Superintendent (politics)
Encyclopedia
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council
in New Zealand
from 1853 to 1876.
(UK). This Act established the first six provinces of Auckland
, New Plymouth
, Wellington
, Nelson
, Canterbury
, and Otago
. Other provinces were established later. Each province elected its own legislature known as a Provincial Council, and elected a Superintendent who was not a member of the council. The elections for council and superintendent were not necessarily held at the same time.
Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts. Their only visible function today is their use to determine, with the exception of the Chatham Islands
, Northland, and South Canterbury, the geographical boundaries for anniversary day public holidays.
were "locked into a battle of supremacy that would last for 20 years." The 1852 constitution defined thirteen areas where law making was reserved for the House of Representatives: customs, post-office, shipping dues, lighthouses, weights and measures, currency, bankruptcy, judiciary, marriage, Crown lands and native land (i.e. lands held by Māori), criminal law, and inheritance law. For a variety of reasons, the provincial councils were more effective than the national Parliament. Initially, this was partially because Parliament was made up of strong personalities with strong and differing regional interests, who had no prior experience of acting for the greater good of the country as a whole. Consequently, the role of a provincial Superintendent was more highly regarded than those of Members of Parliament.
The constitution had given the Governor
substantial powers over the provincial councils, but many anomalies resulted in an increase in the power of the Superintendents. The Governor could dissolve the provincial council at any time, veto its enactments, or remove the Superintendent from office if voted by the majority of provincial councillors or disallow the Superintendent's elections (the latter two both within three month of the Superintendent's election). However, only Superintendents had the power to convene a provincial council, and by simply delaying the first meeting beyond the three months threshold, much of the power of the Governor was negated. So in practice, Superintendents were more powerful than had been anticipated by the constitution.
Another practicality was that Parliament had long breaks between sessions due to the difficulty of travel at the time. In one instance, the Wellington Provincial Council passed an act that empowered itself of raising a £25,000 loan. By the time Parliament next convened and repealed the act, the loan had already gone to the council.
Hence, the role of the Superintendents went much beyond the act of presiding over a provincial council. The post came with a lot of honour and responsibility.
It was not uncommon that newspapers would be founded with the purpose of supporting a candidate and attacking the opponent. The Press
, for example, these days the largest newspaper in the South Island
, was founded by James FitzGerald
(1st Superintendent of Canterbury) to oppose the Lyttelton rail tunnel
proposal by his opponent William Sefton Moorhouse
(2nd Superintendent of Canterbury). Moorhouse had tried to use the Lyttelton Times for this purpose, a newspaper that he was the first editor of in 1851 but no longer had control over, but that newspaper backed the Moorhouse tunnel.
The electors' excitement stemmed from the fact that the outcome of an election might significantly impact on their district; where one candidate might have promised a school, roads and bridges, another candidate might not deliver the same for their locality.
Amongst other things, taxation, education, charitable aid and temperance
were important issues back then. Initially, an open voting system was used, where those enrolled would tell the electoral officer their choice of candidate, who would note this on the electoral role. All of this was reasonably public, and unofficial tallies of the count would circulate. These tallies may well have been adjusted to suit a particular outcome. For example, where more than two candidates stood for election, a preferred candidate might be shown as so far behind that the remaining voters may be encouraged to vote for another candidate, in order to prevent the unwanted rival from gaining office. These unofficial tallies were still circulated after voting at the ballot box had been introduced.
Drunkenness, fighting and the throwing of flour bags and rotten eggs on election day were common.
had nine superintendents:
had four superintendents:
had four superintendents:
had five superintendents:
had four superintendents:
had five superintendents:
had three superintendents:
(initially called the New Plymouth Province) had four superintendents:
had two superintendents:
had one superintendent:
Provinces of New Zealand
The Provinces of New Zealand existed from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. They were replaced by counties, which were themselves replaced by districts.Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts...
in 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...
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 Constitution Act 1852New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the colony of New Zealand...
(UK). This Act established the first six provinces of Auckland
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
, New Plymouth
Taranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
, Wellington
Wellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
, Nelson
Nelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
, Canterbury
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...
, and 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...
. Other provinces were established later. Each province elected its own legislature known as a Provincial Council, and elected a Superintendent who was not a member of the council. The elections for council and superintendent were not necessarily held at the same time.
Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts. Their only visible function today is their use to determine, with the exception of the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
, Northland, and South Canterbury, the geographical boundaries for anniversary day public holidays.
