DART, JOHN RAYNOR (1855-1935). Born at Toorak, Melbourne, he came to New Zealand in 1865 and was educated at the public school at Picton. He joined the service of the Post and Telegraph Department as a cadet in 1874, became telegraphist at Blenheim in 1881 and senior clerk in 1882, from which position he retired in 1883. He then spent seven years in a legal office and three in a mercantile office. Meanwhile he took a very active part in Anglican Church matters, first in 1884 as vicar's churchwarden at the Church of the Nativity in Blenheim; as lay member of the synod (1885) and lay secretary for several years. Following the parochial mission of the Rev G. C. Grubb (1890) he decided to read for holy orders, and after the necessary term of study at Bishopdale, Nelson, was ordained by Bishop Mules (28 Dec 1894) and appointed curate of Brunnerton and Grey Valley. Next year he became vicar of Reefton. A man of splendid physique, he threw himself with great energy into the difficult work of his parish and distinguished himself at the disaster at the Brunner mine (26 Mar 1896), to which he hastened on foot and by bicycle. In 1895 he became clerical secretary to the synod, a position he held until his retirement in 1931. In 1901 he became vicar of Westport and in 1913 of Wakefield. On the formation of the cathedral chapter in 1916 he was appointed one of the first canons. At the outbreak of the Great War he offered his services to the government as a telegraphist as being more useful than in the capacity of a chaplain. Following the death in action of the diocesan secretary (A. E. Hedges), Dart carried on the diocesan office in addition to his great burden of parochial and cathedral work. He was for many years a military chaplain and received the military decoration. In 1925 he became vicar of All Saints, Nelson, and in 1926 Archdeacon of Waimea. His retirement in 1931 was necessitated by failing health, largely due to unceasing church work over a period of nearly fifty years. He had been vicar-general, lay and clerical secretary to the synod, diocesan secretary and registrar, member of the standing committee, and of the diocesan trust board; chairman of St Andrew's Orphanage, clerical secretary of the N.Z. Church Missionary Society and a member of the executive of the N.Z. board of missions; and a director of the Y.M.C.A. His social work was noteworthy. He died on 27 May 1935. Dart married (1901) a daughter of W. H. Boase, Greymouth.

Nelson Evening Mail, 5 Oct 1926, 27 May 1935; The Witness (Nelson diocesan journal), Jun 1935; Cycl. NZ, v., 174.

Reference: Volume 1, page 113

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