Telegraphs in the Grey ministry (1877-79). In Parliament also he represented the agricultural settlers rather than the squatters and cast in his lot with Sir George Grey. He died on 3 Jan 1905.

Brett's Almanac, 1879; The Press and Lyttelton Times, 5 Jan 1905. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FISHER, JOHN (1837-1927) was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and arrived in Auckland in 1856. He farmed at Tamaki till 1865, served in the Waikato war and took up land at Pukerimu. He was chairman of the Waipa county council, president of the Waikato central A. and P. association and a member of the Auckland harbour board. Fisher was called to the Legislative Council in 1914, and served one term (1914-21). He died on 13 Jan 1927.

N.Z.P.D., 3 Jul 1928; N.Z. Herald, 14 Jan 1927. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FRANCIS MARION BATES FISHER (1877 - ) was M.P. for Wellington City (1905-14) and Minister of Trade and Customs (1912-15).

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jun 1906; Russell; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Evening Post, 15 Mar 1905. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FITCHETT, ALFRED ROBERTSON (1836-1929) was born at Grantham, Lincolnshire, emigrated to Victoria when a youth, and finished his education at Melbourne University. He was ordained in the Methodist ministry in 1863 and shortly afterwards came to New Zealand and took up work amongst the Europeans in Wanganui during the Maori war.

In 1867 he was appointed to Trinity Methodist Church in Dunedin, and while there erected the fine new church in Stuart Street. For three years he was stationed in Christchurch, in charge of the Durham Street church, and in 1878 he returned to Trinity in Dunedin.

Fitchett was a man of great versatility and outstanding ability and eloquence as a preacher. He edited the Christian Observer (1870-76) and was prominent in the government of the Church. He attended the first annual conference (1874), the Australasian conference in 1875 and the general conference in 1878. In 1878 he took his B.A. at the University of New Zealand. Feeling that he could no longer tolerate the itinerant law of the Church, which enforced the transfer of ministers every three years, he severed his association with the Methodist connection. In 1879 Fitchett was ordained in the Church of England. He at once took charge of All Saints Church in Dunedin, where he ministered for fifty years. (M.A., New Zealand, 1882; D.D., Toronto). He was appointed dean of St Paul's Cathedral in 1894 and acted as commissary for the Bishop in 1906, 1911, 1919 and 1921. For ten years (1886-95) he was a governor of the Boys' and Girls' High Schools and in 1894 chairman. Fitchett was a constant contributor to the Otago Daily Times and the author of several books, notably Evolution and Ethics and Christian Ministry: Whence Derived. He received the C.M.G. in 1928 and died on 19 Apr 1929. (See FREDERICK FITCHETT.)

Otago Witness, 15 May 1928; Otago Daily Times, 16 Dec 1878, 20 Apr 1929.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FITCHETT, FREDERICK (1854-1930) was born at Grantham, Lincolnshire, and as a boy came to Victoria with his parents. His father having died, his mother maintained the family by keeping a store.

After leaving school Fitchett went to sea before the mast for two years. He then came to New Zealand and entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand. His University career was a brilliant one. He was a senior scholar at Canterbury College, where he graduated (BA 1879; M.A. 1880; LL.B. 1880; LL.D. 1887) and he won the Bowen prize in 1876.

Admitted to the bar in 1881, he practised in Dunedin till 1894 (the firm being Fitchett and Thornton). He was a member of Parliament for Dunedin Central (1887-90) and was Liberal whip, but did not seek re-election. In 1894 he was appointed parliamentary law draughtsman; in 1900 crown law officer, and in 1901 Solicitor-general. In this capacity he went to London to discuss the New Hebrides convention with French and British delegates (1907) and the Webster claims (1909). With Sir R. Stout and L. G. Reid he consolidated the New Zealand statutes.

From 1910 to 1917 Fitchett was Public Trustee and on retiring he resumed practice in Auckland. He was a member of the University senate (1883-1915). (C.M.G. 1911). He died on 6 Oct 1930. (His brothers were A. R. FITCHETT (q.v.) and W. H. FITCHETT)

Cycl. N.Z., i; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Hight and Candy; Evening Post, 6 Oct 1930; N.Z. Herald, 6 Oct 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 144

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, GERARD GEORGE (1834-1904) was born in England and educated at the Grammar School at Bath, and came to New Zealand in the Castle Eden (1851). The gold diggings attracted him to Victoria, where he spent some years buying and driving cattle to the goldfields, digging and gold buying.

In the early sixties he returned to New Zealand and, on the suggestion of his brother (J. E. FitzGerald, q.v.), established a telegraph news agency for the colony. For a short period he was part owner of the Southland Times, which he gave up to visit the West Coast goldfields. There he renewed his acquaintance with G. S. Sale (q.v.), then Goldfields Commissioner, who got him appointed as magistrate, sheriff, warden and commissioner of crown lands (1867). With headquarters at Hokitika he did a great deal of travelling. In 1879 he contested the Hokitika seat in Parliament against S. George.

About 1880 FitzGerald returned to journalism, at first as the owner of a small paper in Blenheim and then as editor of the Wanganui Chronicle. While at Wanganui he was elected M.H.R. for Hokitika (1881), but after serving for one Parliament he was defeated by J. Bevan (1884). He became editor of the New Zealand Times (Wellington) but resigned a year later to take the editorship of the Timaru Herald, which he controlled until his death (on 7 Jun 1904). He was a lucid writer with pronounced political opinions. FitzGerald married in Westland Miss Kennedy (who was drowned in the Taiaroa in 1886).

Parltry Record; Cycl. N.Z., v; Harrop, Westland; Timaru Herald and Wanganui Chronicle, 8 Jun 1904. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 145

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, JAMES EDWARD (1818-1896) was born at Bath and brought up in England. He was nevertheless an Irishman, the youngest son of Gerald FitzGerald, of Kilminchy, Queen's county, and his second wife Catherine, daughter of Sir L. O'Brien, baronet of Drumoland, county Clare. Educated in his native town, he passed on to Cambridge (entering at Christ's College in 1839), and graduated B.A. in 1842. His intention had been to go into the army, preferably the Royal Engineers, but his eyesight failed, and during the next year or two he took long walking tours in Great Britain and Ireland, and so became acquainted with the 'common people' from whom his life hitherto had been quite apart.

In 1844 FitzGerald obtained a post in the antiquities department of the British Museum. There his ability was quickly recognised, and he was promoted to the post of Under-secretary, which he held until its abolition in 1850. During these years he began to be interested in the question of colonisation. In 1847 he issued a circular in favour of founding a colony on Vancouver Island, which the Colonial Office was proposing to transfer to the Hudson Bay Company. In 1849 he published a book examining the charters of the Company and demonstrating that it had no right to be given control of the island. In the event, it did not acquire Vancouver, but it was not possible to carry out FitzGerald's proposal. He then had an idea that some parts of India could be colonised by white people, but his brother Robert (who was a captain in the 5th Punjab Cavalry) dissuaded him from this scheme and he turned his attention to New Zealand. He appears to have been associated with Wakefield's project early in 1849 and to have become impatient long before the psychological moment arrived. In Dec Wakefield wrote warning him not to go to New Zealand, as a man of his qualities would be lost there. Evidently FitzGerald was unhappy in his post at the Museum, for Wakefield advised him "however disagreeable your position may be, it is one of independence for the present, and it gives you time to wait and watch." The Colonial Reform Society was formed and FitzGerald became its secretary. He had ambitions to be the leader of the first party to New Zealand, but Wakefield wrote to Hutt, a director of the Company (in Feb 1850) pointing out his disabilities for the post. "He has uncommon abilities; is a very good fellow, and I like him very much. He has not position enough in this country. He is a younger brother without property and looking for a provision." The following month he wrote: "FitzGerald will make a very good emigration agent, and it is a great satisfaction to have so good and clever a fellow thoroughly enlisted as a Canterbury colonist." He was a member of the Canterbury Association, and evidently drafted most of their important letters. Wakefield got him put on the committee of management. In the discussions as to the name of the capital FitzGerald was all for "Christchurch" as against the alternative of "Lyttelton," then much in favour on account of the generous manner in which Lord Lyttelton had supported the Association. FitzGerald was given charge of the emigration agency, but a month or two later we find Wakefield complaining, from his partial seclusion at Reigate, that it was being neglected and that FitzGerald and Brittan were more concerned with the possible control of the colony after Godley's return to England. Wakefield sooner or later reached this point with many of his friends. He differed violently and could see all their defects at once. FitzGerald, he wrote, "is all imagination and no action-an immense promiser, quite sincerely; ready to undertake everything, but for performance, except in writing or talking, singularly feeble and heedless."

FitzGerald had just married Fanny Erskine (who died in 1900), daughter of George Draper, a London merchant, and had made up his mind to emigrate with the colonists. On 7 Sep 1850 he sailed in the Charlotte Jane as leader of the party. The expedition arrived at Lyttelton on 16 Dec and FitzGerald lost no time in getting himself installed ashore. Shrimpton's printing press was soon ready for work, and on 11 Jan 1851, FitzGerald (as editor) brought out the first issue of the Lyttelton Times, of which he remained in control for two years. At the same time he held the dual official position of immigration agent and inspector of police. He joined Godley in the demand for self-government, which was mildly convulsing the whole colony.

Towards the end of 1852 Godley felt that his work in New Zealand was done, and instead of remaining to be Superintendent of Canterbury he returned home. As a matter of course FitzGerald was nominated for the superintendency (Jul 1853), and he accepted in one of those lofty speeches which characterised the great occasions of his whole career. He had two opponents, Colonel James Campbell and H. J. Tancred, the latter under suspicion of having been brought out to split the Campbell vote. FitzGerald polled 135 votes, Campbell 94 and Tancred 89. On 28 Sep, in a small building in Chester Street West, overlooking Cranmer square, FitzGerald met his first Council. His speech on that occasion reads like a piece of studied and polished prose. In the finest language and with faultless lucidity and logic, the principles that ought to guide Canterbury in founding her government are set forth. He was Superintendent for the whole term of the first Council, that is, until 1857, and the scanty history of that period shows how high were the motives that actuated him. His loyalty to religion and education were marked; yet he set his face sternly against the application of state funds in such a manner as to relieve the individual of responsibility for his own convictions and his children's instruction. He advocated the complete severance of the Canterbury Province from the Canterbury Association, on the ground that local self-government was essential to the success of the colony; but he persuaded the Provincial Council to assume responsibility for the whole expenditure of the association in establishing the settlement.

In Parliament, too, FitzGerald took a prominent part. Elected for Lyttelton on the day after his return as Superintendent, he was one of the leading constitutionalists in the first Assembly, and took a strong stand against sectarianism, and in favour of responsible government. When the latter principle had been affirmed by the House with scarcely a dissentient, FitzGerald became head of the first executive, with Sewell and Weld as colleagues; but they resigned office when they found the Governor would not dispense with three colleagues, officials who had been appointed before the constitution, and were considered irremovable. His honorarium as a member of Parliament, £116, FitzGerald presented to the Lyttelton Colonists' Society to help to form a library. Indifferent health prompted him to retire from the superintendency and from Parliament in 1857, and he was appointed to act as emigration agent for the province in London. He sailed in a small schooner, the Speedy, by way of Australia, taking his wife and four children.

During his two years in England he received two offers of governorships-Queensland and British Columbia-but his health forbade his accepting. On returning to the Colony in 1860, he started farming on a property at Springs Station, which had been granted to him by the Provincial Council in recognition of his services. He was also in partnership with his brother-in-law (Draper) and Hunter-Brown.

In May 1861 appeared the first issue of The Press, of which FitzGerald was editor, and in Jun 1862, he became sole proprietor. Meanwhile he had entered again into both provincial and general politics. He sat in the Provincial Council (1861-62). In the middle of the latter year he was returned as M.H.R. for Ellesmere. In the ensuing session of Parliament he made several notable speeches on behalf of the Maori, by whose desperate condition he was deeply affected. In that of 8 Aug, which was particularly eloquent, he said: "I appeal to you tonight, not only on behalf of that ancient race whose destinies are hanging in the balance, but on behalf of your own sons and daughters-for I venture to predict that in virtue of that mysterious law of our being by which great deeds once done become incorporated with the life and soul of a people, enriching the source from whence it flows through the ages, the inspiration to noble thoughts and the incitement to generous actions-I venture to predict that amongst the traditions of that great nation which will one day rule these islands and the foundations of which we are now laying, the most cherished and the most honoured will be that wise, bold and generous policy which gave the Magna Charta of their liberties to the Maori people." The Government being defeated, FitzGerald was asked to form a ministry, but he proposed Domett. He tried to induce the Government to recognise the complete amalgamation of the two races by granting to the Maori full representation in Parliament. Most of his resolutions were adopted, but the Government balked at Maori representation, and FitzGerald withdrew his motion.

In the course of that Parliament he was for a few months Minister of Native Affairs (in the Weld ministry), but it was soon defeated and that practically ended his political life. He had represented Ellesmere (1862-66) and City of Christchurch (1866-67). Speaking at a farewell dinner in Christchurch, in Apr 1867, FitzGerald said: "No public man in the Colony could look back on a career which yielded greater satisfaction. From the time at which the Colony received representative institutions up to 1865 no ministry has been found in which he had not either held, or in which he had not been urged to hold, a prominent position." In Jan 1867, FitzGerald was appointed Controller-general, a title which a few years later was altered to Comptroller and Auditor-general, and he retained that post until his death in 1896.

