RICHMOND, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM (1821-95) was born in London in 1821, the eldest son of Christopher Richmond, a conveyancing barrister in the High Court of Chancery (who was himself admitted to the Middle Temple 1806, called 1812, and died 1832). William got his education first at the Hackney Grammar School in London, and later under Dr Richard Hutton at the Unitarian school at Hove House, Brighton. From his earliest youth he was delicate. This took him to France where he gained a facility in the French tongue, but he suffered increasingly from asthma throughout his life. Richmond did not proceed to either of the great universities, but at University College, London, he came into close association with leaders of thought and men of culture, making lasting friendships with Arthur Clough (the poet), William Shaen (the friend of Mazzini) and Richard Hutton (many years editor of the Spectator). The fine culture which distinguished him throughout life originated in these associations and developed in the rough surroundings and turbulent atmosphere of the colony of New Zealand. Destined for the law, Richmond entered at the Middle Temple in 1844, gained experience with a London solicitor (William Sharp), proceeded to the chambers of a famous conveyancer, Lewis Duval, and was called to the bar (1847) while with Charles Hall, afterwards vice-chancellor of England. For some years Richmond practised in London. His future was determined by his indifferent health and his marriage (1852) to Emily Elizabeth Atkinson, of Frindsbury, Kent, sister of H. A. Atkinson (q.v.). Two of his brothers had gone to New Zealand to settle. William decided to join them. With his wife and his mother and sister and H. and A. Atkinson, he sailed in the Sir Edward Paget, arriving in Auckland on 25 May 1853. Without delay they proceeded to join the brothers, who had taken up farms between New Plymouth and Mount Egmont, in what was afterwards famous as the Grey and Bell district. Needless to say, the new surroundings were foreign to Richmond's past experience and his cultured and artistic tastes. The little West Country community that had settled the district needed strong arms and wise counsellors. Richmond was wise, at any rate. At the first meeting of the Provincial Council (Oct 1853) he was appointed provincial attorney and clerk under the superintendency of Charles Brown. Two years later, no other candidates coming forward, he was elected to the House of Representatives and to the Provincial Council for the town of New Plymouth. Gisborne and Saunders, from different political points of view, bear testimony to the purity of the political motives of Richmond, and his honest, generous, and lovable nature. Taranaki was his home and that of his relatives. The Taranaki settlers felt convinced—and Richmond agreed with them—that they could win through to peaceful colonisation only by a strong policy towards the Maori. In Jun 1856 his outstanding abilities and strong character prompted Stafford to invite him to be a member of the ministry. In the important offices of Colonial Secretary and Treasurer his amazing capacity for work and for conscientious detail overcame all obstacles and produced order out of chaos.

When Stafford went to England for a year, Richmond dominated the cabinet, and as native questions became more pressing, his opinions swayed the Governor (Gore-Browne), who in those days was responsible for native policy. Events moved irresistibly towards war in Taranaki. Gisborne says that: 'Once embarked in a cause, Richmond soon became an enthusiast. He was not influenced by mean or selfish motives, but in the assertion of what he considered a grand principle he was ready to throw aside all practical considerations.' Richmond was Minister of Native Affairs from the middle of 1858 till the end of 1860, a period full of tragedy. It fell to him to write the fateful message to the Superintendent of Taranaki intimating that the Governor, on the advice of his executive, intended to proceed with the survey of the Waitara block. This decision brought him into conflict—political only, for they were on terms of warm personal friendship—with men like Selwyn and Hadfield, whose integrity was equal to his own, and whose concern for the Maori race was dominant. On the provincial question, too, he was at variance with many of his friends, for quite early he saw the defects of the system, the precarious position of minorities in the provinces if they were not protected by a strong central government. A man of less principle, or motives less translucent, could never have survived the tragedy of Waitara in the regard of his fellow-men on both sides of politics. Richmond was not happy in politics. He did what he conscientiously believed to be right and just; he reasoned clearly and logically; "he was wealthy only in friends, in character, and in talents." Throughout his political career he yearned for the quiet shades, for cultured society and intellectual exercise. His speeches abound in classical allusion and philosophical thought. He had entered political life only because no one else could be found for the New Plymouth seat. In relinquishing his seat in the Provincial Council, he confided to his friends as early as 1860 his yearning for more peaceful and philosophic occupation. His great intellectual and moral qualities designated him for the bench; but it would not have been surprising if his precarious bodily health had caused him to view with uncertainty the arduous days and nights which a judge must devote to his duty. While in political life Richmond had been interested in legal practice in Auckland in partnership with Whitaker. On going out of office in 1861, Richmond and Whitaker were appointed commissioners to adjust the provincial debt between Otago and Canterbury. They gave their award early in Aug. Otago was entering upon a wave of prosperity arising from the discovery of gold, and Richmond, now free of political ties, made up his mind to move to Dunedin, where he soon enjoyed a lucrative practice in partnership with Prendergast and T. B. Gillies. For some years, with Bell and Stafford, he was interested in a run in the Ida valley. Richmond was always interested in social and philosophic subjects, and delighted Dunedin audiences with his thoughtful lectures on democracy and the borders of metaphysics. He was interested also in art and literature, and was in particular a lover of Robert Browning. On 20 Oct 1862 Richmond was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. It was a post for which his qualities and talents were outstanding. He brought to his duties amazing powers of concentration and patient industry. His utterances were always terse, lucid, quiet, and forceful; his judgments keen in perception, logical in reasoning, and finished in diction. Henceforward he withdrew himself from association with public movements of any kind and with public companies. The independence and purity of the bench were with him a passion. A political critic says that 'no New Zealander has ever yet shone with more intelligence, more gentleness, or more justice.' His capacity for work was immense. As the end drew near he seemed more and more to seek relief from his bodily infirmities in intellectual recreation. As jurist, judge, and scholar he was not excelled in Australasia. His private life was irreproachable and his home life ideal.

From the time of his appointment to the bench Richmond was sole judge in Dunedin until 1864, when Chapman was appointed to assist him. In 1867 he was transferred to Nelson, with jurisdiction over that province and Westland, then booming with the new population attracted from all parts of the world by the gold discoveries. In Otago Richmond presided at the second trial of Captain Jarvey (1865). In Hokitika he heard the charges against the Fenian demonstrators. In 1873 he made his last move, to Wellington; and two years later he revisited England. Except for that respite, he fulfilled his heavy duties without cessation until 1893, when his health forced him to take a short rest. He was in the full exercise of his office when he died (3 Aug 1895). Though worn out with physical infirmity, he was preparing when he died a paper on Browning. Mrs Richmond died on 28 Nov 1906. (See J. C. and H. R. RICHMOND, H. A., W. S. and D. ATKINSON)

Personal information Sir Frederick Chapman and F. J. Rolleston; family information from M. and E. Richmond; Taranaki P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D. and App. H.R., pass (notably 1858-62); Richmond papers; Rusden; Saunders (p); Reeves; Cowan i; Taranaki Herald, 20 Jan 1862; Nelson Examiner, 8 Dec 1858; Otago Daily Times, 24 Mar 1863, 6, 8 Aug 1895; N.Z. Herald, 31 Dec 1881, 6 Aug 1895; N.Z. Times, 4 Aug 1894, 6 Aug 1895; Evening Post, 5 Aug 1895, 25 Aug 1934 (p); The Press, 7, 10 Aug 1895.

Portrait: General Assembly Library.

Reference: Volume 2, page 122

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