CARTER, THOMAS (1827-1900). The third Superintendent of Marlborough was born at Winterton, Lincolnshire, educated there, and left as a young man for the Californian diggings, whence he moved to those of Australia and finally, in 1855, landed in Nelson with his two brothers.

In New Zealand Carter devoted himself to pastoral pursuits and acquired wide landed interests in Marlborough, including such runs as Stronvar, Wantwood, Hillersden, the Wither, Glenfield, Te Arowhenua, Richmond Dale, the Clarence and Burleigh. He paid some attention to flax and erected a mill at Hillersden. In 1886 Carter visited England and thereafter spent 10 years visiting Australian and New Zealand cities before settling at Burleigh, near Blenheim. In public life he was shrewd and reliable, and his services were of great value in the troubled politics of the province. In 1862 he became member of the Provincial Council for Wairau Valley, which he represented continuously until the abolition. Eight months after his entry into politics he was elected Superintendent of the province, administering that office until July 1864 when the demands of his business required his time. In 1867 and 1870 he was a member of the executive. Carter was for some years chairman of the Marlborough county council, a member of the board of education, the Wairau road board and the Land and Railway League and was president of the A. and P. Association. He took a prominent part in establishing the Marlborough High School, for which he gave the site and endowed a scholarship. Carter died on 27 Feb 1900.

Cycl. N.Z., vi; Buick, Marlborough.

Reference: Volume 1, page 89

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