Apart from his official life, FitzGerald always showed a keen interest in intellectual pursuits, and he was a leader of thought in whatever circle he moved. Some idea of his wide literary interests and advanced views may be gained from pamphlets, articles and books which he published, both before and after coming to New Zealand. His life of Godley, which appeared in The Press on 29 Jun 1862, is a noble tribute. He had sound ideas on the theory and practice of government, on literature, and on that field of thought which was generally designated as socialism. It was largely due to him that Wakefield's 'sufficient price' was applied in Canterbury. Gisborne says of him: "His mind was imbued with large principles and was richly stored with information of various kinds. A thorough Irish gentleman, he was, like his countrymen, quick, impulsive, witty and winning in manner and conversation." In Wellington, where he spent the last 30 years of his life, FitzGerald was president of the Citizens' Institute and a member of the Union Debating society. He died on 2 Aug 1896, and his widow in 1900.

NZ.C. (Canterbury Association papers); Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Stout in Who's Who NZ., 1908; FitzGerald, op. cit.; N.Z.P.D. (notably 25 Jul 1862 and 18 Aug 1865); Cant. O.N.; Cycl. NZ., i, i (p); Cox; Gisborne; Rusden; Godley, Letters; E. Wakefield, Stafford; Saunders; Lyttelton Times, 1851, pass. and 26 Nov 1923; The Press, 25 May 1911, 1 Feb 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 146

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, JOHN PATRICK (1815-97) was born at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, Ireland, and educated at Dublin, where he graduated in medicine. (M.R.C.S, Eng.) He arrived in Wellington as surgeon in the Oriental in Jan 1840 and was a member of the Colonists Committee of Control in the same year.

A pious Catholic, Fitzgerald was appointed by Bishop Pompallier as catechist at Port Nicholson and thus was the first representative of that Church there (Dec 1840). He was deeply interested in the natives and as Colonial Surgeon in charge of the hospital at Wellington paid much attention to their welfare. He was appointed coroner (1841) and had medical charge of the Wellington militia and Maori contingent on active service (1846). Trusted by Rauparaha, he acted as his guide and adviser when he came to Wellington to watch the trial of a Maori for theft. When the colonial hospital at Port Nicholson was opened in 1847 Fitzgerald was in charge. Governor Grey was much impressed by his enterprise and skill and the fine service he rendered to both races.

Fitzgerald married (1842) Eliza Sarah, daughter of Thomas Christian (Dublin). After her death (in 1854) he left New Zealand for the Cape, hoping again to work under Grey. This wish was gratified by his appointment early in 1856 as superintendent of the Grey hospital at King William's Town, where he placed his skill and enthusiasm at the disposal of both races for 35 years. He visited New Zealand in 1861, after opening his first hospitals in Kaffraria. Fitzgerald retired in 1891 and died at Ramsgate, England, in 1897. He published in 1885 a history of the native hospital at King William's Town. (See T. H. FITZGERALD.)

Fitzgerald, op. cit.; Hubner; Pompallier; Rees; Ward; Tucker; E.H. Brookes Hist. of Native Policy in S. Africa (1927); The Silver Star, 1938; Marist Messenger, 1 Mar 1938; Evening Post, 29 Jan 1927; N.Z. Spectator, 19 Jul, 16 Aug 1854; Cape Mercury, 2 Apr 1891.

Reference: Volume 1, page 146

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, MICHAEL, was trained as a civil engineer and surveyor and had some experience in surveys and railway construction in Great Britain. He came to Wellington in the forties and in 1853 was appointed engineer-in-chief in the Survey department at Wellington, and later chief surveyor for Wellington and Hawkes Bay. He was afterwards surveyor to the Native Land Purchase Department until its abolition. Fitzgerald represented Waimarama in the Hawkes Bay Provincial Council (1862) and Napier Town in 1863.

Hawkes Bay P.C. Proc.; Jourdain.

Reference: Volume 1, page 146

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, ROBERT APPLEYARD was a planter in the West Indies. He came to New Zealand in 1840 and was appointed registrar of the Supreme Court and manager of intestate estates (Jul 1841). In 1842 he was registrar of the county of Eden and a member of the board of audit. His daughter was married (1842) to Willoughby Shortland (q.v.). In 1844 Fitzgerald was appointed a commissioner to investigate land claims and registrar of deeds. He was an entertaining public speaker and took a prominent part in the affairs of Kororareka. Later he was in business as a commission agent in Auckland for a few years and then returned to Australia. In 1849 he engaged in a costly expedition to New Caledonia to fish beche de mer, having under his command the schooners Minerva and Sir John Franklin and the sloop Mary. Having established a station on shore at Balade, he sailed for Sydney to arrange his finances. Returning in the schooner Elizabeth, he found that 200 natives had been killed in an attack on the station, and that Captain Rabey and the crew of the Mary had been massacred. Fitzgerald had great difficulty in fighting his way out of the reefs to the open sea. He returned to Sydney to face bankruptcy and re-establish himself.

N.Z. Gaz.; Scholefield, Henry Williams; Sydney Morning Herald, 12, 24, 28 Jan 1850; N.Z. Herald, 8 Jun 1895.

Reference: Volume 1, page 146

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, THOMAS HENRY (1824-88), a brother of John P. Fitzgerald (q.v.) was born at Carrickmacross, county Monaghan, Ireland, arrived in New Zealand in the George Fyfe in 1842 as an assistant surveyor, and was one of the signatories of the Te Aro deed (1844). He remained in Wellington for some years. In 1847 he reported on the line of road to Wairarapa, and in 1853 he was appointed to survey native lands purchased in Hawkes Bay, amounting to over 600,000 acres. He suggested that the Nova Scotians who were seeking land in New Zealand should be settled near the harbour at Ahuriri.

Fitzgerald represented Ahuriri in the Wellington Provincial Council (1857-59) and took a leading part in the demand for separation from Wellington. When Hawkes Bay became a separate province he was elected first Superintendent because the Council was equally divided in favour of Captain Lambert and Captain Newman. He held office from 1859-61. He represented Napier Town in the Council (1859-61). During 1860 also he represented the 'County of Hawke' in Parliament.

In 1862 he went to Australia and entered the Queensland Government service as a surveyor, but resigned to start a large sugar plantation at Mackay, where he erected the first mill. He entered the Queensland Parliament in 1867 as member for Kennedy (being elected also for Mackay), and was Colonial Treasurer in the Lilley Government (1868-69). He again entered politics as member for Bowen (1873), resigning on account of insolvency in 1875. His plantations being unprofitable, he resumed the practice of his profession, explored the northern rivers and founded the sugar settlement of Innisfail, which was originally called 'Geraldton' in his honour. Retiring in 1885, Fitzgerald died on 10 Nov 1888. He married (1851) Jessie, daughter of James Wilson, Rangitikei. Fitzgerald's son, Charles Borromeo, was member for Mitchell in the Queensland Parliament (1896-1901).

N.Z.P.D., 1860; Wellington P.C. Proc.; Hawkes Bay P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; N.Z. Gaz., 7 Aug 1847; Queensland Gaz.; Ward; Carter; Queenslander, Nov 1888; Public Library of Victoria

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 147

🌳 Further sources

FITZGERALD, WILLIAM SANDERSON (1838-1920) was born and educated at Musselburgh, Scotland, and proceeded to the Moray House Free Church Training College in Edinburgh. He was first assistant at St John's Grammar School, Hamilton, when he was appointed by the colonial committee of the Free Church as teacher in the Pigeon Bay Academy. He sailed in the Royal Stuart (1861). Fitzgerald spent eight years at Pigeon Bay, receiving many boarders from Wellington and Otago. He then became rector of the Oamaru Grammar School, and was from 1876 principal of the Normal School in Dunedin and rector of the Training College. In 1894 he became inspector under the Otago education board. He was first president of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

Fitzgerald was an elder of the Presbyterian Church, a strong supporter of Sunday schools and helped to found St Margaret's College. He died on 27 Jan 1920.

Cycl. NZ, iv; Butchers; Ross; K. C. McDonald; Otago Daily Times, 28 Jan 1920.

Reference: Volume 1, page 147

🌳 Further sources

FITZHERBERT, SIR WILLIAM (1810-91) was the third son of the Rev Samuel Fitzherbert, of Buckshaw House, near Sherborne, Dorset, and rector of Houghton. Educated first at a dame school and then at Sherborne Grammar School, he proceeded to the Merchant Taylors' School and then to Queen's College, Cambridge, where he entered at the age of 18 and was tutored by his brother Herbert, then a professor at the University. Fitzherbert was a good scholar; senior optime in mathematics and Brown's University medallist; double first in classics. He graduated M.A. in 1832 and became a fellow of his College. He rowed No.7 in 'Queen Mab' when she was head of the river, and stroked the Cambridge eight selected to row against Oxford in 1832, when Oxford declined to row. He was an adept light-weight boxer and distinguished himself in the town-and-gown rows in the old town, notably when he rescued Hugh Carleton (q.v.) from the infuriated townsmen. After leaving the University Fitzherbert decided to study medicine, and went to the Ecole de Medicine, Paris, for that purpose, afterwards walking St George's Hospital in London. He graduated M.D. in Mar 1839 and commenced practice in Hanover square, London. He married in 1837, Sarah Jane Leigh, who died on 21 Aug 1886. Fitzherbert was early interested in New Zealand and invested some thousands of pounds in the New Zealand Company. In 1841 he determined to go to New Zealand to look after his interests, and he purchased the schooner Lady Leigh, 109 tons, and loaded her with merchandise. Four months later she reached Sydney, and on 15 Sep 1841 she dropped anchor in the harbour of Port Nicholson. Fitzherbert sent for his wife and family, and for some years they resided on the slope of Mount Victoria. He did not practise in New Zealand, but entered into business at once as a general merchant, auctioneer and buyer of whale oil and bone, keeping the Lady Leigh in commission and frequently going in her round the whaling stations in both islands. He carried on his business in Farish street, which he named after a son of Professor Farish. The earthquake of 1848 so affected the health of his wife that Fitzherbert determined to take her to Sydney, and for this purpose he chartered the barque Sobraon, which he loaded with whalebone and oil from his stations at Kapiti and Amuri Bluff. While beating out of the heads the Sobraon struck Barrett's reef and became a total wreck. Mrs Fitzherbert went by another vessel to Sydney, where her daughter was born, and shortly returned to Wellington in a new schooner built for his business and named the William Alfred after their eldest son. They resided in a house near the Colonial Museum until the William Alfred brought from Sydney a frame house built to Fitzherbert's order, which he had erected at the Hutt and called Tredenham. Fitzherbert was associated with Pharazyn in pastoral interests and on going to the Hutt to reside he practically relinquished business and devoted himself to public life. In 1843 he had been placed at the head of the commission of the peace, but he declined a seat in the Legislative Council. He was a prominent member of the Settlers' Constitutional Association (which included also Bell, Fox, Stafford, Featherston, Cargill, Richmond, Godley and Wakefield). When the constitution was obtained Fitzherbert had no difficulty in getting elected to the Wellington Provincial Council for Wellington City, which he represented until unseated in 1857 in the constitutional struggle which ended in the defeat of the Wakefield party. Two years later he was returned for Hutt, and he remained its member until 1869. Throughout he strongly supported Featherston, generally as a member of the executive, and occasionally as deputy-superintendent. When Featherston resigned the superintendency to go to England, Fitzherbert was elected to the post, and continued in it until the abolition. It was a hard task to follow such a man, but Fitzherbert well maintained the dignity of the position and when the time came for its demise gave a noble account of the achievements of the province.

In Parliament Fitzherbert always held a leading position. Elected in 1855 for City of Wellington, he transferred his services three years later to Hutt, which he represented until his resignation in 1879, to be elevated to the Legislative Council. He was Colonial Treasurer in the Weld ministry (1864-65) and in the succeeding Stafford ministry, and for one month in 1872 he was Stafford's Minister of Lands. From 1876 he was Speaker of the House and from 1879 was Speaker almost continuously of the Legislative Council until his death in 1891. Fitzherbert took an active part in the initiation of the self-reliant policy, and in the removal of the seat of government to Wellington. As Colonial Treasurer he went to England in connection with the claim of the Imperial Government for the payment of £750,000 for the services and supply of British troops employed in New Zealand during the Maori wars. He finally obtained remission of the debt and arranged the consolidation of the New Zealand public debt on advantageous terms. He received the C.M.G. in 1872, and was knighted in 1877.

After entering the Legislative Council Fitzherbert was frequently employed on important missions for the colony. At the Colonial Conference of 1887 in London the delegates were much impressed by his ability. The following year he represented New Zealand at the postal conference at Sydney, and he had been appointed to attend the Federal conference in Australia in 1891, but death intervened on 7 Feb.