Role of superintendents
The provincial councils and the House of RepresentativesNew 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....
were "locked into a battle of supremacy that would last for 20 years." The 1852 constitution defined thirteen areas where law making was reserved for the House of Representatives: customs, post-office, shipping dues, lighthouses, weights and measures, currency, bankruptcy, judiciary, marriage, Crown lands and native land (i.e. lands held by Māori), criminal law, and inheritance law. For a variety of reasons, the provincial councils were more effective than the national Parliament. Initially, this was partially because Parliament was made up of strong personalities with strong and differing regional interests, who had no prior experience of acting for the greater good of the country as a whole. Consequently, the role of a provincial Superintendent was more highly regarded than those of Members of Parliament.
The constitution had given the Governor
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
substantial powers over the provincial councils, but many anomalies resulted in an increase in the power of the Superintendents. The Governor could dissolve the provincial council at any time, veto its enactments, or remove the Superintendent from office if voted by the majority of provincial councillors or disallow the Superintendent's elections (the latter two both within three month of the Superintendent's election). However, only Superintendents had the power to convene a provincial council, and by simply delaying the first meeting beyond the three months threshold, much of the power of the Governor was negated. So in practice, Superintendents were more powerful than had been anticipated by the constitution.
Another practicality was that Parliament had long breaks between sessions due to the difficulty of travel at the time. In one instance, the Wellington Provincial Council passed an act that empowered itself of raising a £25,000 loan. By the time Parliament next convened and repealed the act, the loan had already gone to the council.
Hence, the role of the Superintendents went much beyond the act of presiding over a provincial council. The post came with a lot of honour and responsibility.
Elections of superintendents
To be eligible to vote in the provincial (or national) elections, voters had to be male owners of property valued at £50, or leasehold valued at £10. The election for Superintendent, to be held every four years, was a major event in the provinces for weeks and months leading up to it. It was such an exciting event that even the children of that time could remember it later in their adult lives.It was not uncommon that newspapers would be founded with the purpose of supporting a candidate and attacking the opponent. The 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 example, these days the largest newspaper in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, was founded by 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...
(1st Superintendent of Canterbury) to oppose the Lyttelton rail tunnel
Lyttelton rail tunnel
The Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, initially called the Moorhouse Tunnel, links the city of Christchurch with the port of Lyttelton in the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. It is the country’s oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on one of the first railway lines in the district...
proposal by his opponent William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse
William Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:...
(2nd Superintendent of Canterbury). Moorhouse had tried to use the Lyttelton Times for this purpose, a newspaper that he was the first editor of in 1851 but no longer had control over, but that newspaper backed the Moorhouse tunnel.
The electors' excitement stemmed from the fact that the outcome of an election might significantly impact on their district; where one candidate might have promised a school, roads and bridges, another candidate might not deliver the same for their locality.
Amongst other things, taxation, education, charitable aid and temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
were important issues back then. Initially, an open voting system was used, where those enrolled would tell the electoral officer their choice of candidate, who would note this on the electoral role. All of this was reasonably public, and unofficial tallies of the count would circulate. These tallies may well have been adjusted to suit a particular outcome. For example, where more than two candidates stood for election, a preferred candidate might be shown as so far behind that the remaining voters may be encouraged to vote for another candidate, in order to prevent the unwanted rival from gaining office. These unofficial tallies were still circulated after voting at the ballot box had been introduced.
Drunkenness, fighting and the throwing of flour bags and rotten eggs on election day were common.
List of superintendents
From 1853 to 1876, New Zealand had 41 superintendents across its ten provinces.Auckland Province
The Auckland ProvinceAuckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
had nine superintendents:
- 1853 Robert Henry WynyardRobert WynyardSir Robert Henry Wynyard was a New Zealand colonial administrator, serving at various times as Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster Province, Administrator of the Government, and was the first Superintendent of Auckland Province.-Lieutenant Governor of New Ulster:From 26 April 1851 to 7 March 1853,...
- 1855 William BrownWilliam Brown (New Zealand)William Brown was a 19th century New Zealand politician.Brown was born in Angus, Scotland, in 1809 or 1810. He came to New Zealand on 2 February 1840, arriving in the Bay of Islands....
- 1855 John Logan CampbellJohn Logan CampbellSir John Logan Campbell was a prominent New Zealand public figure. He was the son of Doctor John Campbell and his wife Catherine. He was described by his contemporaries as "the father of Auckland".- Early life:...
