SAMUEL, OLIVER (1849-1925) was born at St Heliers, Jersey, the son of the Rev Dr Jacob Samuel, D.D., LL.D. (1800-82) (who was a student at Wilna, Poland, in 1812) and with whom he came to New Zealand in 1855. He was educated at Nelson College, where he gained several scholarships. On leaving he was appointed to the Crown Lands department (1866), from which he was transferred in 1869 to the deeds registry office at Auckland. On the Thames goldfield he was in the office of receiver of goldfields revenue, from which he resigned and had some success on the Thames and Coromandel fields. In 1870 he rejoined the government service in Wellington.

In 1873 Samuel was articled to W. Sefton Moorhouse (q.v.). Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1878, he was about to start practice in Christchurch when Moorhouse died. Samuel commenced practice in New Plymouth (1879), where he had a distinguished career at the bar and as counsel to public bodies, notably the harbour board in their action against the sinking fund commissioners. In 1881 he conducted the prosecution of Te Whiti, Tohu and Hiroki. In 1884 Samuel entered Parliament, defeating T. Kelly for the New Plymouth seat, which he represented until he retired in 1890. About 1903 he withdrew from general practice. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1907, and sat until his death on 11 Jan 1925, being chairman of committees for the last seven years. (K.C., 1919) Samuel married a daughter of Octavius Carrington (q.v.). He was a staunch patron of the turf, president of the Taranaki Jockey Club and for many years a member of the New Zealand racing conference.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); N.Z.P.D., 26, 30 Jun 1925; Chadwick (p); Nelson Coll. Reg.; Taranaki Herald, 12 Jan 1925. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 139

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