ST HILL, JAMES HENRY (1807-66), a prominent Wellington settler, reached New Zealand by the Adelaide on 7 Mar 1840. He was the son of Henry Charles St Hill, of Bradninch, Devonshire, who served many years in the British ordnance department, mainly in the West Indies, Ceylon and Hong Kong, retired and died at Wellington on 12 Mar 1861. (James) Henry was born at Trinidad, West Indies, and educated at Christ's Hospital, London. He was a member of the Church of England Society for the appointment of a bishop for New Zealand (1839), and also of the provisional committee set up by the settlers for their own government at Port Nicholson (1840). Early in 1841 he was gazetted a magistrate for the territory, and in Jan 1843 sheriff for the southern district. A few months later he was called on to accompany Wakefield and the magistrates to Nelson to investigate the circumstances of the Wairau clash. He went with Bishop Selwyn to Taranaki and with Martin to Taupo to investigate native reserves, of which he was commissioner (Nov 1843). In Apr 1845 St Hill was appointed magistrate and sheriff at Wellington, and he took a leading part in the enrolment and training of the militia in Port Nicholson during the hostilities of 1845-46. He was a trustee of the Mechanics' Institute (1848), sometime acting auditor-general and auditor for the Wellington Provincial Council (1854), and some years manager of the bank of issue. St Hill was a member of the Legislative Council (1853-56). At the opening sitting (27 May 1854) he moved that a clergyman of the Church of England should read prayers, but the Council, fearing the establishment of a precedent, decided that the Speaker should read them. On 6 Jun he moved a resolution in favour of an elective legislative council, as being more in accordance with the democratic spirit and more likely to command respect than a nominee chamber. Dillon Bell alone supported the motion, which was negatived. In 1858 St Hill was brought forward by the Reform party in Wellington province to oppose Featherston's re-election as Superintendent, but was defeated. His high character and social standing were of great service to the young community, which honoured him in 1864, when a fatal disease compelled him to retire and return to England. He was a close friend of Colonel Wakefield, Te Puni and Selwyn, a strong churchman and a lay member of the first general synod (1859). He died in London on 5 Jun 1866.

A brother, ASHTON ST HILL (1825-1904), arrived by the Glenbervie (1840), was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council for the Country District (1857-61) and settled in Hawke's Bay. He died on 18 Dec 1904.

Another brother, Harry WOODFORD ST HILL (1828-1907), was educated at Christ's Hospital and at St John's, Auckland (1850-53). He was ordained deacon (1852) and priest (1859); held several charges; was headmaster of the Crofton boarding school (1865-75); vicar of Havelock North and Clive; and canon of Napier Cathedral (1883). He died at San Remo on 15 Jan 1907.

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Ward; J. K. Davis; Jacobs; Wakelin; C. H. St Hill (information); N.Z. Spectator and Wellington Independent, pass. Portrait by Pickersgill in Magistrate's Court, Wellington.

Reference: Volume 2, page 138

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