Samuel Paull Andrews
Encyclopedia
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.
on the Isle of Wight. He learned the trade of a plasterer. He emigrated to Victoria
in Australia
in 1854 and spent ten years there, initially gold mining.
He came to Auckland
in 1864 on a plastering contract for the Union Bank of Australia. He then worked on other plastering contracts in Nelson
and Dunedin
before settling in Christchurch.
Andrews first stood for Parliament
in the 1875 general election in the three member City of Christchurch electorate
. The working men's vote was split by Edward Jerningham Wakefield
, and Andrews came fourth, trailing Edward Stevens
, Edward Richardson
and William Sefton Moorhouse
. Moorhouse was only 40 votes ahead of Andrews.
Andrews contested the next general election in 1879
. This time, he proved successful, coming second equal with Edward Stevens, just behind George Grey
and only 23 votes ahead of Edward Richardson. He was the first working class person to be elected to Parliament in New Zealand. He represented Christchurch until the end of the term in 1881.
The City of Christchurch electorate was abolished in 1881, and Andrews stood in the Christchurch North electorate
against Henry Thomson, who gained 577 votes against 466 votes for Andrews; Thomson was thus returned.
When William White
resigned from the Sydenham electorate
in March 1886 on medical advice, Andrews had one last attempt of regaining entry to Parliament. Richard Molesworth Taylor
successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May
, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott (418), Andrews (230) and S. G. Jolly (2).
Andrews was elected onto Christchurch City Council
in 1884 and was a councillor until 1887. During his time on the council, the new civic office (these days known as Our City
was constructed. Andrews caused controversy by claiming the building was structurally unsound. The design competition for the building had been won by Samuel Hurst Seager, who was young and relatively inexperienced, and his design in Queen Anne style
was an architectural type unfamiliar to New Zealand. Benjamin Mountfort
and John Whitelaw, both architects, and Edward Dobson
, an engineer, reviewed the design and the building and found everything to be safe.
He was ambitious, energetic and athletic. He pursued different business opportunities and was involved in many organisations. He was a champion rower for several years and also distinguished himself as an administrator for the sport. He had little tolerance for laziness.
Andrews died on 18 October 1916 at Heathcote Valley
, and was buried at Linwood Cemetery
. His wife died three years later on 24 September 1919 at Sumner
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, 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...
. Originally from the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
, he was the first working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
man to become a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in his chosen country.
Early life
Andrews was born at Wootton BridgeWootton Bridge
Wootton Bridge is a village and civil parish with about 4000 residents on the western bank of Wootton Creek on the Isle of Wight in southern England....
on the Isle of Wight. He learned the trade of a plasterer. He emigrated to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1854 and spent ten years there, initially gold mining.
He came to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
in 1864 on a plastering contract for the Union Bank of Australia. He then worked on other plastering contracts in Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
and 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...
before settling in Christchurch.
Political career
Andrews first tried to get elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1867, but he narrowly missed out. He was the first working class candidate. He was elected to the 6th provincial council on 29 July 1872, narrowly defeating John Cracroft Wilson and his victory was celebrated by carrying him through the streets. He was the first working class man to be elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was re-elected in 1874, gaining two more votes than Henry Tancred, who was also elected. Andrews served until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.Andrews first stood for Parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
in the 1875 general election in the three member City of Christchurch electorate
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...
. The working men's vote was split by Edward Jerningham Wakefield
Edward Jerningham Wakefield
Edward Jerningham Wakefield was the only son of Edward Gibbon Wakefield. He was born in London, and educated in England and France....
, and Andrews came fourth, trailing Edward Stevens
Edward Cephas John Stevens
Edward Cephas John Stevens MLC 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...
, 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 William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:...
. Moorhouse was only 40 votes ahead of Andrews.
Andrews contested the next general election in 1879
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...
. This time, he proved successful, coming second equal with Edward Stevens, just behind 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 only 23 votes ahead of Edward Richardson. He was the first working class person to be elected to Parliament in New Zealand. He represented Christchurch until the end of the term in 1881.
The City of Christchurch electorate was abolished in 1881, and Andrews stood in the Christchurch North electorate
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
against Henry Thomson, who gained 577 votes against 466 votes for Andrews; Thomson was thus returned.
When William White
William White (New Zealand politician)
William White was a 19th century New Zealand Member of Parliament in the Sydenham electorate, and Mayor of Sydenham.-Early life:...
resigned from the Sydenham electorate
Sydenham (New Zealand electorate)
Sydenham was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1946 to 1996. It had notable politicians representing it like Mabel Howard , Norman Kirk and Jim Anderton .This...
in March 1886 on medical advice, Andrews had one last attempt of regaining entry to Parliament. Richard Molesworth Taylor
Richard Molesworth Taylor
Richard Molesworth Taylor was a three-term New Zealand Member of Parliament. Born in London in 1835, he moved to Auckland on the Heather Bell in 1846. He travelled to Victoria in 1851, and later to New South Wales and participated in the gold rush before returning to Auckland in 1857...
successfully contested the subsequent by-election on 12 May
Sydenham by-election, 1886
The by-election for Sydenham in 1886 was a by-election held during the 9th Parliament of New Zealand, on 12 May 1886. It was held because William White resigned his seat in March 1886 on medical advice. Richard Molesworth Taylor won the by-election against John Lee Scott, Samuel Paull Andrews and...
, gaining 438 votes against John Lee Scott (418), Andrews (230) and S. G. Jolly (2).
Andrews was elected onto Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since 2007, the Mayor of Christchurch is Bob Parker, who stood as an independent candidate...
in 1884 and was a councillor until 1887. During his time on the council, the new civic office (these days known as Our City
Our City, Christchurch
Our City, or more formally Our City O-Tautahi, is on the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace in the Christchurch Central City. It is a Category I heritage building registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust...
was constructed. Andrews caused controversy by claiming the building was structurally unsound. The design competition for the building had been won by Samuel Hurst Seager, who was young and relatively inexperienced, and his design in Queen Anne style
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
was an architectural type unfamiliar to New Zealand. Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Mountfort
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort was an English emigrant to New Zealand, where he became one of that country's most prominent 19th century architects. He was instrumental in shaping the city of Christchurch's unique architectural identity and culture, and was appointed the first official Provincial...
and John Whitelaw, both architects, and Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson
Edward Dobson was Provincial Engineer for the Canterbury Province from 1854 to 1868.-Early life:Edward Dobson was born in London, probably in 1816 or 1817. His parents were John Dobson, a merchant, and Elizabeth Barker. By the time he started his apprenticeship as an architect and surveyor in...
, an engineer, reviewed the design and the building and found everything to be safe.
Private life
Andrews married Elizabeth Ann Gahagan on 9 August 1874 at Christchurch; they had three sons and two daughters.He was ambitious, energetic and athletic. He pursued different business opportunities and was involved in many organisations. He was a champion rower for several years and also distinguished himself as an administrator for the sport. He had little tolerance for laziness.
Andrews died on 18 October 1916 at Heathcote Valley
Heathcote Valley
-Location:The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network...
, and was buried at Linwood Cemetery
Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch
Linwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in Linwood, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is the fifth oldest cemetery in the city that still exists and it is virtually full. Opened in 1884, it has seen some 20,000 burials. The first burial, of the Sexton's wife, was held even before the cemetery was...
. His wife died three years later on 24 September 1919 at Sumner
Sumner, New Zealand
Sumner is a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand and was surveyed and named in 1849 in honour of John Bird Sumner, the then newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury and president of the Canterbury Association...
.