Unlike Featherston, Fitzherbert never practised medicine in New Zealand. He found business and commercial ventures much more to his liking and lived throughout 'a life of high and stern exertion, distinguished from the first by acts of rare courage and uncommon quality of action.' He was for years a director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society. Of Fitzherbert as a parliamentarian, Gisborne says: 'Although distinguished for mental capacity and for political foresight, he had not the qualities which instinctively attract the sympathy and gain the goodwill of others. He was too shut up within himself; he neither gave nor asked for confidence. His influence, however, was great. Able and astute, he was the Ulysses of statesmen; and, although openly he was not one of the leaders of men, he did much secretly to sway their action. No one could fail to recognise his intellectual power and the sagacity of his counsel. A great speech from Sir William Fitzherbert was an intellectual treat. During an exciting and critical debate, while opponents were violently attacking him, he would sit immovable, his eyes shut, and every muscle in his face as rigid as if it were cut in marble, apparently asleep. But when he rose to reply the whole scene was changed. Without a note, and trusting to his memory, which never failed him on such occasions, he would answer point by point every speech of his opponents, covering them with ridicule and discredit and apparently routing them by force of argument.'

Gisborne (p); Rusden; Reeves; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Wellington P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D., pass. (notably 21 Aug 1875, 29 Apr 1879); N.Z. Times, 9 Feb 1891, 3 Feb 1906; Independent, 7 Dec 1867; Evening Post, 31 Aug 1929 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

A son, HENRY SAMUEL FITZHERBERT (1851-1912) was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and at Melbourne University and admitted to the bar in 1875. He practised for some years in Wellington and was M.H.R. for Hutt (1884-90). He afterwards settled in Palmerston North, where he was solicitor to the borough council and crown solicitor. In 1907 Fitzherbert was appointed stipendiary magistrate at New Plymouth, where he died in 1912. He was a member of the diocesan and general synod.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 147

🌳 Further sources

FITZROY, CECIL AUGUSTUS (1844-1917) was a son of the Rev. F. T. W. C. Fitzroy, rector of Great Ringstead, Norfolk. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he came to New Zealand in 1867 and for a while was cadet at Mesopotamia station. He spent 12 years in pastoral pursuits in Canterbury and represented Selwyn in Parliament (1876-79). In 1878 he married Susannah, daughter of William Beetham, of Taita, and, retiring from Parliament, lived thereafter at Hastings, of which he was mayor (1894-99). In 1896 and 1899 he contested Waiapu against Carroll (q.v.).

For many years Fitzroy was secretary of the Hawkes Bay Club and of the Hawkes Bay Acclimatisation Society (1887-1907), and a member of the education board (1897-1905) and the hospital board. He died on 13 Nov 1917.

Col. Gent.; Acland; Who's Who N.Z., 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 148

🌳 Further sources

FITZROY, ROBERT (1805-65) was born at Ampton, Suffolk, the second son by a second marriage of Lord Charles FitzRoy. He was grandson of the third Duke of Grafton, and therefore descended from Charles II.

FitzRoy entered the Navy from the Royal Naval College in 1819 and was for two years in South America in the Owen Glendower. After serving in the Hind in the Mediterranean (lieut. 1824) and on the coast of South America in the Thetis frigate, he went into the Ganges as flag-lieutenant to Rear-admiral Sir Robert Otway, commanding-in-chief the South American station (1828). Later in the year, being appointed to command the brig Beagle on the death of Commander Stokes, he prosecuted the survey of the coasts of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Magellan, on which that officer had been engaged under the orders of Commander P. P. King, in the Adventure. Hoping to institute measures for the conversion of the natives, FitzRoy took four natives of Tierra del Fuego with him when the two vessels returned to England (1830). They were introduced to the King and Queen and taken back to their homes with a missionary (Matthews, q.v.) when FitzRoy returned in the following summer to continue the same duty. The Beagle sailed again on 27 Dec 1831, with Charles Darwin on board as naturalist, and was five years abroad, surveying the coasts of South America and running a chronometric line round the world, thus fixing the longitude of many secondary meridians.

In Dec 1835 the Beagle spent 10 days in Bay of Islands. While Darwin was engaged in botanical work FitzRoy saw a good deal of the Church Missionary Society's stations, with which he was greatly impressed. His own religious tendencies inclined him to seek the society of the missionaries, and in his evidence before the select committee of the House of Lords in 1838 he eulogised their character and work in the highest terms.

In July 1835 FitzRoy was advanced to post rank. In Oct 1836 he returned to England, where he spent the next few years reducing the observations of the voyages of the Adventure and Beagle between 1826 and 1836 and publishing the narrative, the third volume of which was by Darwin. FitzRoy's work as a surveyor was of a high standard and stood for many years. In 1837 he received the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society. At the general election of 1841, by the influence of Lord Londonderry, he was elected to Parliament to represent Durham. This contest was marked by a violent quarrel between him and a Mr Sheppard, who was also to have contested the seat in the Conservative interest, but withdrew without giving FitzRoy proper notice. FitzRoy challenged him to a duel, but Sheppard did not appear, saying that business took him to London. He afterwards encountered FitzRoy in London and was knocked down. A group of naval and military officers decided that FitzRoy could not give Sheppard a meeting, and the quarrel was continued by pamphlet.

In Sep 1842 FitzRoy was appointed conservator of the river Mersey, a position which he resigned in 1843, with that of an elder brother of Trinity House, on being appointed Governor of New Zealand. He arrived in Auckland in the Bangalore on 23 Dec 1843 and assumed office at once from Shortland (q.v.) who had been administrator since the death of Hobson (in Sep 1842) and whom he treated with little consideration.

FitzRoy found the country in a despondent condition and many of the settlers almost rebellious from their grievances against the New Zealand Company, the Government and the natives. The affray at Wairau, in which 22 Europeans had been killed while attempting to arrest a powerful chief, remained unpunished. FitzRoy had come over from Sydney with Dr Andrew Sinclair (q.v.), whom he immediately appointed Colonial Secretary in place of Shortland. Finding an empty exchequer, a disaffected European population, and natives who suspected the intentions of the Government and the good faith of the whites, FitzRoy approached the Europeans in a haughty and unconciliatory manner. He gratuitously offended some of their leaders and gave the Company's settlers at Wellington the impression that he thought more of native grievances than of their distress. Influenced by Exeter Hall opinions, he felt and said that the natives were his main care. After hearing the Maori version of the Wairau affair he concluded that the blame lay chiefly on the Europeans and declined to take action against Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. In this course he was upheld by the Secretary of State (Nov 1844). At all of the settlements he paid marked deference to the leading chiefs, and commended the work of the missionaries. He did, however, assist Colonel Wakefield to complete purchases of land at Port Nicholson and he promised to expedite the work of the land claims commissioners. FitzRoy had only been a few months in the colony when he had to provide for the pressing financial needs of the government, which were far beyond its means. The floating debt at the beginning of the year was £24,000 and the revenue for the year was estimated at £20,000, which was not two-thirds of the authorised expenditure, even after drastic retrenchment had been carried out. The customs in 1843 yielded only £10,000, and cost £4,000 to collect. FitzRoy therefore, in Apr 1844, got the Legislative Council to pass an ordinance authorising the issue of negotiable debentures bearing interest at 5 per cent. He also increased the customs duties and imposed a tax on firearms. This infuriated the settlers and encouraged smuggling, which the excise offices were powerless to stop. To propitiate the Maori, who resented not being able to sell their lands in order to obtain money, a proclamation was issued waiving the pre-emptive right of the Crown over certain Maori lands and imposing a fee of ten shillings per acre on all purchases. In the condition of the colony this fee almost stopped sales.

While these economic measures were being initiated FitzRoy was harassed by troubles on all sides. The natives in Taranaki resisted the award of the land commissioner. At Bay of Islands Heke led a growing disaffection which had its origin in the loss of all authority and mana by the chiefs together with their sources of revenue, disreputable though some of them were. In Jul 1844 he cut down the flagstaff at Kororareka as a symbol of his defiance of British sovereignty, but without offering violence to the Europeans. FitzRoy promptly despatched a vessel to Bay of Islands with a subaltern and 30 men from the small force which was stationed in Auckland. He visited the Bay in H.M.S. Hazard and then proceeded to Taranaki, where he pacified the natives by saying that the award of Spain would not be put into force.

After visiting Wellington he returned to the Bay, where 150 men of the 99th Regiment had arrived with three guns. The troops were transported to Kerikeri for an advance inland against Heke's position at Okaihau. Nene and other friendly chiefs warned the Governor against such a dangerous adventure. They agreed that Heke had grievances, but undertook to prevent him from doing mischief if the troops were withdrawn. FitzRoy accordingly accepted 20 muskets and 20 tomahawks as a token of submission and withdrew the troops. Unfortunately they were sent back to Sydney, and the provocative flagstaff was re-erected. The Governor now hastened to redress some of the native grievances by reducing the fee on sales of land from 10s to 1d per acre and abolishing the customs duties, for which he substituted a property tax (28 Sep 1844). He also passed an ordinance authorising the issue of a new set of debentures of the value of five shillings upwards, a form of financing which was definitely forbidden in the instructions to colonial governors. These changes were greeted with enthusiasm in the north, but they were most objectionable to southern settlers, who evaded the new duties in every possible way. With the news of these events the Colonial Office received protests from Port Nicholson and Nelson against the Governor's administration, which it was contended had depreciated the value of landed property in the settlements.

The year 1845 opened inauspiciously. The Governor had already offered rewards for the apprehension of offending chiefs at Kawakawa when (on 10 Jan) Heke again cut down the flagstaff. Nene's men, who were in charge of it, made no physical resistance, believing that it was not right to shed blood for a piece of wood. FitzRoy offered a reward of £100 for the arrest of Heke, who now moved about the district with a body of armed and well-trained men. FitzRoy again sent to Sydney for troops, and meanwhile moved 50 men to the Bay of Islands and re-erected the flagstaff, the foot of which was strongly sheathed in iron, while a blockhouse was constructed to protect it. The Hazard remained on guard in the Bay. Indignant at having a price placed on his head, Heke threatened to attack Auckland itself. Excitement was high in all the settlements. The Governor, fearing to precipitate outbreaks between the two races, refused to allow the volunteers to be embodied. Thereupon the justices of the peace in several of the southern settlements took it upon themselves to arm and drill their fellow citizens for self-defence. On 11 Mar, after having given the townspeople due warning, Heke made a concerted attack on Kororareka, cutting down the flagstaff again after enticing the military guard to leave the blockhouse. Severe fighting took place between other divisions of the Maori force and the soldiers and marines. A store containing gunpowder was blown up by carelessness, causing many casualties, and at nightfall the civil population evacuated the town. The armed forces also re-embarked, leaving the place defenceless. No violence was offered to the white settlers but the property thus left unprotected was pillaged by natives and whites indiscriminately. Next day Selwyn and Archdeacon Henry Williams sought out and buried the dead. Some hundreds of refugees were embarked in the Hazard, the American corvette St Louis and the whaler Matilda, and sailed for Auckland, leaving Kororareka a smoking ruin. The English church and the Catholic bishop's house were spared.

Nene now took the field against Heke and Kawiti. On 26 Apr martial law was proclaimed at Bay of Islands, whither 300 troops were despatched under Colonel Hulme. Troops landed at Otuihu and arrested Pomare, who was sent to Auckland. The whole force, with naval brigade, disembarked at Onewhara beach whence, joined by a friendly contingent under Nene, it marched towards Kerikeri. On 8 May it advanced to attack Heke's pa at Okaihau, which was invested on three sides. After fighting all day and gaining several important positions around the pa, the troops were withdrawn at night, having suffered some losses. The British loss was 15 killed and 41 wounded. On the following day, with their wounded on litters, the force retreated to Kerikeri. The commander returned to Auckland to report the affair. To prevent arms reaching the natives FitzRoy now declared a blockade of the coast from Whangaroa to Whangarei. All intercourse with the natives was forbidden.

Though not driven out of their pa, the Maori leaders now looked for a better position, which they found at Ohaeawai and strongly fortified. Reinforcements having arrived under the command of Colonel Despard, a combined force of 520 soldiers, 80 sailors and 8 volunteers marched from Kerikeri and appeared before Ohaeawai on 25 Jun. Against the warnings of Nene Despard ordered an assault on 1 Jul. It ended in a disastrous repulse, with the loss of 107 dead and wounded. On 10 Jul the offensive was resumed, and on the following morning the defenders withdrew from the pa, which was occupied by the troops. After this success, the Governor had to await the arrival of more troops before attacking Heke's ally Kawiti at Ruapekapeka.

Meanwhile discontent in the settlements increased and public meetings were held demanding the recall of FitzRoy. Native tribes throughout the country did not conceal their sympathy with Heke. In England a strong agitation had begun against FitzRoy's administration. In the House of Commons as early as Mar 1845 debates were held criticising his financial operations and the waiver of the government's right of pre-emption, both of which had been disallowed by the Colonial Secretary. The Company's influential friends in Parliament were as strongly hostile to FitzRoy as they had previously been to Hobson and were still to be to Grey. On 30 Apr the Secretary of State informed FitzRoy that it had been decided to supersede him and to send as his successor Captain George Grey (q.v.), whose work in South Australia had created a very favourable impression. Grey arrived in Auckland on 15 Nov and assumed the government on the 18th.

