PHARAZYN, CHARLES JOHNSON (1802-1903) was the son of a London merchant; was educated at a private school in London, and then entered the office of Lloyds. He was in partnership with his uncle as an insurance broker when he first became interested in colonisation by meeting Hindmarsh in the South Australian Association's rooms in Adelphi. He sailed with his wife and three children in the Jane, which put into Rio in distress. Pharazyn insisted that adequate repairs be effected, and came to the rescue by pledging his own goods as collateral security in a bottomry bond.

He landed in Wellington in May 1841 and had to resort to litigation to recover possession of his goods and £600 damages for retention. This took him to Sydney, and before returning to New Zealand he invested his capital in merchandise. With this he went into business as a storekeeper for a while, but then decided to take up land. He prospected with Nairn the whole extent of the South Island. Before 1851 they had penetrated to Tuturau (Otago) and on 27 Oct 1851 they reported to Cargill having discovered quartz at Goodwood, north Otago. Later Pharazyn prospected the lower Wairarapa, and with Fitzherbert leased an area on the shores of Palliser Bay, for which he paid £12 a year rent. They soon had 500 sheep running on 5,000 acres. Some years later Pharazyn closed his partnership accounts and went to England. On returning to the colony he went into partnership with the Hon John Johnston, the well-known Wellington merchant. After a few prosperous years he entered the firm of Levin and Co., and by 1871 felt justified in retiring from business.

Pharazyn took an interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Wellington town board before 1870, and was in the Legislative Council from 1869 to 1885, when he retired to enable his son to be called in his place. He died on 16 Aug 1903. His wife died in 1864, and he married (1867) Jessica Rankin (1818-91), an English poetess, who came to New Zealand in that year.

His son, CHARLES PHARAZYN (1831-1903) lived most of his life on his property, Longwood, Wairarapa, where he took a prominent part in public affairs. He served on several local bodies and more than once contested a seat in the Provincial Council before he was elected in 1873. For the last two years of the province he and his brother, Robert, were both members. Pharazyn took a keen interest in education, and was for many years a member of the Wellington education board. In the late seventies both C. J. Pharazyn and his son Charles were members of the board together, the father being chairman. He died on 18 Feb 1903.

N.Z.P.D., 9 Sep 1873; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Hocken; Pyke; Beattie, ii; Evening Post, 11 Oct 1902, 19 Feb, 17 Aug 1903, 12 Oct 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 85

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