MAKERS OF CANTERBURY.

PIONEERS OF THE PROVINCE.

(specially wjtJTifiji iroa 'm press.*

[By Annalist.]

SV. JOHN OLLIVIEH, 1812-1803. In his interesting book of "Reminiscences" Alfred Cox remarkß: "My p on is sputtering with impatience at not be'ing allowed to write at onco tho name of John Ollivier, a man deserving of all honour for his many public services."

John Ollivier was a well-loved figure oft tho Canterbury of the 'fifties, and later decades. Born in tho Isle of Wight in 1812, ho was tho soh of Claude Nicholas Ollivier. Ho received his education for fhe most part at tho college at Abbeville, in the North of France, and then Went into the publishing business in London, where he spent twenty years. He used to look back with prido at the fact that his firm published tho first edition of Kinglake's "Eothcn" in 1844. While in London, Ollivier lived first in Hammersmith, and after his tnarriago in St. James's, Piccadilly. Ho was married in St. James's Church in 1837, to Elizabeth Morton, of Lincoln*shire, and in the years before they left l'or New Zealand the couple had a family of eight sons and one daughter. While living in London Ollivier took a keen and active interest in social and philanthropic movements and in politics so fir as they seemod to boar upon his other interests. Great questions troubled the minds of thinking Englishmen in those days, especially in the lean 'forties, and Ollivier found himself a strong supporter of tho Corn Law League, of which the Duke of Buckingham and the Duke of IliekmOnd were in turn president. Keenly interested in the Welfare of the poor, Ollivier appearß to hqVe been a member of the BOard of Guardians in the parish of St. James; at any rate he was vestry clerk and clerk to the guardians. Ho stood throughout for Conservative principles; but tho friendships he made during these years were non-Party. When ho decided to leave for New 2oaland he was entertained at a public dinner at which twothirds of the diners "were his political opponents, and was presented with a cheque for 400 sovereigns. The great economic struggle being over, Ollivier turned his thoughts abroad, and with his wife and family of nine sailed for New Zealand in the ship John Taylor on July 10th, 1853, tho Beswicks and tho Wakefields being amongst tho passengers. They arrived in Canterbury on October 17 th, and Ollivier lost no time in obtaining a leasehold property at Upper Riccarton for tho purpose of farming. It was just across tho road from the site in later years of the Mount Magdala Home. There the family spent tho next sis or seven years, and there the last child, Anne, who still survives, w&s born.

It was riot likely that Ollivier's mind could refrain from activities which had engaged it bo fully in the Old Country, and lie soon found himself involved iu the public life of the settlement. In 1800, accordingly, ho gave up the farm and removed to ChrlstchUrCh, building a house for himself in Terry road and starting in business With hid aon Claude as auctioneers. His first entry into political life was as a member of the Provincial Council, to which he was elected in 1865 for Christchurch Country District* The following year the same constituency returned him as its member of Parliament, and he continued to represent it until the middle of 1860, when he resigned his seat< Oliivier held office in several provincial executives. Having been returned as member for HekthCote at the elections in 1857, he took office at the end Of that year as provincial secretary in the executive of which Tancred Was president. He continued under the presidency of Cass, and eventually, at the end of 1859, was himself the leader Of d Government for a few weeks. Ho was always a great admirer of MOOrhouse, and by his strenuous support in the Council helped materially in the furtherance Of the Railway and tunnel project. MoorhoUße at a later date referred to him as "the Canterbury wet nurse. w Sir John Hail remarked of him that "ho seemed always to have found something to do in the public interests of tho province." A witty aid attractive speaker, ho is said to have drawn bettor houses than professional lecturers when he appeared before tho public In this role. Years later, when his official position prevent' @4 him standing for the Council, he was ndmlhated for Scadoton, simply to enable the electors to heat him make a speech!

Having given up his seat in Parliament in iB6O, Ollivier devoted himsfelf to the movement to secure local government for the town of Ghristehuf'ch, and inaugurated in 1861 the agitation with that object. A petition duly signed by burgesses was presented to the Provincial Government, and in December Ollivier received a favourable reply. In February, 1862, the electors chose their Council, and next month the Council met ahd elected its Mayor. Christchurch Was now a self-governing borough* It was fitting that when Sir John Hall retired from the chairmanship of the Council in 1363 Ollivier

should be elected to fill Lis place for tlic next term. He retired in 1864.

Having supported Moorhouso throughout his arduous Superintendence, 01livler saw with regret the waning popularity of his chief, and took a leading part in the negotiations which followed his resignation in 1863 to secure that the new Superintendent should represent a compromise between tho FitzGerald and Moorhouse parties rather than be a representative of either. He himself nominated Bealey, who was elected unopposed. At this General Election Ollivicr was returned as one of tho members for G'hristchufcli City, which he Continued to represent until 1860. He frequently aeted as chairman of committees, and occasionally as Speaker in the absence of Charles Bowen, whose health was very unsatisfactory. In 1865, when Bowen retired and returned to England, ho was elected to tho position, which he filled with dignity and success until the dissolution of the Council in 186 C. During 1865 he was for a short period deputy-superintendent. At the dissolution Oliivier retired from politics and accepted the post of provincial auditor of toad board accounts, an important position when boards were springing up all over tho province, and being entrusted with tho expenditure of largo sums of public money. In December, 1881, ho was appointed Resident Magistrate, and for eight years thereafter ho sat oil tho Bench and as Coroner at Lyttelton, Kaiapoi, Christchurch, and Ashburton. He was also from 1884 to 1888 a member of tho Canterbury Land Board.

Unable to refrain from participation in public affairs whenever they appeared to need him, Oliivier resigned ff6m the Bench in January, 1889. Though now approaching eighty yeafs of age, ho felt so strongly that the trend of Colonial politics Was unsatisfactory, that he inade two efforts to re-enter Parliament. In January, 1889, ho contested the Lincoln seat against tho veteran Alfred Saunders, whom he twitted in one of his humorous speeches with emerging from his retirement to eauso disturbance in a quiet electorate, Oliivier was a strong advocato of protection, but that was not a plank of his platform on this occasion. Holding tho views he did on politics he declined to organise tho election or take any steps to secure his return beyond stating his views to tho electors. Saunders won by 676 to 320. A few months later the. retirement of Vogel from the representation of Christchurch North created another vacancy which Oliivier sought to fill. Opposed by E. W. Humphreys and another, ho put up a very good fight, being defeated by only 25 Votes: Humphreys 403, Oliivier 378, George IS4. ' 6

Oilivler was a man of the finest public spirit, quite disinterested and always at the servico of the public. This was recognised in October, 18S7, when the public of Christchurch, at a function at which the Prfcmier (Sir John Hall) presided, presented him with an address and a testimonial. Sir John had become possessed of a letter written to Ollivier by a high official in England on the eve of his sailing for New Zealand in 1853, in which he said: "Of all the men whom I have ever encountered, you appear to me to have stood preeminent in business talent mid business habits. Always taking the side of justice, mercy, and good order, opposing every measure of a contrary tendehcy; whilst the moderation and soundness of your views, and the honesty of purpose with which they have been invariably advocated, never failed to carry With them the sympathy and respect of their political opponents.'' Oilivler celebrated his golden wedding m 1887, His wife died in November, 1892, and he himself on July 31st, 1803, leaving a family of seven sons and one daughter. The only son who predeceased him was Claude, who died of exposure at Jackson's Bay, On the West Coast. The only son Surviving to-day is Louis, who resides in Perth, Western Australia.