Gisborne weighs up very fairly the character and achievements of FitzRoy, concluding that with the best of intentions he had not the capability for his office in New Zealand. "Had he been endowed with very great abilities he would probably have failed; but unhappily his qualities were such as to make his failure certain and complete. He was rash and impulsive, weak and injudicious, and at the same time, paradoxical as it may seem, obstinate and self-confident. He was unskilful in the management of men, unversed in constitutional principles, and altogether ignorant of political economy. His official action was inconsistent and mischievous; he did much to set race against race and class against class." Yet it has to be remembered on the reverse side that FitzRoy was dominated by solicitude for the Maori people. His policy on their behalf brought upon him the implacable hostility of a large and influential section of the white population. The colonists' petition to the House of Commons was a masterly document expressing clearly the inherent hostility between the Company's interests and those of the natives. The Company adopted it with wholehearted approval and instructed its agents in New Zealand to reward the author (Domett) with some paid post which might become vacant. A greater and better balanced man than FitzRoy might have failed to govern a colony in which such passions were rife and such powerful interests opposed to his administration. FitzRoy sailed for London in the David Malcolm on 10 Jan 1846. In 1848 he was appointed superintendent of the dockyard at Woolwich, and early in 1849 he took command of the screw frigate Arrogant, which had been fitted out under his supervision to carry out certain trials.

FitzRoy retired from the service in 1850. (Rear-admiral by seniority 1857; vice-admiral 1863.) In 1851 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society. He served a few months as private secretary to his uncle, Lord Hardinge, then commander-in-chief of the army; and then, at the recommendation of the Royal Society, he was appointed chief of the meteorological department of the Board of Trade. His high standing as a meteorologist was enhanced by the popular work which he did in this office. He suggested the design of the FitzRoy barometer, and in the Weather Book (published in 1863) he inaugurated an advance in the study. He instituted storm warnings which afterwards developed into regular weather forecasts. He published Remarks on New Zealand (1846); several manuals on meteorology and sailing directions and his official reports to the Board of Trade. He also did valuable work for the seafaring community as secretary of the Lifeboat Association. Overwork took its toll of an excitable disposition and his mind gave way, leading to his committing suicide on 30 Apr 1865. FitzRoy married (1836) Mary Henrietta (who died in 1852), daughter of Major-general Edward James O'Brien. As a hostess and philanthropist Mrs FitzRoy won golden opinions. Her salon in Auckland was an oasis of culture and enlightenment.

D.N.B.; Jour. Royal Geog. Soc., vol xxxv; G.B.O.P. 1838/680; 1844/556; 1845/1, 131, 245, 247, 369, 517 ii, 661; 1846/203, 337; G.B. Hansard, vol. 78, cols. 644-94; vol. 80, cols 172-4, 183-6; Sinclair papers; Wells; Buick, First War (p); Marjoribanks; Darwin; Fitzroy, op. cit.; S.M. Martin; Clarke; Cowan i; Thomson; Saunders; E. J. Wakefield; King; Joan Barlow; Gisborne; G. H. Walls (p); Carleton; Hocken; Sherrin and Wallace; The Times (London), 1 May 1865.

Reference: Volume 1, page 149

🌳 Further sources

FITZSIMMONS, ROBERT (1862-1917) was born at Helston, Cornwall, and came to New Zealand with his father as a child. They settled at Timaru, where he was educated and learned something of the trade of a blacksmith in his father's shop.

Though his parents were very devout people, Fitzsimmons learned boxing as a youth and during the period 1880-90 acquired some reputation as a promising amateur. In 1890 he went to San Francisco and soon gained fame by winning the world's middleweight championship (14 Jan 1891). His most notable victory was against James J. Corbett at Carson City on 17 Mar 1897. He won that match in the last minute of 14 rounds by his use of the solar plexus punch, which was always associated with his name. He was, however, already old for heavyweight boxing. On 9 Jun 1899 he was defeated by James J. Jeffries in 11 rounds at Coney Island. In 1900 he defeated two doughty opponents, Tom Sharkey and Gus Ruhlin; but in 1902 he again met Jeffries with the same result. On this occasion Fitzsimmons broke all the knuckles of his right hand with one blow. He fought eight times between 1903 and 1914 and in all fought 360 times, and received no scars. He had the shoulders and arms of a giant, but was knock-kneed and wore thick underwear to hide the thinness of his legs. He lost most of his money to sharpers. Fitzsimmons wrote Physical Culture and Self Defence (1901). He was married four times.

D.Am.B.; Fitzsimmons, op. cit.; R. H. Davis, Ruby Robert (1926); Jeffrey Farnol, Famous Prize Fights (1928); H. Sayers, Fights Forgotten.

Reference: Volume 1, page 149

🌳 Further sources

FLATMAN, FREDERICK ROBERT (1843-1911) was born in Suffolk, educated at the High House School and spent some years on his father's farm before sailing for New Zealand in 1862 in the Mary Ann. On arrival in Canterbury he spent some months on Alfred Cox's Raukapuka station, and after a short time storekeeping in Geraldine he joined Robert Taylor in a sawmilling venture at Woodbury (1866). The firm acquired land and laid out a township for their employees, established a store and hotel, and out of their sawmilling profits gradually extended their holding of farming land until the partnership dissolved in 1892.

Flatman then retired to farm his own property near Geraldine, devoting more and more time to public affairs. He was a member of the Timaru and Gladstone board of works before the abolition of the provinces; was for 19 years a member of the Geraldine road board and later in life was mayor of the borough of Geraldine (1909-11). For many years he was a member of the Timaru harbour board; the South Canterbury education board and the Geraldine school committee. He was M.H.R. for Pareora (1893-96) and on the adjustment of electoral boundaries continued to represent Geraldine (defeating A. E. G. Rhodes on two occasions). On becoming a supporter of prohibition Flatman closed the hotel in Woodbury in which he was interested. He continued in Parliament until 1908 and during part of that time served as deputy-chairman of committees. Flatman died on 21 Sep 1911.

N.Z.P.D., 21 Sep 1911; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Andersen; Timaru Herald, 22 Sep 1911

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLEMING, ALEXANDER (1843-73) was born in the west of Scotland, educated there and attended arts courses at Glasgow University. He was classical and English master at the academy at Helensburgh before coming to Southland in the early sixties. For some time he was tutor at Morton Mains, and in 1867 he was appointed schoolmaster at Lower Harbour. From there he went to Totara and in 1869 was appointed second master at Oamaru Grammar School. This he resigned to enter the Presbyterian ministry but, his health improving, he accepted in 1873 the post of first headmaster of the Invercargill Grammar School. Fleming was a man of sound scholarship and great promise but was frustrated by feeble health, which led to his early death (on 6 Sep 1873).

Otago Daily Times, 2 Oct 1873.

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLEMING, DAVID THOMAS (1861-1938) was born at Blackwater, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, the son of Alexander Fleming, with whom he came to New Zealand in the Lady Milton in 1863 (Sir Robert Stout being a fellow passenger). His father taking up land at Otokia, Taieri, he was educated at Allanton and Otokia, and at the Otago Boys' High School and farmed with his father for a while at Hindon. He was secretary of the Henley river board from 1879 to 1884, in which year he joined the staff of the Clutha Leader. He became successively editor, manager and part proprietor of the Leader and controlled the Bruce Herald (1906-11).

In 1912 Fleming retired from journalism and became interested with his brother in sheep and cattle farming at Titiroa. He was a member of the Clutha river trustees (1907-24), and of the river board (1910-16) and chairman (1912-14); a member of the Balclutha High School committee (1893-1905); of the Otago education board (1915-18), and chairman (1913-16); of the technical college board (1913-16); a founder and governor of the South Otago High School; a member of the Otago High Schools board (1915) and of the general Council of Education (1918-30). He was on the Balclutha borough council (1891-1914) and mayor (1897-99 and 1903-07). He married (1889) Emilia, daughter of the Rev J. Menzies (Milton).

Fleming was organiser of the Reform party in Southland and was a member of the Legislative Council (1918-32). He died on 18 Oct 1938.

N.Z.P.D., 1918-32; Clutha Leader, 19 Oct 1938. Portrait: Parliament House

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLEMING, THOMAS REID (1863-1930), a son of John Stuart Fleming, was born in Edinburgh, and came to New Zealand in 1868 by the E. P. Bouverie. His parents settled on the West Coast and he attended the Westport primary schools, winning scholarships which took him to Nelson College. There in 1878 he headed the junior University scholarship list for the colony. In 1881 he was appointed to the staff of the Wellington College, and in 1882 gained his B.A. degree. He represented Nelson at football and Wellington at cricket. In 1882 he passed the University of London matriculation examination with first class honours. He graduated M.A. and LL.B. in 1888, and was admitted to the bar. In 1890 he was appointed assistant inspector of schools for Wellington, and in 1893 an examiner to New Zealand University. He was a founder of Victoria University College, where he was appointed instructor in political science and mathematics. In 1898 Fleming became a member of the council and in 1907 chairman. In 1901 he was made chief inspector in the Wellington district, in 1915 a senior inspector under the Education department, and in 1917 he was transferred to Otago. He retired in 1926.

Fleming introduced the home-reading movement and then founded the New Zealand section of the Australasian Home Reading Association. He was a member of the New Zealand University senate, of the Council of Education, of the district council of the Workers' Educational Association of Otago, and of the Wellington Training College committee. He was also an elder of the Presbyterian Church. On his death (on 14 Sep 1930) he was survived by his wife, Marion, daughter of Hugh Smith of Melbourne.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Hight and Candy (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Otago Witness, 16 Sep 1930; The Dominion, 15 Sep 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLESHER, JAMES ARTHUR (1865-1930) was born in Christchurch, and educated at Christ's College. He held a Gould scholarship. He was employed by the legal firm of Wilding and Lewis, and later by Joynt and Acton Adams and was admitted to the bar in 1899. Flesher was a member of the Christchurch City Council (1891-93) and again from 1917, becoming deputy-mayor in 1921 and mayor (1923-25). He was also mayor of New Brighton (1912-13, 1915-17) and a councillor from 1911; a member of the Christchurch tramway board (1906-18, 1921-27) and chairman (1913-16); of the Richmond school committee and domain board, the Christchurch domain board (1919-21); the Waimakariri river trust board (1927) and the Christchurch and Avon licensing committees. He took an active interest in the Red Cross society and St John's Ambulance association and the Methodist Church. He was president of the Christchurch Musical society (1915-18), chairman of the McLean Institute and of the Canterbury Pilgrims' association (1923). Flesher was a founder of the Canterbury Progress league in 1918, and president in 1929.

(O.B.E. 1918) He married (1900) Margaret Lucy, daughter of Robert Deakin. He died on 18 Aug 1930.

Cycl. N.Z., iii; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Christ's Coll. Reg.; The Press, 19 Aug 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLETCHER, JOHN SHEARER (1888-1934) was born at Kirkintilloch, Scotland, and obtained his whole education through scholarships. At the age of 24 he was headmaster of technical and commercial classes under the Kirkintilloch school board. He was the Glasgow secretary of the Scottish class teachers' association and on the executive of the Scottish education institute, and vice-president of the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1916 he came to New Zealand and joined his brothers in the Fletcher Construction Co., for which he was Dunedin manager.

Retiring from business, Fletcher took a keen interest in the Young Men's Christian Association and other social movements. In 1928 he was elected M.H.R. for Grey Lynn (as a supporter of the United Party). He afterwards took an independent attitude and lost his seat in 1931. He died on 15 Feb 1934.

Who's Who N.Z., 1932; N.Z. Herald, 16 Feb 1934.

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLETCHER, ROBERT (1866-1918) was born at St Andrews, Scotland, and educated there. He was for some time with the Midland Railway Co., and spent eight years at sea before the mast. He landed in New Zealand in 1883 and found work in the Kaipara and Bay of Plenty coasting trade. In 1885 he became a wheeler for the Wellington harbour board and later improved his position. He took part in the maritime strike (1890). He was afterwards shipping clerk for J. Nathan and Co. for six years and then (with a fellow clerk) started a carrying and shipping agency.

Fletcher was a member of the Wellington harbour board from 1906 till his death (on 4 Sep 1918), and chairman (1910-15) and a member of the City Council (1907-15). He represented Wellington Central in Parliament (1914-18). He was a prominent freemason and member of the order of Druids.

N.Z.P.D., 25 Oct 1918; Beauchamp; N.Z. Times, 5 Sep 1918.

