STODDART, MARK PRINGLE (1819-85) was born in Edinburgh, the son of Admiral Stoddart. He was educated there and entered the Military Academy, but at the age of 18 emigrated to Port Phillip, where the town of Melbourne was being laid out. After travelling for some years in the East, he bought a station in the Victorian Pyrenees. In 1850 he sold out and with E. M. Templer (q.v.) chartered the German barque Australasia and sailed for New Zealand, arriving in Lyttelton (Jan 1851) to find the first four ships at anchor. Stoddart bought land in a bay he named Diamond Harbour. He also established himself on the Terrace station of 20,000 acres on the Rakaia. This he sold to Hall (1853) and he was managing partner for Waitt in Teviotdale. Glenmark was named after him. He afterwards moved to Diamond Harbour, where he lived for many years. He was one of the first party to explore Lake Coleridge.

Stoddart was something of a poet, some of his verse being included in Canterbury Rhymes. He was keenly interested in angling and acclimatisation, and his home was noted for warm hospitality. Stoddart represented the Bays in the Provincial Council (1863-66). He died on 28 Aug 1885. M. O. Stoddart (d. 1934) was a daughter.

Acland; Alpers, Cant. Rhymes; Lyttelton Times, 30 Aug 1885.

Reference: Volume 2, page 171

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