Edward Cephas John Stevens
Encyclopedia
Edward Cephas John Stevens MLC (18 October 1837 – 6 June 1915) was a New Zealand politician in provincial government
in Canterbury, and a member of both the lower
and upper
houses of parliament. A businessman, he controlled the Christchurch Press
for many decades. He was instrumental in introducing cricket
to Canterbury and one of his dealings as a land and estate agent
resulted in the creation of Lancaster Park, currently known as AMI Stadium.
in the county of Oxfordshire
, England. He was the youngest son of Reverend William Everest Stevens (the local rector), and his wife, Mary James. He was educated at Marlborough College
and at the Royal Agricultural College
in Cirencester
.
At age 21, Stevens emigrated to New Zealand. Among the passengers were the surveyor John Henry Whitcombe (known by his middle name Henry) with his wife, Maria Whitcombe (née North), and their family. Several sources say that they arrived in Lyttelton
on 20 September 1858 on the Zealandia. However, the Whitcombes and Stevens are not included in the passenger list of the September 1858 arrival.
William Guise Brittan established notable properties. In 1862, Stevens bought Brittan's second home 'Englefield', a 50 acres (202,343 m²) tract on Rural Section 26 situated where FitzGerald Avenue meets the Avon River
. The house, which still stands, had a commanding view of the annual opening of the boating regattas.
Henry Whitcombe, after whom Whitcombe Pass is named, drowned in 1863 in the Taramakau River
on one of his many West Coast exploration trips. Stevens was put in charge of the fund which allowed the Whitcombe boys to attend Christ’s College
. On 20 May 1869, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Upper Riccarton
, Stevens married Maria Whitcombe. They had two sons, one of whom died in infancy. One of Maria's sons was Frederic Whitcombe
.
for some two years, Stevens returned to Christchurch. In 1861, he set himself up as a land agent, and represented absentee landholders. In April 1862, he joined forces with Richard J. S. Harman to set up Harman and Stevens, acting as land agents and financiers. Harman put Stevens in contact with James FitzGerald
, the editor of The Press. FitzGerald was gifted as an editor, but lacked financial skills. Stevens financed FitzGerald beginning in 1863, and took control from 1868 for the rest of his life. FitzGerald once described Stevens as a "thorough Jew".
visits in 1863 and 1867. He played in all of Canterbury's representative games until 1883. Stevens was a member of the New Zealand Cricket Council from its inception, and was a president of the Canterbury Cricket Association.
In 1882, Stevens and Arthur Morton Ollivier (a son of John Ollivier
) initiated the purchase of a parcel of land which became Lancaster Park, currently known as AMI Stadium. For Stevens, this was a transaction through his company on behalf of an absentee owner, Benjamin Lancaster.
Stevens stood for and was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1863. He served in Tancred's provincial executive until 1866 during Samuel Bealey
's superintendency. He left provincial politics on the election of William Sefton Moorhouse
as superintendent in that year.
Instead, he stood in the newly created Selwyn electorate
for a seat in the House of Representatives in early 1866. As there were no other candidates, he was returned uncontested to the 4th New Zealand Parliament
. His ability, especially in financial matters, was soon recognised.
Stevens contested Selwyn at the following 1871 general election, advocating free trade and opposing a grain duty. He lost by one vote to William Reeves
who took the seat 102 votes to 101.
At the 21 December 1875 election, he stood in the City of Christchurch electorate for the 6th New Zealand Parliament
. He was returned at the head of the poll in this three-member electorate; the other members returned for this seat were Edward Richardson
and Moorhouse.
Stevens again stood for the City of Christchurch seat in the 10 September 1879 election
. He came second-equal and was thus returned, together with George Grey
and Samuel Paull Andrews
, to the 7th New Zealand Parliament
.
At the end of the 7th session of the House of Representatives, he was offered a seat in the Legislative Council, being appointed on 7 March 1882. He served in the upper house until his death. Stevens was a minister without portfolio in Harry Atkinson
's fourth term as premier, called the Scarecrow Ministry. The ministers were sworn in on 11 October 1887 and Stevens remained a minister until the end of Atkinson's term on 24 January 1891.
