RIES, HANS MADSEN (1860-1926) was born in Schleswig, Denmark, one of the large family of a small farmer. After receiving a sound primary education in his native village, he took a position as teacher in a public school. Deciding to become a missionary in India, he entered the Lutheran divinity school in his native province, where he spent five years. His health then appeared unequal to life in the tropics, and in 1886 he accepted a call to the new Danish settlement at Norsewood, where he was ordained and commenced his ministry in 1887, the year before the settlement was swept by fire. He married in 1887 and shortly afterwards became honorary minister and entered into business to supplement his stipend. In 1890 he brought from Denmark another party of settlers, including his mother and sisters. Ries erected on his own property and managed for six months the first butter factory in southern Hawkes Bay, and he began to import machinery required by the rise of the dairy industry. In 1895, being relieved of ministerial duties by the arrival of two clergymen from Denmark, he moved to Dannevirke and opened a large business, H. M. Ries and Sons. In an honorary capacity he ministered to the Lutherans living in and around Dannevirke, and as president of the Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Convention of New Zealand and Queensland he paid a visit to Australia. He took a leading part in public affairs, being at different times a member of the borough council and five years mayor (1905-10); chairman of the technical school, a member of the Hawkes Bay hospital and charitable aid board, the education board, the Waipawa county council and licensing committee, and the Dannevirke power board. He was on the executive of the Hawkes Bay district lodge of Foresters and the friendly societies council; chairman of the Dannevirke hospital board, and vice-president of the chamber of commerce. He was a Liberal in politics and a strong advocate of no-license. He died on 14 Apr 1926.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Cycl. NZ, vi (p); Dannevirke Evening News, 15 Apr 1926; Hawkes Bay Herald, 16 Apr 1926.

Reference: Volume 2, page 125

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