PARRIS, ROBERT REID (1816-1904) was born at Tatworth, Chard, Somerset, coming of a West of England family who had their property confiscated in the reign of James II, but restored by William III. He was some years farming in Devonshire and was a fine horseman and whip, managing a four-in-hand with great skill. He came to New Zealand with his wife and two daughters in the Blenheim, arriving at New Plymouth on 7 Nov 1842.

About 1846 Bishop Selwyn appointed Parris farm superintendent at St John's College, Auckland, where he gained an intimate knowledge of the Maori language and customs. Selwyn regarded him as an able and willing bailiff and a Christian man, with whom he was on terms of personal confidence. Returning to Taranaki in the early fifties, Parris was elected a member of the Provincial Council in 1853 and sat with a short intermission until the middle of 1857, when he resigned to accept the post of land purchase commissioner. His knowledge of the Maori marked him out during the troubled years of the next two decades as the most trusted representative of the Government in the province. From 1859-65 he was assistant native secretary and the principal agent of the Government in the Waitara purchase. The outbreak of hostilities (1860) involved him in many difficult positions. In that year a plot against his life by Taranaki and Ngati-Ruanui conspirators was disclosed by a Mokau chief; and the Waikato befriended him. He was attached to the Imperial troops during the war with the rank of major in the militia, and for a while was in command of native allies.

Parris was frequently mentioned in despatches by Grey and by General Sir H. J. Warre (who found him an able interpreter and sagacious adviser, skilful in the management of natives, firm, judicious and conciliatory). In Jun 1865 he rode 250 miles from Taranaki to Wellington, through tribes whose loyalty was in grave doubt. He was appointed civil commissioner for Taranaki in that year. FitzGerald strongly urged that he should be charged with the entire responsibility for settling the difficulties in Taranaki. In the crisis of 1868-69 Parris's influence was mainly responsible for restraining the natives north of Opunake from joining the Hauhau. He retired from the civil service in 1875, but before reverting to private life he acted in conjunction with the West Coast commission in the settlement of native claims.

Parris showed great force of character and remarkable courage, zeal and earnestness. To an intimate acquaintance with native affairs he combined the qualities of a Christian gentleman, and the natives regarded him with esteem and affection. He was for many years a visiting justice of the gaol, a harbour board sinking fund commissioner, and vice-president of the New Plymouth Savings Bank. He died on 18 Sep 1904.

Taranaki P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; N.Z. Gaz.; App. H.R.; Cycl. N.Z., vi; Rusden; Tucker; Wells; Waka Maori, 1875, p. 215; Taranaki Herald, 19 Sep 1904. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 2, page 78

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