DARGAVILLE, JOSEPH McMULLEN (1837-96) belonged to a Huguenot family and was born at Cork, his father being a physician. Educated at Fermoy College, he left for Australia as a young man and after some experience in Victoria entered the service of the Union Bank in Sydney as a junior clerk. In five years, when only 25 years of age, he was a branch manager; and two years later he came to New Zealand as branch inspector on the West Coast. In 1868 he became manager at Auckland, and in 1869 he resigned from the bank and started in business as a wholesale merchant (under the title of Must and Co.). Later he entered the timber and kauri gum trade in northern Wairoa, where he acquired land and laid out the town which bears his name.

Dargaville was a member of the Auckland City Council (1871-84). While M.P.C. for City East (1873-75) he carried through the Provincial Council a water scheme for the city, but it was reversed during his absence. He contested the Superintendency with John Williamson and H. H. Lusk (1873), and came forward again in 1875, but retired in favour of Sir G. Grey. In 1881 he was elected M.H.R. for Auckland City West, and in 1884 was re-elected as a supporter of the Stout-Vogel government. In 1887 he was defeated for Marsden; in 1890 for Bay of Islands (by Houston), and in 1893 for Eden (by Mitchelson). He was a promoter of the Kaihu railway, a member of the Auckland harbour board and chairman of the Parnell road board; captain of the Auckland City engineers and of the Dargaville rifles and president of the rifle club; grand master of the Orange Lodge of New Zealand; a prominent freemason, and consul for the United States. Dargaville died on 27 Oct 1896.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 28 Oct 1896. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 113

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