In the 4th Parliament, Stevens campaigned for the abolition of provincial governments, and for provincial loans to be consolidated with those of the colony. He also argued for revived colonisation. The decisions were deferred to the 5th Parliament, and while Stevens was not a member during that term, William Fox
and Julius Vogel
advanced many of his causes. In 1870, Vogel put forward the Public Trust Bill
and acknowledged Stevens as the author of this initiative. Under this bill, the state becomes responsible for the distribution of estates and properties under will. A plaque acknowledging his work is on display in the Public Trust head office. Throughout his parliamentary membership, Stevens advocated for free trade.
Upon Stevens' death, he was succeeded in the Legislative Council by John Andrew Millar
.
Sir Charles Bowen
, Speaker of the Legislative Council, said about Stevens:
George Whitcombe, Maria's son from her first marriage, died in 1919. Maria Stevens died on 25 October 1921 aged 89. Both are buried at the Avonside Cemetery
.
Stevens Street, running alongside Lancaster Park, is named for Edward Stevens in recognition of his contributions to cricket. Cephas Close in Sockburn was glebe
land belonging to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, which was developed in 1985.
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. On the east coast the province was bounded by the Hurunui River in the north and the Waitaki River in the south...
in Canterbury, and a member of both the lower
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
and upper
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
houses of parliament. A businessman, he controlled the Christchurch Press
The Press
The Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is owned by Fairfax Media.- History :The Press was first published on 25 May 1861 from a small cottage in Montreal Street, making it the oldest surviving newspaper in the South Island of New Zealand. The first...
for many decades. He was instrumental in introducing cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
to Canterbury and one of his dealings as a land and estate agent
Estate agent
An estate agent is a person or business that arranges the selling, renting or management of properties, and other buildings, in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An agent that specialises in renting is often called a letting or management agent...
resulted in the creation of Lancaster Park, currently known as AMI Stadium.
Early life
Stevens was born at SalfordSalford, Oxfordshire
Salford is a village and civil parish about west of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary was largely Norman until the Gothic Revival architect G.E. Street almost completely rebuilt it in 1854. The font and parts of two doorways are among the few Norman...
in the county of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England. He was the youngest son of Reverend William Everest Stevens (the local rector), and his wife, Mary James. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and at the Royal Agricultural College
Royal Agricultural College
The Royal Agricultural College is a higher education institution located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. Established in 1845, it was the first agricultural college in the English speaking world...
in Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
.
At age 21, Stevens emigrated to New Zealand. Among the passengers were the surveyor John Henry Whitcombe (known by his middle name Henry) with his wife, Maria Whitcombe (née North), and their family. Several sources say that they arrived in Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
on 20 September 1858 on the Zealandia. However, the Whitcombes and Stevens are not included in the passenger list of the September 1858 arrival.
William Guise Brittan established notable properties. In 1862, Stevens bought Brittan's second home 'Englefield', a 50 acres (202,343 m²) tract on Rural Section 26 situated where FitzGerald Avenue meets the Avon River
Avon River, Canterbury
The Avon River flows through the centre of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and out to an estuary, which it shares with the Heathcote River, the Avon Heathcote Estuary.- Geology :...
. The house, which still stands, had a commanding view of the annual opening of the boating regattas.
Henry Whitcombe, after whom Whitcombe Pass is named, drowned in 1863 in the Taramakau River
Taramakau River
The Taramakau River is in the northwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It rises in the Southern Alps, 80 kilometres due east of Hokitika, and immediately below the saddle of the Harper's Pass, and runs westward for 75 kilometres into the Tasman Sea 15 kilometres south of Greymouth.Several...
on one of his many West Coast exploration trips. Stevens was put in charge of the fund which allowed the Whitcombe boys to attend Christ’s College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
. On 20 May 1869, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Upper Riccarton
Upper Riccarton
Upper Riccarton is a suburb of Christchurch. It is due west of Riccarton.Upper Riccarton is made up of residential, retail and education areas. It includes a major intersection known as "Church Corner"...