- 1856 John WilliamsonJohn Williamson (politician)John Williamson was a New Zealand politician. He represented the Pensioner Settlements in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament from 1855 to 1860, and represented the City of Auckland West electorate in the 3rd Parliament, the 4th Parliament, and the 5th Parliament from 1861 to 1875 John Williamson...
(1st time) - 1862 Robert GrahamRobert Graham (New Zealand)Robert Graham was a 19th century New Zealand politician in the Auckland area.He represented the Southern Division electorate in the 2nd New Zealand Parliament from 1855 to 1860, and then represented the Franklin electorate in the 3rd Parliament and the 4th Parliament from 1861 to 1868, when he...
- 1865 Frederick WhitakerFrederick WhitakerSir Frederick Whitaker, KCMG was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the fifth Premier of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General.-Early life:...
- 1867 John Williamson (2nd time)
- 1869 Thomas Bannatyne GilliesThomas GilliesThomas 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...
- 1873 John Williamson (3rd time)
- 1875 George Maurice O'Rorke
- 1875 Sir George GreyGeorge GreyGeorge 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...
Canterbury Province
The Canterbury ProvinceCanterbury 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...
had four superintendents:
- 20 Jul 1853 - Oct 1857 James Edward Fitzgerald
- 24 Oct 1857 - Feb 1863 William Sefton MoorhouseWilliam Sefton MoorhouseWilliam Sefton Moorhouse was a New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province.-Early life:...
(1st time) - Mar 1863 - May 1866 Samuel BealeySamuel BealeySamuel 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...
- 30 May 1866 - May 1868 William Sefton Moorhouse (2nd time)
- 22 May 1868 - 1 Jan 1877 William RollestonWilliam RollestonWilliam Rolleston was a New Zealand politician, public administrator, educationalist and Canterbury provincial superintendent.-Early life:...
Hawke's Bay Province
The Hawke's Bay ProvinceHawke's Bay Province
The Hawke's Bay Province was a province of New Zealand. The province separated from the Wellington Province following a meeting in Napier in February 1858, and existed until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
had four superintendents:
- 23 Apr 1859 - Mar 1861 Thomas Henry FitzgeraldThomas Henry FitzGeraldThomas Henry FitzGerald was a pioneer in sugar cane farming in the early days of the colony of Queensland, Australia. He was a politician, first in New Zealand, then in Queensland. His descendants went on to become notable names in Queensland politics, business and law...
- 8 Apr 1861 - 5 Dec 1862 John Chilton Lambton CarterJohn Chilton Lambton CarterJohn Chilton Lambton Carter was a 19th century New Zealand politician.-Early life:He was born in Conwal, County Donegal, Ireland where his English father was stationed with the 44th Regiment.-Military career:...
- 26 Feb 1863 - 23 Sep 1869 Donald McLean
- 24 Sep 1869 - 1 Jan 1877 John Davies OrmondJohn Davies OrmondJohn Davies Ormond was a New Zealand politician whose positions included Superintendent of Hawke's Bay Province, Minister of Public Works and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council....
Marlborough Province
The Marlborough ProvinceMarlborough Province
The Marlborough Province operated as a province of New Zealand from 1859 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The province of Marlborough split away from Nelson Province on 1 November 1859.-History:...
had five superintendents:
- 1860 William AdamsWilliam Adams (New Zealand)William Adams was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Marlborough, New Zealand and the first Superintendent of Marlborough Province.-Early life:...
- 1861 William Douglas Hall Baillie
- 1863 Thomas Carter
- 1864 Arthur Penrose SeymourArthur Penrose SeymourArthur Penrose Seymour was a 19th century New Zealand politician from Picton. He was the 4th Superintendent of the Marlborough Province and was a member of the provincial government for all 16 years of its existence. With his strong advocacy for Picton, he successfully had the Seat of Government...
(1st time) - 1865 William Henry EyesWilliam Henry EyesWilliam Henry Eyes was a 19th century New Zealand politician.He represented the Marlborough electorate of Wairau from 1861 to 1871, when he resigned. He was the Superintendent of Marlborough Province from 1865 to 1870.-References:...
- 1870 Arthur Penrose Seymour (2nd time)
Nelson Province
The Nelson ProvinceNelson Province
The Nelson Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-History:The Marlborough Province split away from the Nelson Province on 1 November 1859 because the majority of the income of the Provincial Council came from land sales in the...
had four superintendents:
- 1853 Edward William Stafford
- 1856 John Perry RobinsonJohn Perry RobinsonJohn Perry Robinson was the second Superintendent of the Nelson Province in New Zealand. His election came as a surprise, but he proved so popular that he won two subsequent elections with comfortable majorities...