Reference: Volume 1, page 150

🌳 Further sources

FLIGHT, JOSIAH (1800-84) was born at Tiverton, Devon, educated there and apprenticed to a wine merchant at Lyme Regis, Dorset, where he started in business on his own account. He married Ann, daughter of James Devenish, and in 1842 came to New Plymouth in the Timandra with his brother-in-law and took up land at Mangaoraka, on the road to Waitara. Native troubles and the award of Governor FitzRoy caused him to abandon this farm. One of the earliest justices in Taranaki, Flight was in 1852 appointed to succeed Captain King as magistrate at New Plymouth and sub-treasurer for the province. Later he was also sheriff and coroner, and in 1860 collector of customs. During the Maori war his duties as captain of militia and as magistrate were delicate and trying. On one occasion he assembled the residents to ask for military protection for the province, and in 1855 he called out the whole of the white male population for training as special constables. He had many disputes of a purely tribal nature to adjudicate in and was once indebted for his life to the protection of Katatore. A district judge was appointed in 1858 and Flight retired 10 years later. He and Devenish brought some of the first sheep to Taranaki, and also many English fruit trees and flowers (such as primroses and violets). He was a prominent social reformer and associated himself with every movement for the amelioration of the condition of both races. With the Rev W. Cannell he formed the first temperance society amongst the military (1861); and he assisted Whiteley to found the first total abstinence society amongst the Maori (1864). He was a charter member of lodge Egmont, I.O.G.T. (1873).

As a churchman Flight laid the foundation stone of the first Wesleyan Church, in Liardet street (13 Mar 1856). On 1 Jan 1862 he laid that of the Primitive Methodist Church; and on 11 Mar 1868 the place of worship of his own denomination, the Baptists, was opened, largely through his efforts. In secular matters he was a keen advocate of Taranaki ironsand and the harbour project. Flight died on 7 Mar and his widow on 3 Sep 1884.

Taranaki P.C. Proc. and Gaz; N.Z. Gaz; N.Z. Law Jour., 11 Nov 1928; Wells; Taranaki Herald, 8 Mar 1884; Taranaki News, 15 Mar 1884; Cycl. NZ. vi (p).

Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FLURSCHEIM, MICHAEL, was born at Frankfurt, Germany (1844), left school at the age of 16, and entered the banking house of his uncle, L. A. Hahn. He spent a year in Berlin, and then entered a share-broking and exchange firm in Paris. In 1867 he became a wholesale manufacturer and importer in New York and, returning to his native city in 1872, he published there the American News for the benefit of Americans in Germany. In 1873 he purchased the Gaggenau ironworks, which he developed into one of the leading hardware concerns in Baden. Flurscheim retired from business and travelled again widely. He was interested in currency reform and tried to induce certain interests in England to form an exchange currency of their own. In 1898 he came to New Zealand and endeavoured for some years to promote the idea of land nationalisation and currency reform. He gave evidence before the federation commission (1901) and published a number of books, including Rent, Interest and Wages, Money Island (1897); Business Without Gold (1898); and The Clue to the Economic Labyrinth. He also published in Wellington, as a supplement to The Guardian, The Pioneer of Social Reform (1899).

Cycl. N.Z. ii (p); Scholefield, Union Catalogue; Who's Who N.Z., 1908.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

HELENE FODOR (1878-1932) was the daughter of William Frederick Fodor, a French diplomat, and spent her early years on the continent. She was educated at the Girls' High School, Dunedin, and later became associated with Miss Freeman in the conduct of Girton College in Dunedin and Christchurch. She married first Mr Cross and then Greenwood. Devoted to animals, she assisted her husband materially in the management of his racing stud. During the war of 1914-18 she compiled a book on Soldiers' Spoken French; and she published also Gloaming, the Wonder Horse; and a novel, The Splendid Horizon. She was much interested in art; was a personal friend of van der Velden and possessed a fine collection of paintings and objets d'art. She died on 1 Dec 1932.

Acland; J. Hay; Jacobson; NZ Turf Register; The Press, 28 Aug (p), 1 Dec 1932; Otago Daily Times, 4 Jan 1900.

Reference: Volume 1, page 178

🌳 Further sources

FOLEY, EDMUND (1811-84) was a native of Tipperary, Ireland. He married a sister of Sir John O'Shanassy (premier of Victoria). Foley came to New Zealand from Australia about 1839, and in the early forties brought his family over and settled at Cornwallis (Manukau harbour). In 1843 he moved to Auckland and commenced business as a butcher. Some years later he opened the first licensed hotel at Otahuhu, where he had extensive farming lands on both sides of the bridge. From 1859-61 he represented the Southern division in the Provincial Council. Though deeply interested in provincial politics he did not again take an active part. During the Waikato war Foley took up large commissariat contracts for the troops in the Waikato and East Coast and he was a witness of the fighting at Gate Pa. His son, JAMES FOLEY (1836-78) was M.P.C. for Pensioner Settlements (1861-66).

Auckland P.C. Proc., 1859-66; N.Z. Herald, 26 Jun 1878, 25 Aug 1884.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FOOKS, CHARLES EDWARD (1829-1907) was the son of Charles Berjew Fooks and was born at Weymouth. He was educated at Salisbury and Edmonton, London, served his articles with a London architect and surveyor, and trained as a civil engineer. He married at the age of 21 and came to New Zealand in the Steadfast (1851). At first he was in the survey office of the Canterbury Association and afterwards practised as an architect, being the designer of the first church at Avonside. He took up a run of 5,000 acres alongside the Papanui road, of which the better portions were soon bought by speculators. The balance was difficult to work owing to swamps and Fooks lost money on it. He then returned to his profession.

In the late sixties Fooks was asked by Colonel Brett (q.v.) to make a survey to prove the feasibility of watering the plains by irrigation from the rivers. About 1869 he constructed about 12 miles of race on C. Reed's property at Westerfield, which are still being used by the Ashburton county council. In 1871 he reported on the irrigation of the region from the Waimakariri to Rolleston, and in the following year £10,000 was voted by the Provincial Council for this work. Fooks was the first borough engineer of Ashburton. He died in 1907.

Canterbury P.C. Proc., 1 Aug 1871, 4 Dec 1872; Acland; Cycl. NZ., iii; Lyttelton Times, 14 Jan 1886.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FORD, SAMUEL HAYWARD, a medical practitioner, reached New Zealand with his wife in Aug 1837, intending to establish a hospital for both races at one of the mission stations. He settled at Paihia as surgeon to the missionary community, but his health failing he retired to Wahapu (1841). After the sack of Kororareka, at Heke's request Mrs. Ford arranged for the body of Pumuka to be taken to Paihia for burial. On the urgent advice of Williams, Ford went to live in Auckland, but returned to the Bay in 1849. Shortly after Ford's arrival in New Zealand he attended 800 native sufferers from influenza. He died in the seventies.

Wallace and Sherrin (p); Williams papers; Marsden L. and J.; N.Z. Herald, 26 Jan 1894.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FORD, WILLIAM JUSTICE (1853-1904), the eighth headmaster of Nelson College (1886-89), was a member of a famous cricketing family. He played for Cambridge University and Middlesex county and wrote much on the game, including a history of the University club, a biography of W. G. Grace and the cricket article in the Encyclopedia of Sport. He was educated at Repton School and St John's College, Cambridge (minor and foundation scholar). He graduated B.A. in 1876 (2nd cl. classical tripos) and M.A. in 1878, and taught at the Royal Grammar School at Lancaster for two years and at Marlborough College (1877-86). After Ford left Nelson he was headmaster at Leamington College (1890-93), and taught later at Eton, Rugby, Cheltenham and Repton. He died on 3 Apr 1904. Ford married Miss K. M. Browning (Nelson).

Nelson Coll. Register; The Times, 4 Apr 1904.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FORRESTER, THOMAS (1838-1907) was born in Glasgow, his father being a modelling and decorative plasterer. He studied at the School of Art and, having married, sailed in the Pladda in 1860 for Otago. He engaged in his trade in Dunedin and was for a while with Mason and Wales, architects, and later with R. A. Lawson superintending the erection of public buildings. He was supervisor of the Dunedin Exhibition building (1865) and was afterwards employed by the provincial government making borings for the Waitaki bridge. He established himself in business in Oamaru with John Lemon and they built St Paul's and Columba Churches and the post office. In 1871 Forrester was appointed secretary and inspector of works to the harbour board and he supervised the construction of the breakwater mole. He started dredging the harbour and designed the Holmes wharf. He drew one of the earliest geological maps in New Zealand. With Dr H. A. de Lautour he did much research into the diatomaceous deposits of the Oamaru district. Forrester died on 25 Mar 1907.

Oamaru Mail, 26 Mar 1907; Otago Daily Times, 1 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

🌳 Further sources

FORSAITH, THOMAS SPENCER (1814-98) was born in London. His father, Samuel Forsaith, a linen draper and haberdasher, was of Scots extraction, and both father and mother (Elizabeth Emberson) were Congregationalists of the strict Primitive type.

Apprenticed at an early age to a Croydon draper and silk mercer, Forsaith disliked his occupation and, determined to get to sea, engaged as a cabin boy in a collier bound for the Tyne. His intention was discovered by the Rev John Varty before the ship sailed, and he was returned to his parents, who, hoping to disgust him with a seaman's life, sent him in a collier on one voyage. He was then apprenticed as cadet to the shipping firm of Charles Horsfall and Co., and made three voyages to the East Indies in the ship Huddersfield (Captain Noakes). Returning to London with excellent testimonials, he found that his father had died. As fourth officer in the ship Hoogley, which was chartered by the government to take convicts to Botany Bay, he sailed for the Antipodes in Jul 1834. Once again he visited Australia, in the Lord Goderich, which left England Jul 1836 and called at some of the northern ports of New Zealand for spars. While in England Forsaith made the acquaintance of Elizabeth Mary Clements, daughter of Robert Clements, of Hoxton, London, and they were married on 17 May 1838, at the Congregational Church in Old Broad street—one of the earliest weddings legally celebrated in a dissenting place of worship.

Shortly after the wedding the young couple left for New Zealand with the intention of making a home here. Leaving his wife at Bay of Islands, Forsaith settled first at Mangungu, on the Hokianga river, and then he moved to the Kaipara. He purchased land from the natives at Mangawhare and on the Wairoa and Otamatea rivers, and assisted to make purchases for some Sydney merchants (Wright and Grahame). Mrs Forsaith now joined her husband at Mangawhare, where he engaged in farming and the timber trade. In Nov 1841 a skull was dug up on the land and three months later a large party of natives raided the farm to exact muru for a supposed offence. In the absence of Forsaith they carried off doors and windows. At an inquiry held at Mangawhare in the presence of the protector (Clarke) and G. M. Waterhouse, (q.v.) Forsaith was absolved of offence against native customs, and was later granted compensation for his losses. He left Mangawhare to live in Auckland, whither the Government had just been moved from Russell.

Owing to his experience of the natives and knowledge of the language the Government in Mar 1842 appointed him a sub-protector of aborigines. A year later he was promoted to be a protector. In this capacity he came into contact with Governor FitzRoy, whom he accompanied early in 1844 to Cook Strait and to the gathering at Waikanae after the affray at the Wairau. In Feb 1844 he was present at the signing of the Te Aro deed of purchase at Port Nicholson, and later he acted as interpreter for Richmond and Selwyn in bringing about peace between the tribes at Wanganui. In 1845, in his official capacity, he met Te Rauparaha on his visit to Wellington, and rode by his side into the town. Shortly after Grey's assumption of the governorship Forsaith's office was abolished. There were differences of opinion on matters of policy and charges were later made against Forsaith by the Governor in respect to the part supposed to have been taken by the protectors in private land dealings. Grey eventually withdrew his charges against Forsaith (the full correspondence being published in the House of Commons' papers relating to New Zealand).

Declining an invitation to resume duty in the new Native Department, Forsaith in 1847 went into business in Auckland as a draper. In 1852 his new premises in brick and stone were amongst the finest in the young city. For some years he was a prominent and popular figure in Auckland and a leader in its social life. In Sep 1852 he was elected to represent the Northern Division in the Legislative Council of New Ulster (which was never convened). When the first elections took place for the General Assembly (Sep 1853) he was returned for the Northern Division. Parliament assembled in Auckland in 1854 and was soon involved in a heated controversy on responsible government. Forsaith, more cautious than the FitzGerald party, was reluctant to force the innovation on the Administrator (Wynyard) until he had had an opportunity of consulting the Colonial Office. Though he voted alone against 28 members in favour of a reasonable period of delay he afterwards strongly advocated giving the new system a fair trial. In Aug 1854, when Wynyard was being advised by Wakefield, Forsaith was one of 10 who refused to vote against him, on the ground that he was in a false position. The Assembly having been prorogued for a fortnight, Forsaith was summoned by the administrator to form a ministry. He was engaged at the time at his business premises, but hurriedly 'changed his garb' before proceeding to Government House, an incident which led to his short government being referred to as 'the Clean-Shirt Ministry.' This ministry, which included also E. J. Wakefield, Travers and Macandrew, held office only from 31 Aug to 2 Sep. Though really the leader, Forsaith explained that he did not occupy the position of head of the Government in that House. He considered his colleagues as his equals; 'no one of them was before the others.' In his opening speech the Administrator said he hoped that the controversy would be buried in oblivion; he had endeavoured by appointments to the executive council to give to all the provinces an effectual voice and influence in both the legislative and executive proceedings of the government. In the debate on the address-in-reply Forsaith claimed to stand for a Whig policy as against the 'Tory or squattatorial policy of FitzGerald.' The Government was defeated by 22 votes to 10, and it resigned office on 2 Sep.

