Richard Packer (politician)
Encyclopedia
Richard Packer was a New Zealand
politician and Member of Parliament
from 1856–1859 representing the Town of Christchurch
electorate. He was also a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council
, including its treasurer.
near Bath in the county of Somerset, England
, when he decided to emigrate to New Zealand. The family arrived in Lyttelton
on 31 May 1857 on the ship Travancore. He took up employment as church steward.
and Thomas Cass
. For a time, he was Provincial Treasurer and Provincial Secretary.
Henry Sewell
vacated his seat for the Town of Christchurch electorate on 21 October 1856 to commence overseas travel. Packer was elected on 18 November in the 1856 Town of Christchurch by-election to fill this vacancy.
In December 1859, Packer resigned his seat at parliament. The 18 January 1860 by-election was won by Sewell, who had returned from overseas.
. He built a residence and called it Somerfield, based on his birth county Somerset. His son, Henry William Packer (1831–1890), increased the family’s land holding to 132 acre (0.53418552 km²). Somerfield has since been adopted for the name of the suburb in that part of Christchurch.
Packer was active in the Anglo-Catholic
movement in the Anglican church. He was on the building committee for the Saint Michael and All Angels Church
, which these days forms part of the St Michael's Church School
in the Christchurch Central City
. His name is written on parchment
stored in a glass cylinder underneath the cornerstone in the foundation.
Packer died in Christchurch on 27 July 1872. Packer's wife Hannah died on 7 December 1879 in the Christchurch suburb of Somerfield, aged 85.
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...
politician and Member of Parliament
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....
from 1856–1859 representing the Town of Christchurch
Christchurch (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch was a parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand. It existed three times. Originally it was the Town of Christchurch from 1853 to 1860. From the 1860–61 election to the 1871 election, it existed as City of Christchurch. It then existed from the 1875–76 election until the...
electorate. He was also a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council
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...
, including its treasurer.
Early life
Packer lived in ClavertonClaverton, Somerset
Claverton is a small village and civil parish about east of Bath at the southern end of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in Somerset, England...
near Bath in the county of Somerset, 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...
, when he decided to emigrate to New Zealand. The family 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 31 May 1857 on the ship Travancore. He took up employment as church steward.
Political career
Packer was elected to the first Canterbury Provincial Council in 1853, together with Samuel BealeySamuel 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...
and Thomas Cass
Thomas Cass
Colonel Thomas Cass founded and was commander of the 9th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, which saw extensive service in the American Civil War. Cass was wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill and died shortly after from his wounds in Boston, Massachusetts...
. For a time, he was Provincial Treasurer and Provincial Secretary.
Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell
Henry Sewell was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician. He was a notable campaigner for New Zealand self-government, and is generally regarded as having been the country's first Premier, having led the Sewell Ministry in 1856.-Early life:Sewell was born on 7 September 1807 in the town of...
vacated his seat for the Town of Christchurch electorate on 21 October 1856 to commence overseas travel. Packer was elected on 18 November in the 1856 Town of Christchurch by-election to fill this vacancy.
In December 1859, Packer resigned his seat at parliament. The 18 January 1860 by-election was won by Sewell, who had returned from overseas.
Later life
Packer owned 42 acres (169,968.1 m²) of land at the southern end of Colombo StreetColombo Street
Colombo Street is a main road of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It runs south-north through the centre of Christchurch with a break at Cathedral Square. As with many other central Christchurch streets, it is named for a colonial Anglican bishopric, Colombo, in what at the time was known as...
. He built a residence and called it Somerfield, based on his birth county Somerset. His son, Henry William Packer (1831–1890), increased the family’s land holding to 132 acre (0.53418552 km²). Somerfield has since been adopted for the name of the suburb in that part of Christchurch.
Packer was active in the Anglo-Catholic
Anglo-Catholicism
The terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
movement in the Anglican church. He was on the building committee for the Saint Michael and All Angels Church
Church of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is an Anglican church in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church building at 84 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, is registered as Category I by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Its freestanding belfry is registered separately.-History:The structure stands on...
, which these days forms part of the St Michael's Church School
St Michael's Church School
St Michael's is a co-educational Anglican primary and intermediate day school situated in the city centre of Christchurch, New Zealand. The school provides an education for year zero to year eight. It is associated with the St Michael and All Angels church....
in the Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
. His name is written on parchment
Parchment
Parchment is a thin material made from calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, often split. Its most common use was as a material for writing on, for documents, notes, or the pages of a book, codex or manuscript. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is limed but not tanned; therefore, it is very...
stored in a glass cylinder underneath the cornerstone in the foundation.
Packer died in Christchurch on 27 July 1872. Packer's wife Hannah died on 7 December 1879 in the Christchurch suburb of Somerfield, aged 85.