, Stevens married Maria Whitcombe. They had two sons, one of whom died in infancy. One of Maria's sons was Frederic Whitcombe
Frederic Whitcombe
Frederic Whitcombe was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council from 1898 to 1900....
.
Professional life
After having lived on Banks PeninsulaBanks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
for some two years, Stevens returned to Christchurch. In 1861, he set himself up as a land agent, and represented absentee landholders. In April 1862, he joined forces with Richard J. S. Harman to set up Harman and Stevens, acting as land agents and financiers. Harman put Stevens in contact with James FitzGerald
James FitzGerald
James Edward FitzGerald was a New Zealand politician. According to some historians, he should be considered the country's first Prime Minister, although a more conventional view is that neither he nor his successor should properly be given that title. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand...
, the editor of The Press. FitzGerald was gifted as an editor, but lacked financial skills. Stevens financed FitzGerald beginning in 1863, and took control from 1868 for the rest of his life. FitzGerald once described Stevens as a "thorough Jew".
Cricket
After Brittan, Stevens is considered the second-ranked father of cricket in Canterbury. Together with J. A. Bennett, Stevens arranged and financed the All-England ElevenAll-England Eleven
In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team...
visits in 1863 and 1867. He played in all of Canterbury's representative games until 1883. Stevens was a member of the New Zealand Cricket Council from its inception, and was a president of the Canterbury Cricket Association.
In 1882, Stevens and Arthur Morton Ollivier (a son of John Ollivier
John Ollivier
John Ollivier was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Christchurch, New Zealand.He represented the Christchurch Country electorate from 1856 to 1860 when he resigned.-References:...
) initiated the purchase of a parcel of land which became Lancaster Park, currently known as AMI Stadium. For Stevens, this was a transaction through his company on behalf of an absentee owner, Benjamin Lancaster.
Political career
Stevens stood for and was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1863. He served in Tancred's provincial executive until 1866 during Samuel Bealey
Samuel Bealey
Samuel Bealey was a 19th century Canterbury, New Zealand politician.He came out to Canterbury in 1851, a pastoralist with capital to invest in farming. He married Rose Ann, daughter of Archdeacon Paul in 1852. Having made money, he returned to England, in 1867 and died there...
's superintendency. He left provincial politics on the election of William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:...
as superintendent in that year.
Instead, he stood in the newly created Selwyn electorate
Selwyn (New Zealand electorate)
Selwyn is the name of three seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, based around towns on the outskirts of Christchurch city. In an historical sense, the name refers to an electorate that existed between 1866 and 1919...
for a seat in the House of Representatives in early 1866. As there were no other candidates, he was returned uncontested to the 4th New Zealand Parliament
4th New Zealand Parliament
The 4th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 61 electorates between 12 February and 6 April 1866 to elect 70 MPs. Parliament was prorogued in late 1870. During the term of this Parliament, two Ministries were in power...
. His ability, especially in financial matters, was soon recognised.
Stevens contested Selwyn at the following 1871 general election, advocating free trade and opposing a grain duty. He lost by one vote to William Reeves
William Reeves (journalist)
William Reeves was a New Zealand 19th century journalist and politician. He was the father of the author and politician the Hon. William Pember Reeves....
who took the seat 102 votes to 101.
At the 21 December 1875 election, he stood in the City of Christchurch electorate for the 6th New Zealand Parliament
6th New Zealand Parliament
The 6th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 69 European electorates between 20 December 1875 and 29 January 1876. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 4 and 15 January 1876. A total of 88 MPs were elected....
. He was returned at the head of the poll in this three-member electorate; the other members returned for this seat were Edward Richardson
Edward Richardson
The Hon Edward Richardson, CMG, MLC was a civil and mechanical engineer, and Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in England, he emigrated to Australia and continued there as a railway engineer...
and Moorhouse.
