LOUGHNAN, ROBERT ANDREW (1841-1934) was born at Dacca, India, the son of R. J. Loughnan (1808-89, who was for 30 years a judge in the service of the East India Company, retired before the Mutiny and died in Canterbury). He received his education in France and at Stonyhurst College and the Catholic University in Dublin, and emigrated to Australia with his father at the age of 20 (the ship being wrecked on Flinders Island, in Bass Strait).

For several years Loughnan was engaged on his father's run in the Murrumbidgee district. In 1865 he came to New Zealand on behalf of a syndicate which purchased the Mount Pisa run, near Cromwell. This property he managed for a short time, and then became interested in meat-canning works at Fairfield, where he made use of his Australian experience. Want of markets crippled the new industry. As phormium tenax was realising about £70 a ton, Loughnan went into this business at Cust, Canterbury. A slump soon closed down the mill and he moved to Dunedin, where he entered journalism by contributing to the Otago Guardian (of which Vincent Pyke was editor). Loughnan's education, experience and knowledge of music were of great service, and he became a valued writer both to the Guardian and the Otago Daily Times. He attracted the attention of William Reeves, and in 1875 was appointed editor of the Lyttelton Times, which he controlled until 1889.

At that time Archbishop Redwood established in Wellington the Catholic Times, of which he appointed Loughnan editor. A few months later the New Zealand Times was purchased by Captain Baldwin, and Loughnan edited it for six years (1890-96). He then went to Australia, where he acted as correspondent at the Federal conventions and wrote descriptive articles for the New Zealand press. He was on the editorial staff of the Sydney Morning Herald for several years, and wrote also for Melbourne papers.

After returning to New Zealand Loughnan was for many years associate editor of the New Zealand Times. In 1904 he was secretary of the land commission. In 1907 he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member till 1914. Loughnan was a fine singer and a member of the choir of the Wellington Basilica. He published a good deal of literary work in book form, notably the New Zealand Handbook and The Royal Tour (1901), The Settlers' Handbook (1902), New Zealand at Home (1908) and a biography of Sir Joseph Ward (1928). He married (1877) Victoire de Mamanche (of Akaroa). Loughnan died on 14 Sep 1934.

N.Z.P.D., 18 Sep 1934; Loughnan, op. cit.; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Evening Post, 14 Sep 1934; The Dominion, 15 Sep (p).

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 268

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