Josiah Firth
Encyclopedia
Josiah Clifton Firth was a New Zealand farmer, businessman and politician who had a brief brush with fame as the messenger between Te Kooti
and the New Zealand Government during Te Kooti's War
.
, England
, he moved to New Zealand
in the early 1850s and settled in Auckland where he began making bricks and also took a one third interest in a flour mill. In 1859 he made his first visit to Matamata
where he met and became friendly with Wiremu Tamehana, the King Maker.
Firth briefly entered Parliament for the Auckland West
electorate. He was elected in 1861, but resigned on 30 April 1862.
In 1865 in the aftermath of the Invasion of the Waikato
, Firth was able to lease from Tamehana a large area of land around Mata Mata for a rental of up to five hundred pounds a year. Two years later he bought outright some of the land covered by the lease and this became the basis of his estate at Matamata. Meanwhile his businesses in Auckland were prospering and he was able to construct a very fine house on the eastern side of Mount Eden
.
Early in 1870 Josiah, or Hohaia as he was known to the Māori, was contacted by Te Kooti during his flight from Te Porere through the King Country and back to the Ureweras. Te Kooti wanted Hohaia to negotiate on his behalf with the New Zealand Government.
But Te Kooti had aroused too much fear and hatred for his offer to be accepted, and it was rejected out of hand. There was also considerable official annoyance with Josiah Firth. The Military and Politicians felt that he was abusing his position as a wealthy settler to interfere with national politics, they weren't going to let an amateur make peace and spoil their game. This was Firth's only appearance on the national scene.
In 1873 Firth began a seven year project to clear the Waihou River of snags and obstacles to navigation thus opening the upper reaches of the Thames Estuary to shipping.
New Zealand agriculture went through a serious depression during the 1880s, one which hit Firth hard, and in 1889 he was declared bankrupt. Later he began to develop a trade in pumice
based on its properties of insulation and fire resistance, travelling to the United States
and England. However he died suddenly on 11 December 1897 just as the venture was becoming successful.
Te Kooti
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader, the founder of the Ringatu religion and guerrilla.While fighting alongside government forces against the Hauhau in 1865, he was accused of spying. Exiled to the Chatham Islands without trial along with captured Hauhau, he experienced visions and...
and the New Zealand Government during Te Kooti's War
Te Kooti's War
Te Kooti's War was one of the New Zealand Wars, the series of conflicts fought between 1845 and 1872 between the Māori and the colonizing European settlers, often referred to as Pākehā. This particular conflict covered most of the East Cape region and the centre of the North Island of New Zealand...
.
Biography
Born in Clifton, West YorkshireClifton, West Yorkshire
Clifton is a small village, near Brighouse, in the Metropolitan borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England.-Governance:Clifton Civil Parish merged with the neighbouring Borough of Brighouse in 1937...
, 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...
, he moved to New Zealand
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...
in the early 1850s and settled in Auckland where he began making bricks and also took a one third interest in a flour mill. In 1859 he made his first visit to Matamata
Matamata
Matamata is a rural Waikato town in New Zealand with a population of around 12,000 . It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred horse breeding and training pursuits...
where he met and became friendly with Wiremu Tamehana, the King Maker.
Firth briefly entered Parliament for the Auckland West
Auckland West
The former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate on the western outskirts of Auckland, was known as West Auckland from 1984 to 1993. The earlier electorates were known as City of Auckland West from 1861 to 1890, and then Auckland West from 1905 to 1946.-History:The "City of Auckland West" electorate...
electorate. He was elected in 1861, but resigned on 30 April 1862.
In 1865 in the aftermath of the Invasion of the Waikato
Invasion of the Waikato
The Invasion of Waikato or Kingitanga Suppression Movement was a campaign during the middle stages of the New Zealand Wars, fought in the North Island of New Zealand from July 1863 to April 1864 between the military forces of the Colonial Government and a federation of Māori tribes known as the...
, Firth was able to lease from Tamehana a large area of land around Mata Mata for a rental of up to five hundred pounds a year. Two years later he bought outright some of the land covered by the lease and this became the basis of his estate at Matamata. Meanwhile his businesses in Auckland were prospering and he was able to construct a very fine house on the eastern side of Mount Eden
Mount Eden
Mount Eden is the name of a cinder cone and surrounding suburb in Auckland City, New Zealand, situated five kilometres south of the city centre. The mountain is the highest natural point in the whole of Auckland...
.
Early in 1870 Josiah, or Hohaia as he was known to the Māori, was contacted by Te Kooti during his flight from Te Porere through the King Country and back to the Ureweras. Te Kooti wanted Hohaia to negotiate on his behalf with the New Zealand Government.
If they let me alone I will live quietly; if not I will fight.
But Te Kooti had aroused too much fear and hatred for his offer to be accepted, and it was rejected out of hand. There was also considerable official annoyance with Josiah Firth. The Military and Politicians felt that he was abusing his position as a wealthy settler to interfere with national politics, they weren't going to let an amateur make peace and spoil their game. This was Firth's only appearance on the national scene.
In 1873 Firth began a seven year project to clear the Waihou River of snags and obstacles to navigation thus opening the upper reaches of the Thames Estuary to shipping.
New Zealand agriculture went through a serious depression during the 1880s, one which hit Firth hard, and in 1889 he was declared bankrupt. Later he began to develop a trade in pumice
Pumice
Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified frothy lava typically created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. It can be formed when lava and water are mixed. This unusual formation is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid...
based on its properties of insulation and fire resistance, travelling to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and England. However he died suddenly on 11 December 1897 just as the venture was becoming successful.