STANDISH, ARTHUR (1838-1915) was born at Pontefract, Yorkshire, and came to Taranaki with his parents. Receiving his education in New Plymouth, he studied law with Merriman and Jackson (Auckland) and was admitted to the bar. He served in the Taranaki volunteers during the war, and continued in the militia until peace came, when he retired as a captain. He commenced practice in New Plymouth in 1861, and two years later was appointed crown solicitor. He married (1868) a daughter (d. 1929) of the Rev H. Brown.

In 1873 Standish became a member of the Provincial Council and a few months later he joined the executive, in which he had as colleagues T. Kelly and H. A. Atkinson. He was deputy-superintendent (Jun 1874), acting provincial treasurer in 1875, and a member of the executive until Jun 1876. In May 1874 he was appointed secretary of the waste lands board. Standish had a unique record in public service. He was last chairman of the town board and first mayor of New Plymouth (1876-78) and president of the Agricultural Society; and a member of the first harbour board, the education board (20 years) and the land board (20 years). He secured 2,000 acres as a borough endowment and interested himself also in the creation of the Egmont national park. Standish was a keen sportsman and horseman, riding many of his own horses to success. He died on 24 Jun 1915.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Taranaki Herald and Budget, 18 Dec 1926; Taranaki Herald, 24 Jun 1915; Evening Post, 28 Aug 1929.

Reference: Volume 2, page 163

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