ELLIOT, PETER (1817-83) was born at Marhamchurch, Cornwall, and came to Taranaki with his wife and family in the Amelia Thompson (1841). Taking up land near the town, he was the first to establish a dairy in New Plymouth to supply the town with milk and fresh butter. In 1843 he had a cart drawn by bullocks for farm purposes. A progressive farmer, he soon succeeded in making his land freehold.

Elliot represented Grey and Bell in the Provincial Council (1853-56, 1857-61, 1866-69 and 1873-75) and was a member of the executive for two years (1867-69). During the war in Taranaki he had sole charge of the commissariat transport department, which he administered with great success. He afterwards returned to his farm and eventually retired to live in New Plymouth, where he died on 16 Sep 1883, his wife having predeceased him on 24 Oct 1882.

Taranaki News, 22 Oct 1883. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 131

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