OLLIVIER, JOHN (1812-93) was born in Isle of Wight, the son of Claude Nicholas Ollivier. He received his education for the most part at the college at Abbeville, France, and then went into the publishing business in London, where he spent 20 years. He recalled that his firm published the first edition of Kinglake's Eothen in 1844. Ollivier was married (1837) to Elizabeth Morton (d. 1892) of Lincolnshire, and before they left for New Zealand the couple had eight sons and one daughter. Ollivier took an active interest in social and philanthropic movements. He was a strong supporter of the Corn Law League. He appears to have been a member of the board of guardians in the parish of St James; at any rate he was vestry clerk and clerk to the guardians. He stood throughout for Conservative principles; but his friendships were non-party. When he decided to leave for New Zealand he was presented with a cheque for 400 sovereigns at a public dinner at which two-thirds of the diners were political opponents.

Ollivier sailed with his family for New Zealand in the John Taylor on 10 Jul 1853, arriving on 17 Oct. He lost no time in obtaining a leasehold farming property at upper Riccarton, where he lived for six or seven years. He could not refrain from activities which had engaged him in the Old Country. In 1860 he gave up the farm and removed to Christchurch, building a house in Ferry road and starting in business with his son as auctioneers. He was elected to the Provincial Council in 1855 for Christchurch Country district, which in 1856 returned him to Parliament. He continued to represent it until the middle of 1860, when he resigned. Ollivier held office in several provincial executives. Returned to the Council for Heathcote in 1857, he took office as provincial secretary under Tancred, continued under Cass, and eventually was himself the leader of an administration for a few weeks (1859). An admirer of Moorhouse, he warmly supported the railway and tunnel project. Moorhouse referred to him as 'the Canterbury wet nurse' and Hall remarked that 'he seemed always to have found something to do in the public interests of the province.' A witty and attractive speaker, he drew better houses in Christchurch than professional lecturers. When his official position prevented him standing for the Council, he was nominated for Seadown, simply to enable the electors to hear him make a speech.

Having resigned from Parliament (1860), Ollivier in 1861 inaugurated the agitation to secure local government for Christchurch. A petition was presented to the provincial government in Dec and received a favourable reply. In Feb 1862 the electors chose their Council and next month the Council elected its mayor. When Hall retired from the chairmanship of the City Council (1863) Ollivier was elected for the next term (1863-64). Noting the waning popularity of Moorhouse, he tried in 1863 to secure a new Superintendent who would represent a compromise between the FitzGerald and Moorhouse parties. He nominated Bealey, who was elected unopposed. At this general election Ollivier was returned for Christchurch City, which he represented until 1866. He frequently acted as chairman of committees, and occasionally as speaker. In 1865 (when Bowen retired) he was elected speaker (1865-66). During 1865 he was for a short period deputy-superintendent. At the dissolution Ollivier retired from politics to become provincial auditor of road board accounts. In Dec 1881 he was appointed resident magistrate, and for eight years he held that office at Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, and Ashburton. He was a member of the Canterbury land board (1884-88).

On resigning from the bench (1889), though now approaching 80 years of age, he made two efforts to re-enter Parliament. In 1889 he contested Lincoln against Alfred Saunders. He was a strong advocate of protection. Holding the views he did on politics, he declined to organise the election or take any steps beyond stating his views to the electors. Saunders won by 676 to 320. A few months later he contested Christchurch North, but was defeated by E. W. Humphreys.

Ollivier was a man of fine public spirit, quite disinterested. At a public presentation in 1887 Sir John Hall read a letter written to Ollivier by a high official in England on the eve of his sailing for New Zealand in which he said: 'Of all the men whom I have ever encountered, you appear to me always taking the side of justice, mercy, and good order, opposing every measure of a contrary tendency; whilst the moderation and soundness of your views, and the honesty of purpose with which they have been invariably advocated, never failed to carry with them the sympathy and respect of their political opponents.' Ollivier died on 31 Jul 1893.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Cox; Lyttelton Times, 1 Aug 1893; The Press, 17 May 1860 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 70

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