Charles Rooking Carter
Encyclopedia
Charles Rooking Carter was an New Zealand
contractor, politician
, and philanthropist
from England
.
, the son of a builder, John Carter. Carter lived in London
from the age of 21 and through adult education classes at the Westminster Institution, broadened his knowledge and outlook. His studies led him to advocate emigration
and, in particular, emigration to New Zealand, as one means of relieving distress. Following his marriage to Jane Robieson in 1850, he left for New Zealand with his wife. In Wellington
he quickly made a position for himself as a resourceful and enterprising contractor, among the works which he completed being harbour reclamation, seawall
s, and the Wellington Provincial Buildings (1857).
In 1853 he was elected to the committee of the Wairarapa
Small Farms Association, an organisation responsible for the settlement of Greytown
and Masterton
. In 1867 his suggestion that the unsold lands should be used for educational purposes within the district led directly to the establishment of the Greytown and Masterton land trusts. Carter represented the Wairarapa in the Wellington Provincial Council
from 1857 to 1864, and in the General Assembly (for Wairarapa
) from 1859 to 1865. The settlement was named in his honour 'Carterville', these days called (Carterton
).
Carter's business success permitted his early return to England in 1863 for a four-year interval and again for most of the latter part of his life. Between 1857 and 1863, by a series of purchases of small holdings, he had formed the East Taratahi or Parkvale estates. While overseas he kept in touch with Carterton, and his direct assistance to the borough library made it, by the mid 1880s, probably the best in the country outside the main centres.
Carter died at Wellington on 22 July 1896. He bequested a significant book and pamphlet collection to The New Zealand Institute
, and the residue of his estate went towards the erection of an astronomical observatory for Wellington – the Carter Observatory
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
contractor, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Carter was born in Kendal, WestmorlandKendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
, the son of a builder, John Carter. Carter lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from the age of 21 and through adult education classes at the Westminster Institution, broadened his knowledge and outlook. His studies led him to advocate emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
and, in particular, emigration to New Zealand, as one means of relieving distress. Following his marriage to Jane Robieson in 1850, he left for New Zealand with his wife. In Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
he quickly made a position for himself as a resourceful and enterprising contractor, among the works which he completed being harbour reclamation, seawall
Seawall
A seawall is a form of coastal defence constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the action of tides and waves...
s, and the Wellington Provincial Buildings (1857).
In 1853 he was elected to the committee of the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
Small Farms Association, an organisation responsible for the settlement of Greytown
Greytown, New Zealand
Greytown or Te Hupenui, population 2,001 , is a town in the Wellington region of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairarapa, in the lower North Island...
and Masterton
Masterton
Masterton is a large town and local government district in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges...
. In 1867 his suggestion that the unsold lands should be used for educational purposes within the district led directly to the establishment of the Greytown and Masterton land trusts. Carter represented the Wairarapa in the Wellington Provincial Council
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
from 1857 to 1864, and in the General Assembly (for Wairarapa
Wairarapa (New Zealand electorate)
Wairarapa is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. It was first created in 1859 and existed until 1881. It was recreated in 1887 and has since existed continuously...
) from 1859 to 1865. The settlement was named in his honour 'Carterville', these days called (Carterton
Carterton, New Zealand
Carterton is a small town in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand's North Island. It is located southwest of Masterton and northeast of Wellington...
).
Carter's business success permitted his early return to England in 1863 for a four-year interval and again for most of the latter part of his life. Between 1857 and 1863, by a series of purchases of small holdings, he had formed the East Taratahi or Parkvale estates. While overseas he kept in touch with Carterton, and his direct assistance to the borough library made it, by the mid 1880s, probably the best in the country outside the main centres.
Carter died at Wellington on 22 July 1896. He bequested a significant book and pamphlet collection to The New Zealand Institute
The New Zealand Institute
The New Zealand Institute is a privately funded think tank based in Auckland, New Zealand.It was set up in July 2004 and is "committed to generating ideas, debate, and solutions that contribute to building a better and more prosperous New Zealand for all New Zealanders"...
, and the residue of his estate went towards the erection of an astronomical observatory for Wellington – the Carter Observatory
Carter Observatory
The Carter Observatory stands at the top of the Botanic Gardens in Wellington, New Zealand. It re-opened in March 2010 following a NZ$5 million refurbishment, with a new exhibition and digital planetarium celebrating the culture, heritage and science of the Southern Skies.- History :The name...
.
Publications
Sources
- Life and Recollections of a New Zealand Colonist, Carter, C. R., et al. (3 vols., 1866–75)
- A History of Carterton, Bagnall, A. G. (1957).