CLIFFORD, SIR CHARLES (1813-93) was born at Mount Vernon, near Liverpool, the son of George L. Clifford, and grandson of the Hon Thomas Clifford. Educated at Stonyhurst College, he came to New Zealand in the George Fyfe and at once set to work to clear his section near Porirua, on which he and Vavasour entertained their fellow passengers at a picnic before they went on to Nelson.

Having been gazetted a justice of the peace in 1844 and a member of the Legislative Council, Clifford went to Auckland to attend the sittings of that body. In 1845 he, in view of the unrest amongst the native tribes, took his part in the mobilisation of the militia and volunteers for the defence of the Port Nicholson settlement. With Vavasour and Weld he took up land in the lower valley of the Wairarapa and their sheep, driven round the rocks from Wellington, were actually the first to reach their station in the valley, though C. R. Bidwill reached the valley first and cut the track by which the others overtook him. Meanwhile Clifford was conducting a land agency in Wellington. His attention was attracted to pastoral land in the northern part of the South Island, and he made some explorations there which resulted in the partnership in 1846 taking up a large area of open country on lease. They at once brought a flock of merino sheep across and occupied what was afterwards known as Flaxbourne and Stonyhurst stations, on the borders of Canterbury and Marlborough. In 1850 they had 10,000 merino sheep thriving on the native grass and were so well satisfied with the outlook that they parted with their interests in the North Island and concentrated on their new station.

In 1847 Clifford married Mary Anne (who died in 1899), daughter of John Hercy, deputy lieutenant of Berkshire. He was now actively engaged in the agitation for self-government, and took part in the work in England, where he spent most of the years 1848-50. On his return the partners decided to dispose of their property at Wharekaka, in south Wairarapa. They were soon realising the highest prices in New Zealand for their rams bred in the South Island.

At the inauguration of the new constitution Clifford, although a Catholic, was returned at the head of the poll as representative for Wellington City in the Provincial Council. He was at once elected speaker of the Council, a position which he filled with credit until his voluntary retirement in 1857. He took a great interest in the development of provincial institutions and was a member of the education commission in 1854. In 1853 also he was elected to Parliament for the City of Wellington. When he took his seat at Auckland on the opening of Parliament he already had a reputation as a speaker. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and others who desired him to be Speaker of the House feared that he might use his position to favour his own faith. Clifford, on the other hand, with his co-religionist Weld, was actuated by one thought only as regards religion. He wished to ensure, as Bishop Pompallier had done at Waitangi in 1840, merely that all religions should have equal freedom in the new colony; that there should be no suggestion of a state religion. He declined to give Wakefield any assurances and was eventually elected Speaker without opposition. Though he had refused to give any undertaking to get a Church of England clergyman to open with prayer, he had arranged that one of that denomination (the Rev J. F. Lloyd) should be in the vicinity at the moment when Parliament commenced its deliberations. Having been elected Speaker, he stated that he believed it would be the wish of members that they should open their meeting with some sort of prayer and he requested the sergeant-at-arms to go outside and bring in the first clergyman he could find. Lloyd soon made his appearance, and said a prayer. The House afterwards debated at length the manner of saying prayers and eventually referred it to a committee of two to recommend a procedure (Clifford and Weld being the committee). They recommended that the Speaker should read prayers at the opening of each sitting of Parliament, a course that has been followed to the present day.

In 1858 Clifford was knighted. He paid a visit to England in 1860 and, having decided to remain there, resigned his seat in Parliament and the Speakership. In England he was a director of several financial companies. On 16 Jul 1887 Clifford was created a baronet (of Flaxbourne). His death occurred on 27 Feb 1893.

Wellington P.C. Proc. and Gaz.; N.Z. Gaz.;

N.Z.P.D.; Burke; Acland; Bidwill; D.N.B.; Ward (P); Lovat; Rusden; Gisborne; Godley, Letters; Wellington Independent, 7 Jul 1847; Taranaki Herald, 3 Mar 1893.

Reference: Volume 1, page 98

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