Arthur Penrose Seymour
Encyclopedia
Arthur Penrose Seymour (20 March 1832 – 3 April 1923) 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 moved to Picton. When the Blenheim party secured a majority in the Provincial Council by 1865, Seymour negotiated the removal of the Seat of Government back to Blenheim.
Seymour was a Member of Parliament for various Marlborough electorates for a total of twelve years. Prior to his election to Parliament, he had been appointed to the Legislative Council. He was three times Mayor of Picton.
, Somersetshire, England. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1851 and settled in Picton, Marlborough shortly after that. He was a surveyor by profession, but became a runholder in the Awatere Valley. He was appointed a Justice of the peace
in 1856 or 1857. On 23 October 1856, he married Catherine Florence Huddleston at Nelson, the daughter of the Nelson businessman Fredrick Huddleston.
in 1860. During the council's first meeting, Seymour successfully moved that the provincial offices be built in Picton. This further fuelled the ongoing political conflict with other politicians who favoured Blenheim as the seat of provincial government. The capital shifted from Blenheim to Picton in 1861, only to revert to Blenheim in 1866. Together with all the other intense personal rivalries in the (e.g. between small farmers and pastoralists), provincial politics had a comic opera quality to it in the Marlborough Province. Seymour fuelled this conflict by being a stern supporter of Picton.
He served on the council over all of its 16 years of existence. He represented the electorates of Picton in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th council, and Awatere in the 4th and 7th council.
He was the Superintendent
of Marlborough Province twice. His first time in office was from 19 September 1864 until Oct 1865. He resigned as he had been appointed to the Legislative Council
in 1865. His second period as Superintendent was from 19 February 1874 until the abolition of provincial government on 31 October 1876.
Seymour was twice on the executive of the provincial council. First in 1860, and then in June and July 1864.
from 1872 to 6 May 1875 when he resigned, and from 1876 to 1881, when he was defeated. The 1881 general election
was contested by Seymour and Henry Dodson
, with Dodson gaining the majority support during the show of hands at the nomination meeting. On election day, Dodson and Seymour received 550 and 381 votes, respectively, a significant majority of 169. Dodson was thus returned.
The 1887 general election
in the Waimea-Picton
electorate was contested by Seymour, Joseph Harkness
and Charles H Mills
, who received 446, 444 and 415 votes, respectively. Seymour was thus elected. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1890.
Seymour was the 4th Chairman of Committees
, replacing the acting chairman Maurice O'Rorke
on 16 July 1873. He held this post until May 1875, when he resigned. He was again elected into this position in July 1879 and held the role until dissolution of parliament in November 1881.
Picton, New Zealand
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001...
. He was the 4th 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 the Marlborough Province
Marlborough 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:...
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 moved to Picton. When the Blenheim party secured a majority in the Provincial Council by 1865, Seymour negotiated the removal of the Seat of Government back to Blenheim.
Seymour was a Member of Parliament for various Marlborough electorates for a total of twelve years. Prior to his election to Parliament, he had been appointed to the Legislative Council. He was three times Mayor of Picton.
Early life
Seymour was born in 1832 in MarksburyMarksbury
Marksbury is a small village and civil parish in Somerset about from Keynsham and from Bath on the A39 where it meets the A368. The parish, which includes the villages of Hunstrete and Stanton Prior, has a population of 399.- History :...
, Somersetshire, England. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1851 and settled in Picton, Marlborough shortly after that. He was a surveyor by profession, but became a runholder in the Awatere Valley. He was appointed a Justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1856 or 1857. On 23 October 1856, he married Catherine Florence Huddleston at Nelson, the daughter of the Nelson businessman Fredrick Huddleston.
Politics
Marlborough Province
Seymour was elected onto the first Marlborough Provincial CouncilMarlborough 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:...
in 1860. During the council's first meeting, Seymour successfully moved that the provincial offices be built in Picton. This further fuelled the ongoing political conflict with other politicians who favoured Blenheim as the seat of provincial government. The capital shifted from Blenheim to Picton in 1861, only to revert to Blenheim in 1866. Together with all the other intense personal rivalries in the (e.g. between small farmers and pastoralists), provincial politics had a comic opera quality to it in the Marlborough Province. Seymour fuelled this conflict by being a stern supporter of Picton.
He served on the council over all of its 16 years of existence. He represented the electorates of Picton in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th council, and Awatere in the 4th and 7th council.
He was the 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 Marlborough Province twice. His first time in office was from 19 September 1864 until Oct 1865. He resigned as he had been appointed 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:...
in 1865. His second period as Superintendent was from 19 February 1874 until the abolition of provincial government on 31 October 1876.
Seymour was twice on the executive of the provincial council. First in 1860, and then in June and July 1864.
Legislative Council
Seymour was a member of the Legislative Council since 8 July 1865. During this time on the council, the dispute over the capital of the Marlborough Province worsened and Seymour eventually resigned from the Legislative Council on 5 January 1872 in order to stand for Parliament to further his vision for Marlborough.Parliament
He represented the Marlborough electorate of WairauWairau (New Zealand electorate)
Wairau was a parliamentary electorate in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand, from 1853 to 1938.-History:Wairau was one of the original electorates for the first general election in 1853....
from 1872 to 6 May 1875 when he resigned, and from 1876 to 1881, when he was defeated. The 1881 general election
New Zealand general election, 1881
The New Zealand general election of 1881 was held 9 December to elect a total of 95 MPs to the 8th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 8 December...
was contested by Seymour and Henry Dodson
Henry Dodson
Henry Dodson was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Marlborough, New Zealand.He represented the Wairau electorate from 1881 to 1890, when he retired.-References:...
, with Dodson gaining the majority support during the show of hands at the nomination meeting. On election day, Dodson and Seymour received 550 and 381 votes, respectively, a significant majority of 169. Dodson was thus returned.
The 1887 general election
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
in the Waimea-Picton
Waimea-Picton
Wamea-Picton was a parliamentary electorate in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand, from 1887 to 1893.-History:The electorate was represented by two Members of Parliament, Arthur Seymour from 1887 to 1890 and Charles H Mills from 1890 to 1893....
electorate was contested by Seymour, Joseph Harkness
Joseph Harkness
Joseph George Harkness JP was a 19th century independent conservative Member of Parliament from Nelson, New Zealand.Harkness, the son of William Harkness, was born and educated at Nelson, attending Richmond School and Nelson College . He became a school teacher for a time.Harkness dairy farmed in...
and Charles H Mills
Charles H Mills
Charles Houghton Mills was a Member of Parliament for Waimea and Wairau, in the South Island of New Zealand.-Early life:...
, who received 446, 444 and 415 votes, respectively. Seymour was thus elected. He represented the electorate until the end of the term in 1890.
Seymour was the 4th Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees (New Zealand)
The Chairman of Committees was an elected position of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The role existed between 1854 and 1992. The roles of the Chairman of Committees were to deputise for the Speaker, and to chair the House when it was in committee...
, replacing the acting chairman Maurice O'Rorke
Maurice O'Rorke
Sir George Maurice O’Rorke was a New Zealand politician, representing the Auckland seat of Onehunga, and later Manukau, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent of the Auckland Province...
on 16 July 1873. He held this post until May 1875, when he resigned. He was again elected into this position in July 1879 and held the role until dissolution of parliament in November 1881.