THE NEW MINISTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6934, 25 October 1900, Page 3

THE NEW MINISTER.

* SAILOR, MINER AND POLTrXOIAIT, A* POPULAR LEGISLATOR. Mr C. H. Mills, vrho will join the Ministry on Monday, Vheb a rft-aJlottaent of portfolios will be made, Is one <*f tih® most prominent of oto native-born legislators. He ifes been closely identified with local provincial and Colonial politics uninterruptedly for upwards of a quartet of a century/- fiorn in Nelson in 1844, lie weftt, in 1853, to Wellington, where he was educated at a public school, a-ftd also acted afe a pupil teacher for four years. Then he Jook to a roving life, comprising seafaring, if^rming and mining. At pVesenl li 6 holds sf captain's certificate for the coastal trade. He was a member of the Provincial Council in Marlborough when the provinces were abolished in 1876, and afterwards he was a member of the Havelock School Committee, the Havelock Town Board, and the Pelorus Road Board, and was also elected' a member of the Picton Charitable Aid Board! and Mixlborough County Council. For twelva years he occupied a position 6n ■the Marlborough Education and Land Boards, and' in this connection it may be explained that in that provincial district positions are purely honorary, members not even being allowed itravelling expenses. Like the Premier, the new minister has acted as mining advocate in the Warden's Court, Ha contested' the Wahhea-Pieton 'seat for the House of Representative* in 1887 againrt Mi- Seymour, then Chalsman ftf Committees, and was defeated by a. ve^ty few vo.tes. He stood again in 1890, against Mr HufsthoTise, for tie same seat, amid vrsfi returned by over 200- votes. In 1893 Mr , Mills defeated Mr Everett by oVer 300 Votes for the altered electorate, Waimea Sounds. In 1896 he wv&ited the Wa'ir&fi seat from Mr Buick by 57 'votes, and at the last electi&n he was opposed 'by Mr W. Clifford, whom he defeated, 'by ithe overwhelmingmajority of 1376 .ytfxs. During his firfet Parliament, Mr Mills was Chalrmaji of the A to L Public Petitions Committee, and was a member of the W|iste Laods Conimiit«e. He* has been a niembfe* : .M. the Gdldfields Committee <-vfef sin' 66 his' first election, and was complimented before tne committee by the Premier for materially assisting the new legislation in 1891. For the last steven years he has been Senior Giovefnment Whip, and at the time of his p»romotion to Ministerial rank he" was serving his eighth term which constitutes a', record for the colonies or Mother Country m that reject, and speaks volumes for Mr Mills's tact and good humour. Finally, he was the first member to suggest in bhe House what is now known as the Advances to Settlers Act, and he has been a warm sxipporter of- it and all other Liberal measures. [Per Pit Ess Association.] Wellington, Get 26. It is understood that Mr Mills will tnke the portfolio of Justice, and possibly also ihat of Labour.