- 1865 Alfred SaundersAlfred SaundersAlfred Saunders was a 19th century New Zealand politician.He was elected onto the Nelson Provincial Council representing Waimea South in 1855 and remained a councillor until his election of Superintendent for the Nelson Province from 1865 to 1867. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Waimea...
- 1867 Oswald CurtisOswald CurtisOswald Curtis was a 19th century New Zealand politician born in London, England on 20 January 1821. He was the son of Stephen Curtis and Eleanora LLewellyn. He migrated to Nelson in 1853, arriving on 18 June.- Mahomed Shah :...
Otago Province
The Otago ProvinceOtago 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...
had five superintendents:
- 1853 William CargillWilliam CargillWilliam 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:...
- 1860 James MacandrewJames MacandrewJames Macandrew was a New Zealand ship-owner and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1853 to 1887 and as the last Superintendent of Otago Province.-Early life:...
(1st time) - 1861 John Larkins Cheese RichardsonJohn Larkins Cheese RichardsonSir John Larkins Cheese Richardson was a 19th century New Zealand politician, and a cabinet minister.-Military career:Richardson was born in India, where he was in the Army, and was known as Major Richardson.- Political career:...
- 1863 John Hyde HarrisJohn Hyde HarrisJohn 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...
- 1865 Thomas DickThomas Dick (New Zealand)Thomas Dick was a 19th century New Zealand politician. He was Superintendent of Otago Province in 1865, then Minister of Justice from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education from 1881 to 1884.-Early life:...
- 1867 James Macandrew (2nd time)
Southland Province
The Southland ProvinceSouthland Province
The Southland Province was a province of New Zealand from March 1861 until the province rejoined with Otago Province in 1870.-History:When provinces were formed in 1853, the southern part of New Zealand belonged to Otago Province...
had three superintendents:
- 1861 James Alexander Robertson MenziesJames Alexander Robertson MenziesJames Alexander Robertson Menzies was the first Superintendent of the Southland Province in New Zealand from 3 August 1861 to November 1864 during its breakaway from Otago Province...
- 1865 John Parkin TaylorJohn Parkin TaylorJohn Parkin Taylor was a 19th century New Zealand politician in Otago and Southland.He represented the Dunedin Country electorate in the New Zealand Parliament from 1858 to 1860, when he retired....
- 1869 William WoodWilliam Wood (New Zealand)William Wood was a 19th century New Zealand politician.He represented the Invercargill electorate in Parliament from 1866 to 1870, when he retired, and then the Mataura electorate from 1876 to 1878, when he resigned....
Taranaki Province
The Taranaki ProvinceTaranaki Province
The Taranaki Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876...
(initially called the New Plymouth Province) had four superintendents:
- 1853-1857 Charles BrownCharles Brown (Taranaki)Charles Brown was a New Zealand politician from the Taranaki area.-Personal life:Brown was born in London, England, the illegitimate son of Charles Armitage Brown and Abigail O'Donohue, an Irish house servant at Wentworth Place where Brown and Keats resided...
(1st time) - 1857-1861 George Cutfield
- 1861-1865 Charles Brown (2nd time)
- 1865-1869 Henry Robert RichmondHenry Robert RichmondHenry Robert Richmond was a 19th century New Zealand politician and farmer, and brother of James Crowe Richmond and William Richmond. They were part of the Richmond-Atkinson family of Taranaki who were all related by marriage....
- 1869-1876 Frederic Alonzo CarringtonFrederic Alonzo CarringtonFrederick Alonzo Carrington was a 19th century New Zealand politician and surveyor. He was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England in 1807 or 1808, the son of Captain William Carrington. He was 15 years in the Ordnance Survey Department...
Wellington Province
The Wellington ProvinceWellington Province
The Wellington Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:...
had two superintendents:
- 2 July 1853 – 14 March 1870 Isaac FeatherstonIsaac FeatherstonDr. Isaac Earl Featherston was a New Zealand politician, and was known for his advocacy for the establishment of New Zealand self-government, and the importance of the provincial governments.-Early life:...
- 28 April 1871 – 1 January 1877 William FitzherbertWilliam Fitzherbert (New Zealand)Sir William Fitzherbert KCMG MLC was a New Zealand politician. He served as Minister of Finance, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speaker of the Legislative Council.-Early life:...
Westland Province
The Westland ProvinceWestland Province
The Westland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1873 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876. The capital was Hokitika.-Area:...
had one superintendent:
- 1874 James Alexander Bonar