HARRIS, JOHN HYDE (1825-86) was born at Deddington, Oxfordshire, educated there and received his training in law. He practised a little before coming to New Zealand. Arriving in Dunedin by the Poictiers (Sep 1850), he at once commenced to practise, his office being in Stafford street. Later he joined John Gillies, whose son, Thomas Bannatyne, was afterwards a partner in the firm. Harris took an immediate interest in the affairs of the settlement, and was soon recognised as one of the 'Little Enemy,' Episcopalians for the most part, who found themselves banded together against some of the cardinal tenets of the old identities. Harris signed his name to the petition against class settlement which was sent to the Government for consideration. He admitted later that he had not had time properly to study the question, and retracted his adhesion to the offending document. Harris became popular in the province, and was clearly marked out for public life. He took a leading part in the protest to Wellington against the transference to the general Government of so-called 'surplus revenue' raised in Otago which was obviously required in the province. He opposed the nominated Legislative Council and co-operated as a member of the Otago Settlers' Association in the demand for representative government; drew up the petition to this end, and when the object was in sight supervised the preparation of the roll of electors. In doing so he resisted hotly the attempt to enrol Maori voters, on the ground that they did not possess the separate qualification that was necessary under the law.

Harris's plans were at first not very definite. As a leading citizen he took his part in the foundation of the Mechanics' Institute; he helped to promote the Otago Banking Co., and was an interim director. He drafted the petition for a charter, which was refused by the Government. He was a founder of the Otago Witness when a number of the leading men of the settlement decided to provide a newspaper in place of the defunct Otago News. When gold was discovered in Victoria he was tempted to leave, but eventually decided to stay in Otago. He passed the examinations required by the supreme court and, after going to Wellington to be admitted, he entered into partnership with Gillies.

When the elections were held towards the end of 1853 for the first Provincial Council, Harris was elected at the head of the poll for the City of Dunedin. He held strong views, and his determined attitude on several political questions brought him to grips with Cargill, his austere father-in-law. He remained a member of the Council until 1858, and during the last few months was also a member of the executive. He had meanwhile been elected a member of the first town board and of the first education committee (1856). In the following year Gillies was appointed a magistrate and Harris took his son, Thomas Bannatyne, into the practice. In 1858-64 Harris was a member of the Legislative Council. In 1860 he was appointed a district judge, but in 1862 the office was abolished.

Richardson in 1861 appointed Harris to be his deputy, and at the next superintendency election (1863) Harris defeated Richardson by 162 votes. As Superintendent he had many important public works to carry through, and severe economic trouble to face due to the inflation following the influx of men into the province. His task was not made easier by the unfriendly attitude of his Council, and he resigned his office in Jun 1865, long before the expiry of the term for which he had been elected. The dissolution of the town board was one of the unpleasant duties which fell to his lot, but the city later attained to the dignity of a municipal corporation, and in 1867 Harris had the honour of being elected mayor. That post also he resigned before the end of his term. He was president of the Dunedin exhibition in 1865. In 1867 Harris was called again to the Legislative Council, in which he sat for about a year. He was Attorney-general in the Stafford ministry.

Harris was at times a considerable owner of landed property in Otago. He lived for many years at the Grange and had rural runs at Waihola, Otokia, Lee Stream, and West Taieri. He opened for sale the first private township in Otago, at Clarendon. Harris had a lively passion for education, and he was a member of the council of Otago University from 1869 until his death. He was a prominent freemason under the English constitution, and assisted at the formation of several lodges in Otago. He was installed provincial grand master in 1864 and held that office until 1880. His death occurred on 24 Jul 1886. He married in 1851 Annie Cunningham (1830-81), second daughter of W. W. Cargill.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Cycl. NZ. iv (p); Hocken; McIndoe; Otago Witness, 3 Jul 1886; Otago Daily Times, 25 Jul 1886, 21 Mar 1930 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 198

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