Throughout the remainder of the first Parliament Forsaith was the ostensible leader of his party and an able exponent of Liberal principles. A sound thinker and a good speaker well informed, he took a broad view of most questions. His opinions on native matters were sensible and helpful. At the earliest sittings he carried a motion in favour of opening the proceedings with a prayer, but insisted that nothing should be done which might tend to grant to any religious body pre-eminence over the others (26 Aug 1854). For the same reasons a year later he carried a resolution protesting against the salary of Bishop Selwyn being provided out of colonial funds (28 Aug 1855). At the dissolution of 1855 Forsaith found his popularity had waned and he lost his seat in the Assembly (Henderson 363, Lee 294, Forsaith 202, May 213). At the same time he contested unsuccessfully a seat in the Auckland Provincial Council. Four members were required, and he was sixth amongst seven candidates.

Forsaith now devoted himself more closely to his business, and, it is said, acted for about twelve months as editor of the New Zealander. In 1857 he was appointed a J.P. In Apr 1858 he was once more elected to the House of Representatives (for the City of Auckland). In this Parliament he supported the ballot with the remark: 'If it exercised a conservative influence that would furnish to his mind one of the strongest reasons for supporting it, as a means of checking that democratic tendency which was so unmistakably exhibited in colonial politics.' (8 Jul 1858) Forsaith's strong sympathy for the Maori led him to take a determined stand in regard to the war. His generous defence of Wi Kingi during the important debates in Aug 1860 created dismay amongst the supporters of the Government, and when the elections came again Forsaith was looked at askance by a considerable section of the people of Auckland, whose fears of a native rising were not altogether without reason. Though he had made it clear that the war, having been embarked upon, must be fought to a successful end, his opponents in the electorate made capital of his pro-Maori feelings, and he was soundly defeated (for Auckland East) by Thomas Russell (q.v). When he retired from the contest, at 11 a.m., he had polled only 19 votes against his opponent's 110.

This contest closed Forsaith's parliamentary career. He remained in business in Auckland until the middle of 1862, when he retired with some idea of entering the church. Always a strong evangelical, he had taken a leading part in Congregational meetings whenever occasion offered. He signed the confession of faith of the Presbyterian Church in Auckland (1850), but always preferred the Congregational. When he left to settle in Dunedin (1862) he resigned from the trusteeship of the Auckland Savings Bank, and a few months later was a trustee of a similar institution in Dunedin. In 1863 he became a vice-president of the Y.M.C.A., and a few weeks later a member of the local committee for the Exhibition of 1865. He spoke at Congregational meetings in and about the city, and for some time was associated with the new journal, The Colonist, whose first manager (Lambert) had been recommended by him to Macandrew. Before long Forsaith accepted a charge under the Presbyterian Church as missioner at Tuapeka, and he contemplated entering the ministry of that Church. He was recommended in 1864 as being eminently qualified for acceptance, but in Jan 1865 the presbytery requested him to continue his theological studies for another two years. In Jul of that year he was duly ordained to the pastorate of the new Congregational Church at Port Chalmers. In 1867 Forsaith was invited to take charge for two years of the Congregational church at Point Piper, Woollahra, New South Wales. While there, at the instance of his friend, the Hon John Fairfax, he undertook to establish a church at Parramatta, and he started preaching in the mechanics' institute there in 1870. The foundation stone of the church was laid the following year, and in 1873 the edifice was opened (at a cost for land and building of from £3,000 to £4,000). When he left Parramatta (1878) there was a debt of £700 on the church, towards the extinguishment of which as a jubilee effort he donated £250.

Forsaith resigned the Parramatta pastorate, at the request of friends, to accept the resident chaplaincy of the Camden Theological College. While there he founded a mission cause at Haslam's Creek (later Hampden). After four years at Camden he returned to Parramatta and commenced to labour at Summer Hill, where in 1882 he founded a progressive church. He was for one year (1872) chairman of the Congregational Union of New South Wales, and he acted as its registrar. On leaving Summer Hill Forsaith, with his wife, paid a long visit to Canada, the United States and Europe. He gave many lectures in Great Britain, which attracted emigrants towards New Zealand; and he officiated for some time in the Presbyterian Church at Venice. When he returned to New South Wales in 1884 he thought it imprudent to accept a new charge, but for some years filled vacancies in Australia and New Zealand (especially in Dunedin and Invercargill).

While Forsaith lived in Dunedin the Rev Dr Stuart wished to write his biography, but died before entering upon the task. Forsaith commenced his own memoirs early in 1898. In that year he and his wife celebrated their diamond wedding. Forsaith died at Parramatta on 29 Nov 1898, and his widow survived him only a few months. (See T. M. MACDONALD.)

Hansard, 1853-55; G.B.O.P., 1846; Buller; Saunders; Mennell; Rusden; Reeves, Hight and Bamford; Cox; Cycl. NZ., ii; Thomson, ii; Elihu Shaw in NZ. Herald, 13 Jul 1935; G. Smales do. 6 Jan 1894; NZ. Herald, 4 Apr 1891, 21 May 1892, 7 Apr 1894, 21 Jul 1929; Evening Post, 18 Aug 1934 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 152

🌳 Further sources

FORSYTH, SAMUEL (1891-1918) was born in Wellington, the son of Thomas Forsyth. He was employed as a goldmining amalgamator when he volunteered for service in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (13 Aug 1914). Forsyth was wounded on Gallipoli (Aug 1915), when he served with the engineers. In France he was promoted to lance-corporal, Dec 1916; corporal, Nov 1917; sergeant, May 1918. On 24 Aug 1918 Forsyth rushed several machine gun posts which were obstructing the New Zealand advance on a village and by dashing leadership and total disregard for danger captured all of them. He afterwards, in spite of being wounded, approached the enemy positions on foot to guide a British tank to a favourable position. When the tank was put out of action he organised the crew into a section and led them against enemy machine gun posts until he was killed by a sniper. He was posthumously awarded the V.C.

Annabel, Official History of the N.Z. Engineers, 1922 (p); London Gaz. 21 Oct 1918; N.Z.E.F. routine order; The New Zealander (London), 25 Oct 1918.

Reference: Volume 1, page 152

🌳 Further sources

FOSTER, THOMAS SCHOLFIELD (1853-1918) was born in London, came to New Zealand in the Philip Laing (1856) and was educated at Christ's College (1866-71), where he was junior and senior Somes scholar. At Canterbury College he graduated B.A. (1881; senior University scholar) and M.A. (1882) while he was on the staff of the Christchurch West School and the Boys' High School. He was headmaster of Christchurch West (1882-1904); inspector of schools for North Canterbury (1904) and principal of the Training College and lecturer in education at Canterbury College. Foster was the first chairman of convocation of the University (1884-87); a fellow of Christ's College (1893-1918) and a governor of Canterbury College. He died on 8 Sep 1918.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Christ's Coll. List.; Hight and Candy (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 152

🌳 Further sources

FOWLDS, SIR GEORGE (1860-1934) was born at Fenwick, Ayrshire, the son of Matthew Fowlds, a handloom weaver who lived to the age of 101. As a boy George worked at the loom making linen sheets and on his father's farm. At the age of 12 he left the Hairshaw School in Waterside village and was apprenticed to a clothier in Kilmarnock. Four years later he joined the staff of a soft goods house in Glasgow, where he was able at night to attend the Andersonian College.

In 1882 Fowlds went to South Africa, where his first job was with a stone mason laying kerbstones in Cape Town. Later he cleaned railway carriages, and then went to Beaufort West, where he got a position as book-keeper in a general store at Bullfontein. In 1884 he married Mary Ann Fulton, of Fenwick, and, the climate not suiting her health, they left for New Zealand (1885). In Auckland Fowlds worked as a general labourer until finding a post as salesman in a mercery store. In 1886 he purchased a small business in Victoria Street. Two years later he bought the stock and fixtures of a bankrupt clothier in Victoria Arcade, and laid the foundations of his business. Being joined by his son in 1905 he was thus enabled to devote more time to public affairs and social movements in which he was interested. He had already been a member of the school committee and the Mount Albert road board.

A Liberal in politics, Fowlds stood for the Auckland seat in 1896 without success, but in 1899 was returned (with Witheford and Napier) for Auckland City, which he represented till 1902. In that year he was elected for Grey Lynn, which was his constituency till 1911. After the death of Seddon Fowlds was invited to join the Ward cabinet, in which he administered with zeal and success the departments of Education and Public Health. He also during the administration of Ward, had charge of the portfolios of Customs, Defence, Justice, Hospitals and State Fire Insurance. In 1910 he represented the Dominion at the opening of the Union Parliament of South Africa. In Sep 1911, discontented with what he regarded as the negative Liberalism of the Government, Fowlds resigned from the cabinet, feeling that he could do better for the country out of office. Standing as a Social Democrat in the ensuing general election, he was defeated by J. Payne (the Government candidate), and again at the election of 1914. His last effort to re-enter the popular chamber was in 1919. Fowlds favoured freetrade, the elective executive and the referendum and was a strong supporter of single tax, in the interests of which he ran a small paper for many years. He had a passionate love of education. He was chairman of Auckland University College for 13 years and was largely responsible for the foundation of Massey College, of which he was chairman from its inception in 1927 till his death. He was a member also of the senate of the University of New Zealand.

In religious life Fowlds was a mainstay of the Beresford Street Congregational Church and was twice president of the Congregational Union of New Zealand. He was devoted to the cause of temperance, being twice a vice-president of the New Zealand Alliance and president of the Auckland executive. As a freemason he was provincial grandmaster for Auckland in 1894-95 and deputy-grandmaster for New Zealand in 1896. He was also a prominent Rotarian, being one of the founders of the organisation in New Zealand and its first president. Other movements in which he was actively interested were the Workers' Educational Association, the Red Cross Society, the St John Ambulance Association (he was a Knight of Grace); the Costley Home, the Boy Scouts Association, the Orphans Club and Burns Club; the New Zealand Land Values League and Proportional Representation Society. He received the C.B.E. for work in connection with the war of 1914-18 and was knighted in 1928.

N.Z.P.D.; J. K. Fairlie, Matthew Fowlds and other Fenwick Worthies (1910); N.Z. Draper, 30 Nov 1921 (p); N.Z. University minutes; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1932; Evening Post, 17 Aug 1934. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 152

🌳 Further sources

FOWLER, HARRY LEWIS (1861-1927) was educated at Rugby and at Balliol College, Oxford. (M.A.). In 1885 he was appointed headmaster of the Madrasa-i-Azam, in Madras, and acting-professor of history at the Presidency College there. In 1891 he joined the staff of the Southland High School as first assistant and two years later became headmaster. Though somewhat austere in manner, he had a great influence upon the school. In 1904 he became principal of Nelson College, and he occupied that position till his retirement in 1921. He died on 10 Feb 1927.

Southland B.H.S. Reg.; Nelson Coll. O.B. Reg.; Cycl. N.Z., v.

Reference: Volume 1, page 152

🌳 Further sources

FOX, EBENEZER (1827-86) was apprenticed to printing in England and completed his time as a compositor. He studied Pitman's shorthand and was an expert notetaker. For some years he was a member of the staff of the Manchester Examiner and Times, which employed him reporting political speeches and important events. For reasons of health Fox emigrated to Australia in 1852, spent 10 years in journalism there and in 1862 came to Dunedin, where he found employment on the Otago Daily Times, recently established by Vogel. Here he became chief reporter and by his legal reports made a reputation for the paper which was maintained by subsequent staffs. In 1868 Fox joined Vogel and Campbell in an offer to lease the paper, and next year they were associated in the establishment of the New Zealand Sun. This lasted only a few months, and Fox then went with Vogel to Auckland, to assist in his control of the Southern Cross. A few months later he became private secretary to Vogel and in 1870 secretary to the cabinet, which position he filled until about 1885, when he retired. He died on 8 Jan 1886.

Otago Daily Times Diamond Jubilee; N.Z. Times, 9 Jan 1886.

Reference: Volume 1, page 154

🌳 Further sources

FOX, EDWARD BURTON, was born at Musselburgh, Scotland, his father being provost of the town. As a young man he was a good horseman and a member of the Midlothian Yeomanry Cavalry. He emigrated to Victoria and had an adventurous life on the goldfields. Crossing later to New Zealand, he was for a while in Wellington and then settled on the West Coast. For some years he was storekeeping and gold buying at Brunnerton. He was chairman of his road board and in 1872 a member of the Westland county council. He wrote The Nobbler (by Christopher Sy, revised and corrected by E. B. Fox). Fox died about 1875.

Westland C.C. Proc.; Hindmarsh.

Reference: Volume 1, page 154

🌳 Further sources

FOX, FRANCIS JOHN (1857-1902) was the son of Jemmett George Fox, of county Longford, Ireland. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1876 and served in Burma and in Afghanistan (1880), being present at the defence of Kandahar as orderly officer to General Brooke. He saw service in the Boer war in Natal (1881) and was afterwards adjutant of divisional garrison artillery in England and aide-de-camp to the officer commanding the south-eastern district. At Suakim (1885) he served with mountain batteries. After holding several staff appointments he was nominated (in 1891) as Commandant of the Forces in New Zealand. Fox retired in 1893, with the rank of colonel in the New Zealand militia. He married (1894) Lucy, daughter of Sir William Russell. He died on 27 Feb 1902.

