MAKERS OF WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 10

MAKERS OF WELLINGTON

PIONEERS OF THE 'FORTIES XXVII. ■ JOHN HOWARD WALLACE 1816-1891. (By Condor.) It is hard in the whole gallery of Wellington pioneers to find a more generally useful citizen than John Howard Wallace. His father, John Wallace, derived from a well-known Scots family, but was settled in Liverpool when the boy was born, on 11th February, 1816. Shortly after the birth the family' removed to Birmingham, and there John Howard received his education, and, later on, his bias towards the free- new countries. He was employed as an apprentice by James Drake, bookseller and law stationer, amongst whose clients he found many anxious advocates of political reform. From these he imbibed almost unconsciously the idea of going abroad.-While with Drake Wallace travelled far and wide throughout England compiling guide-books of the railways, which were just then spreading their network over the face of the country. On this service ho made the acquaintance of S. White, representing a Birmingham and Bristol firm, and the two decided to emigrate together to New Zealand.

This resolve took shape in July, 1839 when Wallace left Drakes, and three months later the two were passengers in the Aurora for Port Nicholson, where they arrived on 22nd January, 1840. Without loss of time they entered into business in partnership on Lambton quay as general merchants. Beforo long they opened a branch establishment at Nelson, of which White took the management in 1842, having by now become a brother-in-law of Wallace by mar.rying his sister. On the death of White, James Smith married his widow,

and he in turn joined Wallace as a partner. They remained together until Smith retired from the firm to return to England,.and then Wallace took his son Bruce into partnership. They added auctioneering and commission agencies to their business, which they carried on in Hunter street for many years; in fact, until John Howard retired in 1885, only a few years before his death.

Before referring to the public life of John Howard it should be mentioned that his venerable father, John Wallace, a highly educated Scot, also emigrated to New Zealand, coming in the Amelia Thompson in 1841. He spent some years in New Plymouth and Nelson before settling down in. Wellington, where he lived in Boulcott street. He had been a Fellow of thn Society of Arts in Birmingham, was devoted to art and literature, and not without talent of his own in both. He wrote art notices for the Birmingham papers, and painted a good deal, some of his picturse of old New Zealand being well-known. A personal friend of E. G. Wakefield and :Dr. Featherston on. the Settlers' Constitutional Association, Wallace, sen., allowed himself to bo led into provincial politics, and for tho first two years (1853-55) he represented one of the city seats. He took a particular interest in education, and was on tho Education Committee. His wife died in 1855, aged 75, and ho retired from politics. Some time later he accepted a post in the Provincial Treasury, of which he was in charge until retiring on a pension. John Wallace, sen., died on 16th March,'lßSo, aged 92. In point of ago he was one of the very oldest colonists, having been born on 14th December, 1788.

The public life of John Howard Wallace commenced very early. Although only 23 yeara of age when he landed ia New Zealand, he waa a burgess on the roll of 1843, and was at tho head of the list of reserve councillors at the Town Board election in 1842. In 1844 he was treasurer of the Mechanics' Institute. Two years later ho seconded the motion of thanks to the 58th Regiment for their services at the Hutt, and proposed that a. deputation wait on Major Richmond to ask that the settlers be supplied with arms. In 1848 he married Miss S. A. Stanton, his address then being Priory Cottage, Boulcott street.

An active member of the Settlers' Constitutional Association, Wallace took a leading part in drawing up the petition, asking for Eepresentative Government. . He did not at once go into the Provincial Council, but he was active in the demand for education through the Church of England Educational Association, which put its views before the Council. As a churchman we find him representing tho laity when Bishop Selwyn consecrated St. Peter's Church in 1858. Ho was a member, of tho old Town Board of Wellington between 1863 and 1870, and of the City Council later. In 1861 he entered the Provincial Council as one of tho members for the city. He was for eight years oS and oh' Chairman of Committees, for some time chairman of the Library Committee, and he lost no opportunity in the Council of furthering the proposed railway to the Wairarapa. When in. 1867 a Bailway Committee was set up at a public meeting, Wallace was appointed secretary, and kept the movement alive until three years later thn line was provided for in tho Vogel' policy of public works. Eventually it was opened for traffic in 1878. In 1864 Wallace was elected first chairman of the Mungaroa- Board of Highway Wardens. s

Wallace's most noteworthy interest was New Zealand history. For many years he collected all the available data, and he collaborated with E. A. A . Sherrin in the compilation of the wellknown Brett's History of New Zealand, published in 1890. He also published a small manual on the same subject. He took a keen interest in commemorative celebrations, and at the jubilee celebration of the settlement in 1890 he received an illuminated,address for his work as secretary. Wallace died on 9th June, 1891, being survived by his wife, ono daughter (Mrs. S. B. Harcourt). and two sons. In 1865 Wallace loßt six members of his family; in a fever epidemic.