BRITTAN, JOSEPH (1805-67), who was a brother of W. G. Brittan (q.v.), came to New Zealand in the William Hyde (1852) and settled in Christchurch. A practised writer, he was the first editor (1854) and for some time proprietor of the Canterbury Standard. He was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council for Christchurch City in 1855 and represented it till 1857 and again 1861-62. He was leader of the executive in 1855 and provincial secretary under Tancred (1855-57). Brittan was a fine, fluent speaker, an unequalled debater and an attentive and competent administrator. In 1857 he contested the superintendency against Moorhouse. He then withdrew from politics for a year or two and strongly opposed Moorhouse's railway policy in 1859. In 1861 he was again in the Council (representing Christchurch to Sep 1862, when he resigned). In 1863 he succeeded Hall as resident magistrate for Christchurch and Kaiapoi, but he resigned owing to ill-health in 1864. He died on 27 Oct 1867.

Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cox, Men of Mark; Lyttelton Times, 28 Oct 1867.

Reference: Volume 1, page 63

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