Otago Daily Times, 20 Dec 1891; The Times, 5 Mar 1902.

Reference: Volume 1, page 154

🌳 Further sources

FOX, SIR WILLIAM (1812-93) was the third son of George Townshend Fox, deputy-lieutenant of the county of Durham. Educated at Durham Grammar School, he proceeded to Wadham College, Oxford (1828), where he graduated B.A. (1832) and M.A. (1839). At the end of 1838 he entered at the Inner Temple and he was called (1842). He published a treatise on the law of simple contracts and in 1842 an essay on Colonisation and New Zealand.

Having decided to emigrate to New Zealand, Fox married Sarah, daughter of William Halcombe, of Poulton, Wiltshire, and a few months later they sailed in the George Fyfe (arriving at Wellington on 7 Nov 1842). Fox intended to become a regular settler, but it is not clear whether he really wished to practise law. In any case this course was impossible because he was called upon to make a declaration which he considered humiliating for an English gentleman, and accordingly refused. Instead he became editor of the New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator, which he controlled vigorously in the interests of the New Zealand Company's settlers. In 1843, in company with Clifford, Vavasour and Whitehead, Fox made an extensive exploration of the Wairarapa district in search of suitable land for settlers. A few weeks later, when Arthur Wakefield (q.v.) was killed in the affray at Wairau, he was offered the post of resident agent for the Company at Nelson.

Having resigned the editorship of the Gazette, he took up his position in Sep 1843 and made a striking success of it. The settlement was despondent as the result of the reverse at Wairau, the shrinkage of employment and failure to obtain possession of farming lands. Fox took active steps to restore confidence and to widen the outlook of the colonists. Early in 1845, in company with Stephens (late chief surveyor of the Company) and a few others, he established a practicable route between Queen Charlotte Sound and the Wairau. Shortly afterwards Colonel Wakefield confirmed Fox in his position, with the reversion of the post of principal agent. The directors in London had frequent occasion to express approval of Fox's conduct, particularly his firmness and discretion in meeting native difficulties.

On 1 Feb 1846, in company with Brunner, Heaphy and a native, Fox started across country to Rotoiti, which had already been discovered by Cottrell and named Lake Arthur (after Captain Wakefield). Thence they proceeded to a wide stretch of pasture containing 15,000 acres, which Spooner and Heaphy had discovered, and from there across new country to Rotoroa (which Fox called Howick), and out on to a grassy plain of 4,000 acres intersected by a stream (which he named the Mangles). They then travelled to Matukituki and the Aglionby valley, their farthest point being 140 miles from Nelson. Fox persuaded Brunner to undertake a journey immediately down the coast from Cape Farewell to the mouth of the Buller river. In Feb 1848 Fox was appointed attorney-general for New Munster, but he remained at his post for another three months in order to distribute the rural lands and settle the claims of the land purchasers. During this time he heard that there was likely to be further delay in the inauguration of representative institutions. He accordingly resigned the attorney-generalship and planned to pay a three months' visit to the Australian colonies. At the request of Grey, however, he agreed to investigate land claims, and was so engaged until Aug. Bell, having met with an accident, was unable yet to take up his new post at Nelson. In Sep Colonel Wakefield died and Fox succeeded him as principal agent at Wellington. He prevailed on Bell to remain at Nelson and also to make an effort to purchase native lands in the Wairarapa.

Meanwhile the Church of England settlement was being planned. Late in 1848 Fox sailed with Captain Thomas to search for a suitable site in the South Island. He declined the offer of a seat in the Legislative Council, and the vacant attorney-generalship was presented to D. Wakefield (Dec 1848). On returning from the south he found that Bell had not succeeded with his Wairarapa mission and he was inclined to hold Bell responsible. Bell's acceptance of a seat in the Legislative Council (20 Dec 1848) accentuated an estrangement between the two, and on his return to Wellington (Mar 1849) Fox ordered Bell to repair to his post at Nelson, remarking that this was the third occasion on which he had taken an official position in opposition to the principal agent. Bell protested that Fox would have acted similarly, but the directors in London upheld Fox's contention that Bell's acceptance of office might prejudice the interests of the Company.

In 1849 Fox took up a considerable area of land in Rangitikei, on which he established his homestead of Westoe. He farmed half of the block and cut up the remaining 2,500 acres into small farms which he sold on deferred payment to persons with small means.

The surrender of the charters of the New Zealand Company being imminent, Fox took an active part in the Settlers' Constitutional Association, and in 1850 proceeded to England as honorary political agent of the Association to further the self-governing constitution. Earl Grey declining to receive him personally, he forwarded a memorial complaining of the misgovernment and illegal proceedings of Sir George Grey (1852). Nevertheless Fox took an important part in drafting the constitution. In a letter to Godley (7 Jun 1852) E. G. Wakefield says: 'Fox's presence as delegate from the colony has been our chief tower of strength. Our work could not have been done without him. He has done much singlehanded by dint of intelligence, assiduity, modesty, prudence and courage.' To him it was mainly due that Taranaki was a separate province from the outset, instead of being attached to Auckland. While in England Fox published The Six Colonies of New Zealand (1851) which was inspired by Newcastle in the hope that it would discredit the colonial policy of the Conservative party. Before returning to New Zealand he spent some months in Canada and the United States, thereby initiating a consistent habit of studying social conditions abroad. He was, indeed, the most widely-travelled student in New Zealand politics.

N.Z.C. papers and printed reports; N.Z. Gaz; Wellington P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., i, v (p); Fox, op. cit.; D.N.B.; J. G. Wilson; Saunders (p); MS. petition in Turnbull Library; Reeves; Gorst, N.Z. Revisited; Hocken; Rees; Gisborne; Lovat; Jourdain; Ward; Drummond; Broad; Wakelin; Grey River Argus, 9 Jan 1868; Evening Post, 23 Aug 1929 (p); N.Z. Herald, Oct-Dec 1889, 24 Jun, 7 Jul 1893. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 155

🌳 Further sources

FRANCIS, FREDERICK WYATT (1856-1901) was born in Essex, son of John P. G. Francis, and came to Canterbury with his parents in the Cornubia in the following year. Educated at Gee's Grammar School, he was four years in the Post Office and then joined the firm of Crowe and Co., wine and spirit merchants. He was associated with Manning and Co. (1887-1901). Francis joined the Christchurch City Guards as a private, was appointed sub-lieutenant (1878), lieutenant 1881, captain and adjutant of the first Canterbury battalion (1885); major 1887; and later lieutenant-colonel commanding. He commanded the 4th New Zealand Contingent in South Africa (1900) and showed brilliant leadership at Malmani Hill (16 Aug). He was invalided with fever and died (on 31 Mar 1901) shortly after his return to New Zealand. Francis married (1880) a daughter of Charles C. Cox.

N.Z. Army List; Ranfurly; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Lyttelton Times, 1 Apr 1901.

Reference: Volume 1, page 155

🌳 Further sources

FRANKLAND, FREDERICK WILLIAM (1854-1916) was born at Manchester, the eldest son of Sir Edward Frankland, K.C.B., F.R.S. Educated at University College School (1866-69) and University College (1869-72), he was in his father's chemical research laboratories at the South Kensington Science Schools (1873-74). Owing to ill-health Frankland came to New Zealand (1875) and in the following year entered the civil service as a clerk in the Customs, transferring later in the year to the Insurance department. In 1884 he was appointed Registrar of Friendly Societies and actuary to the Government Life Insurance department. Two years later he was appointed Government Actuary and Statist; in 1888 he became actuary and principal officer of the Government Life Insurance department, and in 1889 Commissioner. In the following year he resigned that post and paid a visit to England, where he was appointed assistant-actuary to the Atlas Assurance Co. In 1891 he attended the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography. In 1893 he accepted the post of associate-actuary to the New York Life Insurance office, and he remained in the United States for nine years, visiting England each year. During this period he was engaged on the mortality statistics of under-average lives, to which he made valuable contributions.

Ill-health compelled him to resign this post in 1902, and he came back to New Zealand, travelling by way of the Far East. He then settled down in Foxton, where he became a member of the borough council (1905-08) and of the school committee and took an interest in other sides of life. He contested the Manawatu seat (1909). In 1911 he was appointed examiner in statistical method and other subjects to the Education department.

Frankland was a man of high literary and scientific attainments, a lifelong student of theology, sociology and metaphysics, and the author of numerous papers in the proceedings of the Actuarial Society of America, the American Academy of Political Science, the London Mathematical Society, the American Mathematical Society, the American Economic Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a friend of Herbert Spencer and an advanced thinker himself. To his friendship with Sir Harry Atkinson can be traced a definite influence upon Atkinson's social policy. As early as 1885 he was a socialist.

Frankland married (1879) Miriam, daughter of C. H. Symons, Foxton. His death occurred on 23 Jul 1916.

Insurance Record, 4 Aug 1916; Successful Americans (1916); Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); James Collier (in The Press), 18 Nov 1909; Manawatu Evening Standard, 24 Aug 1916.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

🌳 Further sources

FRANKLYN, WILLIAM NORRIS (1837-1919) held a commission in the 81st foot, which he resigned before coming to New Zealand. He served in the Armed Constabulary and afterwards became a school teacher. He was one of the earliest settlers in the Grey Valley, and represented that district in the Nelson Provincial Council (1869-70). He afterwards settled at Wakefield and was a member of many local bodies, including the education board, the Nelson harbour board, the Waimea county council (1900), the charitable aid board, the licensing committee and the Nelson College board of governors (1902). As a volunteer he commanded the Waimea Rifles and took part in the Parihaka expedition. Franklyn was a keen follower of the turf and some years president of the Nelson Jockey Club. He died on 15 Jun 1919.

Cycl. N.Z., v; Nelson Evening Mail, 16 Jun 1919.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, ALFRED LEVAVASOUR DURELL (1862-1919) was born at Kaiapoi, the son of John Marchant Fraser, and educated in Christchurch. He settled in Hawke's Bay in 1881, first as a school teacher at Frasertown and afterwards at Hastings. As a native land court advocate he displayed a facile command of Maori and knowledge of native lore. He was a member of the Hastings borough council and the licensing bench. In 1896 Fraser contested the Hawke's Bay seat against Sir W. Russell. At the following election he defeated R. D. D. McLean for Napier, which he represented 1899-1908. He was defeated by J. Vigor Brown in 1908, and contested Hawke's Bay without success in 1911. In 1918 he was called to the Legislative Council. He was a prominent racehorse owner. Fraser married (1893) Emily, daughter of W. Y. Dennett (Hastings). He died on 24 Feb 1919.

N.Z.P.D., 29 Aug, 2 Sep 1919; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Hawke's Bay Herald, 25 Feb 1919. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, CHARLES, the first Presbyterian minister in Canterbury, was a man of considerable scientific attainments. He had been trained at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and graduated. Fraser arrived in Canterbury by the Oriental in Apr 1856 and preached forthwith to a large congregation in Lyttelton and on the following Sunday in Christchurch. In Feb 1857 he opened St Andrew's church, Christchurch, his parish extending to Kaiapoi on one side and Banks Peninsula on the other. Taking advantage of the provincial education ordinance, Fraser and his friends established a number of schools with subsidies granted by the provincial funds and brought teachers out from Scotland. He was personally interested in higher education and to save the funds he himself taught the higher classes at one of these schools in Christchurch till 1874 when the experiment had to be abandoned. The school developed into the Christchurch Boys' High School. Fraser visited Hokitika, preached in French to the settlers at Akaroa; twice enlarged St Andrew's church, and created two new parishes out of his own. In 1866 he established on his own responsibility the first church periodical, the New Zealand Presbyterian. Fraser was a member of the Canterbury Collegiate Union from 1871 and lectured on English language and literature before the College was established. His ministry ceased in 1883 and he died in 1886.

Dickson; Hight and Candy.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, FRANCIS HUMPHRIS (1833-1911) was born in London and educated at Watson's School in Edinburgh. In 1864 he came to New Zealand in the Wild Duck and became a teacher in the Wesleyan school at Wellington. Three years later he started in business as a bookseller. He was a member of the Wellington City Council (1888-1900), of the hospital board (some time chairman), the education board and the harbour board (1892-1910; chairman 1897-98). He was active in friendly and temperance societies, being president of the Gospel and Temperance society and vice-president of the New Zealand Alliance.

In 1883 Fraser contested the Te Aro seat against C. J. Johnston, on whose resignation three years later he was elected, only to be defeated by Stuart Menteath at the general election a few months later. He tried twice (in 1893 and 1896) to regain a seat, but without success. Fraser was called to the Legislative Council in 1899 and retired at the end of his term (1906). He died on 6 Aug 1911.

N.Z.P.D., 8, 9 Aug 1911; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Evening Post, 6 Aug 1911.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, JAMES (1841-70), who claimed descent from the Lovats, was born in Nova Scotia. He received his first commission in the 73rd Highlanders (1858) and saw service in India (being promoted lieutenant 1859, and adjutant). He retired (1863) with the intention of serving for the North in the American Civil War, but on the fall of Richmond (Apr 1864) decided to take up land in New Zealand.

