MARSHMAN, JOHN PARKER (1823-1913) was born in Bristol. He arrived in Wellington in the forties and was employed under Captain J. Thomas on the survey of Canterbury and on the construction of a road through the Ngahauranga gorge. He became treasurer to the Canterbury provincial government, and on the opening of the Ferrymead railway to the Heathcote ferry in 1863, he was appointed general manager of Canterbury railways. Work was begun on the southern railway, and three years later the Christchurch-Lyttelton line was opened. A year before the abolition of the provincial government Marshman was appointed commissioner of waste lands, and under the general Government he became Canterbury's first commissioner of crown lands (1876-84). He was a close friend of Samuel Butler, who painted his portrait. Marshman published a small book Canterbury in 1864. He died on 23 Nov 1913.

Festing Jones; The Press, 4 Feb 1935 (portrait by S Butler), 25 Nov 1913.

Reference: Volume 2, page 31

🌳 Further sources