TABART, FRANCIS CHRISTOPHER (1830-1901) was born in London, a son of F. G. Tabart, R.N., with whom he came to Tasmania as a boy. There he finished his education. He was manager of cattle and sheep stations in the Murray and Riverina districts. A fine rider, Tabart in 1855 won the Grand National steeplechase on Triton. In 1858 he married and settled down to farming in Tasmania, but in 1866 he came to New Zealand with John Meredith and took up the Highfield run, Amuri. Having suffered heavy losses through snow (1869), he sold out and went to the West Coast, where he purchased the auctioneering business of Mark Sprot. He was mayor of Hokitika (1874-75) and represented the town in the Provincial Council (1874-75). In 1877 Tabart returned to Christchurch and joined R. Wilkin in an auctioneering business, which he carried on after Wilkin's death as F. C. Tabart and Co. He died on 12 Feb 1901.

Cycl. NZ, iii (p), v; Lyttelton Times, 13 Feb 1901.

Reference: Volume 2, page 181

🌳 Further sources