Fraser settled down in Hawkes Bay and received a captaincy in the militia (Aug 1864). When the Hauhau rising occurred he was offered command of the Hawkes Bay Military Settlers, and he at once took the field with a small force and rendered services of great value, for which he received rapid promotion. He particularly distinguished himself in 1865 at the attack on Pakairomiromi (2 Aug), Pukemaire (8 Oct) and Waerenga-a-hika, where he led the attack with 600 men and carried the position after five days' siege. Fraser was promoted brevet major (23 Sep 1865). On 25 Dec 1865 he fought a sharp engagement against the Hauhau at Omaru-hakeke. On 3 Jan 1866, at Te Kopane, Ropata's contingent, with the help of Fraser and other European officers, carried the position in good style.

Later in the year Fraser, now a lieutenant-colonel, was summoned from Wairoa with his Military Settlers to assist in repelling the Hauhau invasion of Hawkes Bay. Whitmore's orders were that Fraser should take up a position to intercept the enemy detachment approaching by way of Petane. On the morning of the action at Omarunui (12 Oct) Fraser met the invaders, under Te Rangihiroa, in a sharp defile and, having cut off their retreat, killed Te Rangihiroa and 11 men and captured most of the remainder. He was appointed to No 1 Division Armed Constabulary (his Military Settlers being disbanded), and was attached (May 1868) to St John's command operating against Tamaikowha in the Ruatoki and Whakatane valleys until floods broke off the operations. With a force of 50 men he marched through the enemy country from Wairoa to Poverty Bay, returning with an escort of only five. He did good service against Te Kooti at Wairoa and Ngatapa and then took his force again to Bay of Plenty, being appointed to command at Tauranga. Deceived by Te Kooti's movements, he sent an expedition to Paengaroa, while Mair, hastily gathering his native contingents, reached Rotorua in time to meet the invaders. Fraser died on 10 Mar 1870.

Cowan, ii; Whitmore; Lambert; Gudgeon (p); Gascoyne (p); N.Z. Herald, 18 Mar 1870.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, SIR WILLIAM (1840-1923) was born in India, the son of Captain Hugh Fraser, of the 5th Madras Light Cavalry. He was educated at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, Victoria College, Jersey, and the Lycee de St Brieuc, Brittany, and in 1858 arrived in New Zealand with the intention of going on the land. With A. C. Strode (whose daughter Ellen Isabel he married in 1874), Fraser took up the Earnscleugh station, which he held continuously for many years. In 1862 Hartley and Reilly discovered gold on the property, but did not inform the owners and the rush took them unawares.

Fraser represented Dunstan in the Otago Provincial Council (1867-70). He was a member of the first Vincent county council in 1877 and became chairman in 1883, continuing so until 1893, when parliamentary duties demanded more of his time and the ravages of rabbits had reduced to a minimum the profits of sheep farming in Otago. Elected to Parliament for Wakatipu in 1893, Fraser continued to hold the seat till 1919, when he retired and was called to the Legislative Council. In the Massey ministry of 1912 Fraser was Minister of Mines, Public Works and Industries and Commerce. He continued, in charge of public works alone, in the National ministry (1915-19) and in the Massey ministry till early in 1920, when he relinquished his portfolios. He remained a member of the executive till his death (on 16 Jul 1923).

N.Z., 17 Jul 1923; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Ross; Gilkison; Otago Daily Times, 17 Jul 1923. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, THOMAS (1809-91) was born at Ledclune, Inverness-shire, the son of Captain Fraser (of a younger branch of the Lovat family). At the age of 16 he entered the service of the East India Company as an ensign in the 7th Bengal Cavalry. He retired in 1842 with the rank of captain. He was several times shipwrecked and once was the sole survivor of a vessel cast away on the French coast. Most of his ten brothers lost their lives on active service.

Fraser spent some years in France after his retirement, and in 1858 came to Wellington in the Oliver Laing. He settled in Otago, purchasing a station in Shag valley. Though he never entered the Provincial Council he was deputy-superintendent in 1868 for Macandrew, whom he strongly supported, and he was M.H.R. for Hampden (1861-63). Seven years later he was called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat until his death on 24 Jun 1891.

N.Z.P.D., 24 Jun 1891; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Otago Daily Times, 25 Jun 1891; Evening Post, 28 Jun 1934. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FRASER, WILLIAM (1827-1901) was born at Inverness, Scotland, and educated at the Academy there and at Edinburgh University. After serving articles to a solicitor in Inverness, he was two years in the office of Christie and Pagan, of Cupar (1848-50) and was admitted to the bar 1851. He married Elizabeth Horsburgh (d. 1906), daughter of the last hereditary sheriff clerk of Fifeshire. Soon after this he emigrated to Victoria, where he had some experience on the goldfields and came to New Zealand 1863 with Australian volunteers for the Waikato war. He served as captain in the first Waikato regiment, and was present at Te Ranga, Irihanga (Jan 1867), Whakamarama (Feb) and many other engagements, rising to the rank of colonel. Fraser was a member of the Provincial Council for Franklin (1865-69) and resident magistrate and warden at the Thames (1869-79). On retiring he became part proprietor of the Thames Advertiser. He was also M.H.R. for Thames (1884-90) and for Te Aroha (1891-93). He was five years mayor of Thames, a member of the county council and colonel of the Thames Scottish battalion. In 1894 he was appointed sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, a post which he filled until his death on 17 Sep 1901.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); Thames Star, 25 Jul 1927; N.Z. Times, 18 Sep 1901; N.Z.P.D., 17 Sep 1901; N.Z. Herald, 18 Sep 1901; Auckland P.C. Proc., 1865-70. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FREE, WILLIAM HENRY (1826-1919) was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, and at an early age joined the army. He was a corporal in the 58th regiment when he came to Tasmania in the military guard on the convict ship Anson. Crossing to New Zealand with his regiment, he served in 1845-46 at the battles of Ohaeawai (where he distinguished himself by saving wounded under fire) and Ruapekapeka. He then settled in Taranaki. When the war broke out there he was a colour sergeant in the Taranaki volunteers, with whom he served with distinction at Waireka and Mahoetahi (1860). Free represented Omata in the Taranaki Provincial Council (1865-69). He died in 1919.

Taranaki P.C. Proc.; Cowan (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FREELAND, THOMAS, an old settler of Marlborough, resided in Picton. A builder by occupation, he frequently contracted for the carrying out of public works. He represented Picton in the Marlborough Provincial Council (1865-69).

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FREER, JOHN GEORGE (1825-72) came to New Zealand about 1862 from Cape Colony, where he had seen service in the Cape Mounted Rifles. He became captain and quartermaster in the 2nd Waikato regiment. After the war he went into business as proprietor of the Army and Navy hotel in Auckland. Freer represented Auckland East in the Provincial Council (1863-69) and Pensioner Settlements (1870-72). He died on 8 Nov 1872.

Parltry Record; Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z. Herald, 27 Nov 1872.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FRIEND, GEORGE (1838-98) was born in London, his father being an official of the East India Company. Educated at a private school at Leatherhead, Surrey, and at King's College, London (where he took high honours), he went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, but discontinued his studies to come to New Zealand in the Hamilla Mitchell (1853). In 1854 he was appointed to the Audit department and in 1858 to the Native department (under McLean). In 1863 he was appointed clerk assistant of the House of Representatives, and in 1889 Clerk. He died on 19 Jul 1898.

N.Z.P.D., 19 Jul 1898; Parltry Record; Evening Post, 19 Jul 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FULLOON, JAMES (1843-65) was the son of a trader and his native wife. As a grandson of Te Mautaranui, he belonged to the Whakatohea tribe of Ngati Awa. Educated under the Rev. T. Chapman at Rotorua, he showed considerable scholarship. When H.M.S. Pandora was on the coast of New Zealand, Fulloon was attached to Captain Drury as interpreter. He was then employed in a similar capacity in the Native Land Purchase department under D. McLean, with whom he travelled a good deal. On the outbreak of the Waikato war, he was attached as interpreter to General Cameron and made useful reports to the Government (in June 1863). After the murder of Volkner, Fulloon was in H.M.S. Eclipse when she visited Opotiki to apprehend the murderers. He had hopes of combating the Pai-marire doctrines in Bay of Plenty and, against the advice of pakeha friends in Auckland, he went to Whakatane to raise a contingent of loyal natives to fight against Kereopa. While thus engaged he was murdered by Hauhau sympathisers (in Aug 1865).

Cowan; Wellington Independent, 8 and 15 Aug 1865; Southern Cross, Aug and Dec 1865.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FULTON, HARRY TOWNSEND (1869-1918) was the son of Lieut-general John Fulton, and came with him to New Zealand. Educated at the Otago Boys' High School (1881-88), he was a lieutenant in the Dunedin City Guards when he received his first commission in the 93rd Highlanders (1892). In 1894 he was seconded to the Indian army and appointed to the Gurkha Rifles with which he served on the North-West Frontier (1897-98) at Malakand and Tirah. In the South African war (1899-1901) he was with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles (D.S.O.). On the outbreak of the war of 1914-18 he again joined the New Zealand forces, with which he served first at the capture of Samoa in command of a composite half-battalion; then in Egypt and France in command of battalions of the Rifle Brigade, and afterwards in command of the Brigade in France (1916), where he died of wounds on 29 Mar 1918. (C.M.G.) Fulton married (1905) Ada Hermina, daughter of John James Dixon.

Studholme; Otago B.H.S. List; Evening Post, Apr 1918.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

🌳 Further sources

FULTON, JAMES (1830-91), the son of Major Robert Bell Fulton, of the Bengal Artillery, and of Lisburn, County Antrim, was born at Futtyghur, India. He was taken to Ireland as a boy, and was educated at Cheltenham and Blackheath. He received training in surveying and engineering under Sir Digby Mackworth and for a while held an appointment in connection with the Huddersfield and Manchester railway. At 18 years of age Fulton sailed for New Zealand in the ship Ajax (Sep 1848) with the intention of being a farmer. Shortly after his arrival he took charge of Valpy's mill at the Leith. He then went on a farm at West Taieri and then far in the backblocks. Fulton in 1852 married Catherine Henrietta Valpy. For many years he was resident magistrate at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, and Outram. On retiring from the bench he was a member and first chairman of the Taieri county council.

In 1879 Fulton was elected to Parliament for the Taieri constituency (defeating Snow by 319 votes to 178). In 1882 he was returned unopposed; in 1884 and 1887 he defeated Carncross. He was for many years a member of the waste lands committee, and was chairman of the petitions committee which unseated Grey for Christchurch. A strong supporter of the Atkinson Government, he could have been Minister of Lands had he wished. In 1889 Fulton was chairman of the sweating commission which investigated conditions existing in Dunedin. He was keenly interested in the welfare of the workers. Sympathetic, upright, courteous and conscientious, he was a high type of citizen. Retiring from the House, he accepted a call to the Legislative Council (Jan 1891). Fulton was a member of the Otago education board for some years and a life governor of the Otago Boys' High School; and from 1876 until his death was a member of the council of Otago University. He was always a strong advocate of Bible-reading in schools. In Parliament he was a recognised leader of the movement for women's franchise and a strong supporter of temperance. Fulton died on 30 Nov 1891.

Cycl. NZ, iv (p); Hocken; McIndoe; Cox; N.Z. Times, 1 Dec 1891; Otago Daily Times, 21 Nov 1891, 8 Aug 1930 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 159

🌳 Further sources

FULTON, JAMES EDWARD (1854-1928), a son of James Fulton (q.v.), was born in Otago and educated by private tutors. Having obtained some technical experience, he was appointed a cadet in the Public Works department (1873) and promoted to assistant-engineer in 1878. In private practice (from 1880) he made a preliminary survey of the proposed Kaihu valley railway. In 1882 he was appointed resident engineer in charge of the Palmerston-Waikanae section of the Wellington and Manawatu railway, and in 1889 manager and locomotive superintendent. He resigned in 1896. Fulton designed and built the Kelburn cable tramway in Wellington and bridges and light railways in various parts of the Dominion. In 1881 he was elected an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, England, and later a member of the advisory committee in New Zealand. He was a member of the council of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors (and sometime president), and in 1910 was elected a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a Fellow of the Royal Society. On his death (6 Dec 1928) the Fulton bequest to the New Zealand Institute of Engineers was founded.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Evening Post, 7 Dec 1928 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 159

🌳 Further sources

FYNES, HENRY JAMES (1822-87) was born in London, matriculated at London University and joined the Roman Catholic Church. Emigrating to New South Wales, he studied theology at St Mary's College, Sydney, and was ordained priest in 1845. After doing parochial duty there for four years he came to Auckland and was attached to St Patrick's Cathedral under Bishop Pompallier. In 1851 he was put in charge of the military settlers at Howick and Panmure and in 1871 he removed to Parnell. For some years (from 1882) Fynes was vicar-general of the diocese and he managed St Mary's Industrial school. He was appointed a domestic chamberlain to the Pope with the title of Monsignor. He died on 16 Jun 1887.

Cycl. NZ, ii (p); NZ Herald, 17 Jun 1887.

Reference: Volume 1, page 159

🌳 Further sources