GRESSON, HENRY BARNES (1809-1901) was born in County Meath, Ireland, the son of the Rev George Leslie Gresson, rector of Ardnurcher, Westmeath. To the age of 14 he was educated at home, and he then went for three years to a private school in Westmeath, from which he matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin. Having graduated B.A., Gresson entered upon the study of law, and was admitted to the Irish bar in 1833. After gaining experience in London and Dublin, he practised for eight years as an equity barrister at the chancery bar in Dublin. During this time he collaborated with Burroughs in a treatise on equity pleading. In 1845 he married Anne (d. 1889), daughter of Andrew Beatty of Londonderry.

In 1854, having now a growing family, and being a strong churchman, Gresson became interested in the Canterbury colony, for which he sailed with his family in the ship Egmont, which carried reinforcements for the 58th and 65th regiments. He landed at Auckland on 24 Jun 1854 and arrived at Lyttelton on 23 Jul.

At first the family lived at Oxford terrace east, where Gresson commenced to practice. Later he moved to the corner of Worcester and Manchester streets. Three months after arriving in Canterbury he was appointed provincial solicitor and crown prosecutor for the province. As a member of the executive ex officio, Gresson participated in many governments under FitzGerald and Moorhouse. His leaders were: Hall (1854-55), Brittan (1855), Tancred (1855-57 and 1857-58), Packer, Bowen, and Cass (all in 1857). In 1855 he was appointed a J.P. for Canterbury.

In a rearrangement of judicial districts in 1857 Gresson was appointed a judge and given jurisdiction over the whole of the South Island. Hitherto Stephen had come down occasionally from Wellington to deliver the gaol, and there was very little civil business. The following extract from the dates of Gresson's first circuit gives an idea of the travelling he did, mostly on horseback: Wellington 11 Jan 1858; Nelson 20 Jan; Lyttelton, Feb; Dunedin 8 Mar. The journey from Nelson to Lyttelton, 230 miles, was a lonely one, but he had a good river horse and a competent Maori guide. From Christchurch to Dunedin he rode in company with Charles C. Bowen. Gresson's appointment to the bench entailed his resignation of all provincial offices. In the early sixties the sudden growth of population in Otago, consequent on the discovery of gold, called for the creation of a separate judicial district; and Gresson was relieved of the area south of the Waitaki by the appointment of Richmond as judge for Otago. Shortly afterwards a judicial district was established in Westland, and in Jan 1865, Gresson crossed the Alps to open the first court in Hokitika. Before long his district was restricted to Canterbury.

In 1874 a joint parliamentary committee decided on a rearrangement of the judiciary, under which Gresson would have to go to Nelson. There was a strong feeling amongst the judges that it tended to restrict the independence of the bench if Parliament had the power of moving judges from place to place. Gresson had no wish to leave Christchurch, for he had identified himself with the people and their ideals and about 1864 had purchased a country property near Woodend. He accordingly retired from the bench at the end of 1875, and in the following year paid a visit to England and Ireland. In 1877 he was granted the title of 'honourable'. On returning to New Zealand, Gresson indulged his taste for farming. He paid much attention to sheep and cattle breeding, importing many new animals (especially Leicester sheep) to improve his stock, and he was a successful competitor at agricultural and pastoral shows. The Canterbury show of 1862 (which resulted in the formation of the Agricultural and Pastoral association) was held in his paddock in Latimer Square. He was passionately fond of flowers also, and had fine gardens both at Woodend and Fendalton. About 1891 he sold his farm to Henry Gray, and two years later went to live in Fendalton, where he died on 31 Jan 1901.

Gresson always took a keen interest in education. Until he was appointed to the bench he was a fellow of Christ's College. He was an original member of the board of governors of Canterbury College (1873-76), and chairman in 1875. He was an early president of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute (1872). As a churchman he was a moving spirit in the erection of Christchurch Cathedral, and was for many years a member of the diocesan synod, and for a while chancellor of the diocese.

N.Z.P.D., 13 Aug 1861; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; N.Z. Gaz.; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Cox; Wigram; The Press, 1 Feb 1901, 26 Jul 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 178

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