BEALEY, SAMUEL (1821-1909), a native of Lancashire, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1851 (at an unusually advanced age). Becoming interested in the Canterbury project, he and his brother John purchased orders in London for 1,000 acres of land and sailed in the Cornwall, which arrived in Lyttelton on 10 Dec 1851. They at once prospected for land, and in May 1852 took up what was afterwards known as Haldon, between the Selwyn and Hororata. Their first run was No. 19, and in a year or two they had a property of 40,000 acres, comprising seven runs. For a while they were well occupied with their land and erecting their homes in Christchurch.

Samuel had a liking for public affairs, and in Nov 1852 (as soon as the constitution arrived in New Zealand), he announced himself as a candidate for the Canterbury Provincial Council. At the elections in 1853 he was returned as a member for the City of Christchurch, which he represented until the first dissolution (1857). His standing in the Council was soon established. From Oct 1854 to May 1855 he was a member of Hall's executive. Being something of a student, with no great love of publicity, he did not seek re-election, but when a dissolution occurred in 1862 he was again returned for his old constituency. His career then took a turn for which he was scarcely prepared and certainly not anxious. The rival policies of Moorhouse and FitzGerald each had a strong following. Moorhouse had achieved great things for the province, and Bealey was in general sympathy with his policy of public works. When he resigned the superintendency early in 1863 Bealey, desirous of seeing party animosities composed, headed a requisition asking Robert Wilkin to stand. Wilkin declined and Bealey was then led into the breach, it being understood that there would be no contest.

He was elected unopposed on 5 Mar 1863. John Ollivier, his proposer, remarked that he was admired for his affability and courtesy in private life, and for his straightforward conduct and untarnished honour in public affairs; a man of lofty principle closely identified with the policy of his predecessor. Bealey, in his speech, stated his determination to give proper consideration to the out-districts and to do something for education. He had none of the brilliance of FitzGerald or the driving power of Moorhouse, but he had sound judgment, common sense and confidence, and so was able to achieve more at the moment than either of his predecessors might have done. Cox remarks: "It can hardly be said of him that, like Moorhouse, he had a passion for politics or that he had an insatiable appetite for work; but he was an educated man and the people of Canterbury readily accepted him as their chief magistrate." Hall said that "his commonsense and coolness enabled him to grapple with the difficulties of the first gold rush on the West Coast. He left behind him a record as a good office man and a safe administrator." Bealey was able, session after session, to carry his council with him in sanctioning the necessary expenditure. In 1864 he created the post of secretary of public works and offered to reduce the salary of the superintendent in order to meet some of the additional cost. He let a contract to Holmes and Co. for the railway to Rakaia, undertook lines north and south and to Kowai, set aside lands to provide for a line to the West Coast, improved the landing service at Timaru and the harbour at Lyttelton, engaged experts to report on the rivers and built adequate provincial chambers and offices. When provincial finance seemed likely to fail he obtained from the general government the promise of state assistance.

Towards the end of 1864 Bealey told his council that he expected gold discoveries of importance on the West Coast. On 2 Mar 1865 Westland was gazetted a goldfield, and Bealey sent a member of the executive to establish the machinery of government there, and ordered a road to be constructed, over which a year later he was able to drive to the coast on a stage coach. His term of office was marked by the steady, vigorous, and yet cautious promotion of public works. His presidents of executive were Wilkin, Cass and Tancred, and as colleagues they had Hall, Moorhouse, Joshua Strange Williams, Rolleston, Travers, E. C. J. Stevens, and others. When his term came to an end (May 1866), Bealey laid down his powers as cheerfully as he had taken them up.

A few months later his brother died. About the middle of 1867 he returned to England with his family, paying only occasional visits to New Zealand thereafter. Part of the estate was sold to the Government early in the century, and in 1910 the rest was cut up and sold. Bealey died in England on 8 May 1909.

Acland; Cox; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); The Press, 26 May 1909, 24 May 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 42

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