OLIVER, RICHARD (1830-1910) was born in Penzance, Cornwall. Coming to Otago in the early sixties, he built the Port Chalmers railway (in partnership with George Proudfoot). He was senior partner in Oliver and Ulph and the founder and largest shareholder in the New Zealand Hardware Co. He also had extensive station properties in the province.

Oliver was member of the Provincial Council for Mount Ida (1873-75). In 1878 he was elected to Parliament for Dunedin City, which he represented until 1881. He was Minister of Public Works in the Hall ministry (1879-81); minister without portfolio for the balance of its term and afterwards in the Whitaker ministry; and Postmaster-general in the Atkinson administration (1883-84). He was called to the Legislative Council (1887). He was a director of the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition (1889-90). About 1901 Oliver resigned from the Council and returned to live in England. He married (1858) Ellen, a daughter of William Purchase (Penzance), and (1885) Louise d'Este, daughter of J. S. Courtenay, and sister of the Rt Hon L. H. Courtenay. He died on 29 Nov 1910.

Oliver made generous gifts of pictures to the Dunedin art gallery.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z., i (p), iv; Otago Daily Times, 30 Nov 1910. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 69

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