ROBINSON, JOHN PERRY (1809-85) was born in Surrey and trained as a wood and ivory turner. He was in business in Birmingham before coming to New Zealand in the Phoebe (1842). On settling in Nelson he opened a school under the Nelson school society and spent some years in charge of it. He was then for four years in business in Auckland. Returning to Nelson, he commenced farming and then established himself as a sawmiller at Motupipi.

In 1855 Robinson was elected to the Nelson Provincial Council for Massacre Bay, and at the end of the following year he was invited to contest the superintendency, which had become vacant by the resignation of Stafford. Though opposed by Dr Monro, he won the election and was re-elected on two subsequent occasions. Robinson had seen much of politics while living in Birmingham, where he became imbued with Liberal principles. He was a man of considerable intellectual attainments, with a practical and logical judgment, and was often consulted both by public men and by the officials of the General Government. His influence more than once prevented trouble in days of economic depression. In 1860 he stood for the parliamentary representation of Nelson, but was defeated by two titans (Domett 193 and Stafford 185 elected; Robinson 149). He met his death on 28 Jan 1865, being drowned on the bar of the Buller river while on an unofficial visit to the south-west gold and coal fields. Robinson married Miss Gaskell, of Derby.

Nelson P.C. Proc.; Saunders; Cycl. N.Z., V (p); The Colonist, 31 Jan 1865.

Reference: Volume 2, page 127

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