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

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

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

Reference: Volume 1, page 48

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