John Hyde Harris
Encyclopedia
John Hyde Harris was a 19th century New Zealand politician. Born in England, he came to Dunedin as a young man and practised as a lawyer, and was then a judge. He entered provincial politics and was elected as the fourth Superintendent
of the Otago Province
. He then became Mayor of Dunedin
and was called to the Legislative Council
.
in Oxfordshire, England. His parents were John Harris and Ann (née Hyde). He trained in law and came out to New Zealand in September 1850, arriving in Dunedin
on the Poictiers.
, who was to become the first Superintendent
of Otago
in 1853. Harris and Cargill had different political views, but Harris often agreed with William Cutten
, who was married to another of Cargill's daughters. Annie Cunningham died on 18 January 1881, aged 51. They had three daughters and six sons.
Harris remarried on 3 November 1881, to Kate Philomena, daughter of William Wallis Dunphy.
. In 1858, he was appointed judge at the District Court and he held that position until 1862 when the office was abolished.
Harris speculated with land. He had extensive holdings in Waihola
, Otokia (south-west of Mosgiel
), Lee Stream (inland from Outram
), and West Taieri. He lost £28,000 over a four year period and this was a major reason for his resignation in 1865 from the Superintendency.
After his political career had finished, he continued working in the legal profession. He never recovered from his financial losses and was even imprisoned for one year for his debts.
until 1859. He was a member of the executive in 1858–59. In 1862, he was elected Deputy-Superintend for Otago Province
. He was Superintendent of Otago Province from 16 April 1863 until his resignation on 23 June 1865. He claimed significant differences in opinion with his executive, as well as a need to devote more time to his private financial affairs, as reasons for his resignation.
During his Superintendency, he championed the first New Zealand Exhibition and was its chairman when it was held in Dunedin in 1865.
In 1867, he contested the Dunedin mayoralty. There were four candidates running for the second time that the mayor was elected. Harris, James Turner, Thomas Birch
and John Millar received 340, 273, 200 and 101 votes, respectively. He served for one term and was succeeded in 1868 by Thomas Birch.
He was twice called to the Legislative Council
. His first term was from 1858–64. During his second term from 1867–68, he was a member of the second Stafford Ministry (from 9 September 1867), holding the role of Solicitor-General
from 26 October 1867 until 13 May 1868.
Harris was a man of influence and standing in the community. According to Bernard Foster, if it had not been for his financial difficulties, Harris "would probably have played an even more important part in provincial and colonial politics".
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
of the Otago Province
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
. He then became Mayor of Dunedin
Mayor of Dunedin
The Mayor of Dunedin is the head of the municipal government of Dunedin, New Zealand, and presides over the Dunedin City Council. The Mayor is directly elected, using the Single Transferable Vote system in 2007....
and was called to the Legislative Council
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:...
.
Early life
Harris was born in 1826 in DeddingtonDeddington
Deddington is a civil parish in Oxfordshire about south of Banbury. In scale Deddington is a village, but it has a town centre with a market place and the local football team is called Deddington Town FC.-History:...
in Oxfordshire, England. His parents were John Harris and Ann (née Hyde). He trained in law and came out to New Zealand in September 1850, arriving in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
on the Poictiers.
Private life in New Zealand
Harris married Annie Cunningham on 3 September 1851. She was the daughter of William CargillWilliam Cargill
William Walter Cargill was the founder of the Otago settlement in New Zealand, after serving as an officer in the British Army. He was a Member of Parliament and Otago's first Superintendent.-Early life:...
, who was to become the first Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
of Otago
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
in 1853. Harris and Cargill had different political views, but Harris often agreed with William Cutten
William Cutten
William Henry Cutten was a New Zealand politician. He served in the 1st New Zealand Parliament as representative for the Dunedin Country electorate 1853-1855, but resigned before the end of his term. He later served in the 6th Parliament as a representative for Taieri 1878-1879, also resigned. He...
, who was married to another of Cargill's daughters. Annie Cunningham died on 18 January 1881, aged 51. They had three daughters and six sons.
Harris remarried on 3 November 1881, to Kate Philomena, daughter of William Wallis Dunphy.
Professional life
After his arrival in Dunedin, Harris practised as a lawyer for several years and was in partnership first with John Gillies and, in addition, since July 1857 with his son Thomas GilliesThomas Gillies
Thomas Bannatyne Gillies was a 19th century New Zealand lawyer, judge and politician.-Early life:He was born at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, Scotland, on 17 January 1828...
. In 1858, he was appointed judge at the District Court and he held that position until 1862 when the office was abolished.
Harris speculated with land. He had extensive holdings in Waihola
Waihola
The township of Waihola lies between Dunedin and Milton, New Zealand in Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. It lies close to the southeast shore of the shallow tidal lake which shares its name....
, Otokia (south-west of Mosgiel
Mosgiel
Mosgiel is an urban satellite of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand, fifteen kilometres west of the city's centre. Since the re-organisation of New Zealand local government in 1989 it has been inside the Dunedin City Council area, but was physically separate from the contiguous suburbs until...
), Lee Stream (inland from Outram
Outram
Outram may refer to:Places:*Outram, Nova Scotia, an unincorporated district in Canada*Outram, New Zealand, a small town in Otago*Outram, Singapore, a district in central Singapore*Outram Island, one of the Andaman IslandsPeople:...
), and West Taieri. He lost £28,000 over a four year period and this was a major reason for his resignation in 1865 from the Superintendency.
After his political career had finished, he continued working in the legal profession. He never recovered from his financial losses and was even imprisoned for one year for his debts.
Political career
Harris was elected onto the Provincial Council in 1853, representing Port ChalmersPort Chalmers
Port Chalmers is a suburb and the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand, with a population of 3,000. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast from Dunedin's city centre....
until 1859. He was a member of the executive in 1858–59. In 1862, he was elected Deputy-Superintend for Otago Province
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
. He was Superintendent of Otago Province from 16 April 1863 until his resignation on 23 June 1865. He claimed significant differences in opinion with his executive, as well as a need to devote more time to his private financial affairs, as reasons for his resignation.
During his Superintendency, he championed the first New Zealand Exhibition and was its chairman when it was held in Dunedin in 1865.
In 1867, he contested the Dunedin mayoralty. There were four candidates running for the second time that the mayor was elected. Harris, James Turner, Thomas Birch
Thomas Birch (New Zealand)
Thomas Birch was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.He represented the City of Dunedin electorate from 1869 to 1870 when he retired.He was the third Mayor of Dunedin.-References:...
and John Millar received 340, 273, 200 and 101 votes, respectively. He served for one term and was succeeded in 1868 by Thomas Birch.
He was twice called to the Legislative Council
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:...
. His first term was from 1858–64. During his second term from 1867–68, he was a member of the second Stafford Ministry (from 9 September 1867), holding the role of Solicitor-General
Solicitor-General of New Zealand
The Solicitor-General of New Zealand is the second law officer of state in New Zealand. The Solicitor-General is also head of the Crown Law Office, that comprises lawyers employed to represent the Attorney-General in court proceedings in New Zealand....
from 26 October 1867 until 13 May 1868.
Harris was a man of influence and standing in the community. According to Bernard Foster, if it had not been for his financial difficulties, Harris "would probably have played an even more important part in provincial and colonial politics".
Death
Harris died in Dunedin on 24 July 1886, aged 59 years. He is buried in the Northern Cemetery.External links
- Northern Cemetery pamphlet Harris' grave is marked number 2.