SIR JOHN HALL, K.C.M.G.

NZ Truth, Issue 108, 13 July 1907, Page 6

SIR JOHN HALL, K.C.M.G.

MAOteILAND STATESMAN,

De&d at 83 Years.

Sir John filall, who died recentiyat Hororata, \Canterbury, New Zear land, was a prfominent figure m Maoriland politics fo* over half a century. He was a descendant of the fine old Lincolnshire famKly o f Hall, and was born December 18\ 1824, at Hull, m Yorkshire, and \sas educated upon the Continent. He\ was the third son of George Hall, Es\q., of Elloughton, near Hull, and Grafce, a daughter of Thomas Williamson! Esq., of Kemp-ton-upon-Hull. From the year 1840 until 1843, John HalKwas : in a merchant's office*, and subsequently became private secretary to the. permanent head of the \General Post Office m London.. \ ** \ * Being of a somewhat (^elicate constitution, it was decided that he should try the climate of pew Zealand, and m 1852 he arrivfed at Lyttelton, and settled down aat a sheep farmer at Canterbury. BeiWe long he took to public life, anal m the year following his arrival afc Venterbury, entered the Provincial Council, and held his seat until 1876. I # • *■ T In 1855 he was Provincial Secretary, and m 1864 Secretary for IPublic Works. He was Resident Magistrate for Christchurch and Lyttelton, from 1856 to 1863, and was elected a member of the House of Representatives m 1855; and held office as Qolonial Secretary m the Fox Ministtry from May 20 to June 2. 1856, jujst the uuluclcy 13 days. He went tip England m 1861, and married Rosa Ann, daughter of William DrydeiiA Esq., of Kempton-upon-Hull. Returning to New Zealand m 1862, he was nominated to the Legislative Council, but resigned the seat m 1866. and was elected to the House of Representatives for Heathcote, and took' office m the Stafford Ministry as a member of the Executive Council 1866-69, holding the office of Post-master-General and Electric Telegraph Commissioner.; * • * In 1867 he attended the Interncolonial Conference at Melbourne on Ocean Postal Communication. In .1872 he was once again called to the Legislative Council, and was a member of the Government contolled by Fox and Julius Voe:el. After the defeat of the Stafford Government, John Hall was Colonial Secretary m the Cabinet of Mr Waterhouse ' for some-thing under five months. Subsequently Mr Hall was a member of tl-.o T'yecutive m Mr Atkinson's first Ministry for just 13 days, the unlucky number twice m a lifetime. * • a In 1879, Sir George Grey was defeated on "an amendment proposed' by Sj,r William .Fox, and the old Parliamentary hand appealed to the country. Mr Hall gave up his seat m the Legislative Council, and was elected to the Lower House for Selwyn. ■ *' * * Wlien Parliament met m October,' 1879, the Government of Sir George Grey was defeatDonsy"^£w J o''vdtes; atfa Mr Hall— as he then was— was called upon to form a Government, which lie succeeded m doing on October 8. He hold office as Premier until April, 1882, when ill-hejx'ltli compelled his retirement, and he was succeeded by SK Frederick Whittaker. During Sir J<yhn Hall's term of office as Premier many popular measures were passed, into law. The Triennial Parliaments Bill became law, likewise the Maori Prisoners' Detention* Bill, a measure of expediency which was intended to meet the Te "Whiti difficulty. Subsequently Sir John Hall's' Government despatched troops to Parihakg, and arrested Te Whiti. • • w Sir John Hall filled numerous local offices, was chairman of the Westland and Selwyn County Councils and of the first Christchurch Municipal Council. As a churchman he was a prominent member of the Anglican community. Two of Sir John Hall's brothers settled m New Zealand, Sir Williamson Hall, of Christchurch, and Thomas Williamson Hall, of Timaru. Sir John Hall left six children— four sons and two daughters. —Sydney. "Truth."