Stevens again stood for the City of Christchurch seat in the 10 September 1879 election
New Zealand general election, 1879
The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between 28 August and 15 September to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 1 and 8 September. A total number of 82,271 voters turned out to vote.The election came about when George...
. He came second-equal and was thus returned, together with George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
and Samuel Paull Andrews
Samuel Paull Andrews
Samuel Paull Andrews was a 19th century politician in Christchurch, New Zealand. Originally from the Isle of Wight, he was the first working class man to become a Member of Parliament in his chosen country.-Early life:...
, to the 7th New Zealand Parliament
7th New Zealand Parliament
The 7th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 69 European electorates between 28 August and 15 September 1879. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 1 and 8 September of that year. A total of 88 MPs were elected....
.
At the end of the 7th session of the House of Representatives, he was offered a seat in the Legislative Council, being appointed on 7 March 1882. He served in the upper house until his death. Stevens was a minister without portfolio in Harry Atkinson
Harry Atkinson
Henry Albert "Harry" Atkinson served as the tenth Premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Colonial Treasurer for a total of ten years...
's fourth term as premier, called the Scarecrow Ministry. The ministers were sworn in on 11 October 1887 and Stevens remained a minister until the end of Atkinson's term on 24 January 1891.
In the 4th Parliament, Stevens campaigned for the abolition of provincial governments, and for provincial loans to be consolidated with those of the colony. He also argued for revived colonisation. The decisions were deferred to the 5th Parliament, and while Stevens was not a member during that term, William Fox
William Fox (New Zealand)
Sir William Fox, KCMG was the second Premier of New Zealand on four occasions in the 19th century, while New Zealand was still a colony. He was known for his eventual support of Māori land rights, his contributions to the education system , and his work to increase New Zealand's autonomy from...
and Julius Vogel
Julius Vogel
Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...
advanced many of his causes. In 1870, Vogel put forward the Public Trust Bill
Public Trustee (New Zealand)
The Public Trustee of New Zealand was a government appointed corporation sole providing Trustee services to those unwilling to use private services, or required by the courts or legislation to use the Public Trustee...
and acknowledged Stevens as the author of this initiative. Under this bill, the state becomes responsible for the distribution of estates and properties under will. A plaque acknowledging his work is on display in the Public Trust head office. Throughout his parliamentary membership, Stevens advocated for free trade.
Upon Stevens' death, he was succeeded in the Legislative Council by John Andrew Millar
John A. Millar
John Andrew Millar was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party from Otago.Born in Jalandhar, India, he came to New Zealand in 1870...
.
Death and commemoration
Stevens died in his sleep on 6 June 1915 at his home Englefield from heart failure. He is buried at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church cemetery. His business acumen may be gauged by the £280,000 that he left, which was distributed to his wife, his son Charles, and members of the Whitcombe family.Sir Charles Bowen
Charles Christopher Bowen
Sir Charles Christopher Bowen KB. KCMG. was a 19th century New Zealand politician.-Life:Bowen was born in County Mayo, Ireland and studied law for two years at Cambridge University...
, Speaker of the Legislative Council, said about Stevens:
Although he never took the prominent part in the politics of the country that his undoubted talents warranted, he was a man whose opinion was always valued, and to whose statements the House always listened with attention. Mr. Stevens was too busy to give his whole time to politics, but his carefully considered opinion was sought very frequently.
George Whitcombe, Maria's son from her first marriage, died in 1919. Maria Stevens died on 25 October 1921 aged 89. Both are buried at the Avonside Cemetery
Holy Trinity Avonside
Holy Trinity Avonside was a heritage-listed Anglican church located in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is registered as a "Historic Place – Category I" by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust...
.
Stevens Street, running alongside Lancaster Park, is named for Edward Stevens in recognition of his contributions to cricket. Cephas Close in Sockburn was glebe
Glebe
Glebe Glebe Glebe (also known as Church furlong or parson's closes is an area of land within a manor and parish used to support a parish priest.-Medieval origins:...
land belonging to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, which was developed in 1985.