CHILMAN, RICHARD (1816-77) was born in London on May 5, 1816, received a good commercial education and at the age of 16 went to America. He returned to England after an extended tour through Canada and the United States. Having recently married, he sailed in the William Bryan for New Plymouth in 1840. On the voyage he was appointed clerk to Cutfield, leader of the expedition, and he remained in the service of the New Zealand Company until its winding-up. Then he farmed on the east bank of the Henui river, near the coast. After a year or two on a suburban section near New Plymouth he took up bush land at Mangorei. In 1853, on the inauguration of the provinces, he was elected to the Provincial Council for Grey and Bell, which he represented to 1856. He was appointed provincial treasurer in 1853 and retained that position till 1861, when he became collector of customs. Other posts which he held were those of provincial auditor and receiver of land revenue. He was a member of the first New Plymouth borough council.

Chilman in 1871 visited England to obtain capital for the working of ironsand. He was chairman at different times of the Petroleum Co., the Pioneer Steel Co. and the Opunake Flax Co., a trustee of the Savings Bank and the New Plymouth Building Society, and chairman of the harbour board. He devoted much of his energy to the improvement of the harbour. He was one of the founders of the Taranaki Institute and its treasurer for many years. He died on 12 Mar 1877.

Wells; Taranaki Herald, 13 Mar 1877.

Reference: Volume 1, page 94

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