George Hunter (mayor)
Encyclopedia
George Hunter was the first Mayor of Wellington
, New Zealand
in 1842–43.
Born in Banffshire
, Scotland
he came to Wellington
in the ship Duke of Roxburgh in 1840, with his wife, six daughters and four sons. He was in business on Willis Street with Kenneth Bethune as general and shipping merchants, and lived in Tinakori Road, where Premier House
was later built.
On 3 October 1842, he was the highest polling of the twelve aldermen elected to the new Wellington Borough, and was declared Mayor.
He was described by Mary Swainson as having a bald head, circular spectacles and beaming eyes, and as exactly resembling Mr Pickwick of Charles Dickens
The Pickwick Papers
. He was one of the founders of the Pickwick Club in Wellington.
Shortly after his arrival, Hunter asked Samuel Parnell, a carpenter he had met on the ship, to build him a store, to which Parnell agreed, provided he only worked eight hours a day, the beginning of the Eight Hour Day in New Zealand. As there were only three carpenters in Wellington, Hunter reluctantly agreed to this condition.
In 1843, while attending a meeting to express sympathy for the victims of the Wairau Affray
he caught a chill, and died a few days later.
He was succeeded as Mayor by William Guyton
.
Hunter's eldest son, George Hunter and his grandson Sir George Hunter were both Members of Parliament.
Mayor of Wellington
The Mayor of Wellington is the head of the municipal government of Wellington, New Zealand, and presides over the Wellington City Council. The Mayor of Wellington administers only Wellington City itself — other municipalities in adjacent areas of the Wellington Region such as Lower Hutt, Upper...
, 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 1842–43.
Born in Banffshire
Banffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
he came to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in the ship Duke of Roxburgh in 1840, with his wife, six daughters and four sons. He was in business on Willis Street with Kenneth Bethune as general and shipping merchants, and lived in Tinakori Road, where Premier House
Premier House
Premier House, on Tinakori Road in Wellington, New Zealand, is the official residence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand.The original building, constructed in the early days of the New Zealand colony in 1843 is located at the southern end of the current building, and was greatly expanded two...
was later built.
On 3 October 1842, he was the highest polling of the twelve aldermen elected to the new Wellington Borough, and was declared Mayor.
He was described by Mary Swainson as having a bald head, circular spectacles and beaming eyes, and as exactly resembling Mr Pickwick of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
The Pickwick Papers
The Pickwick Papers
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club is the first novel by Charles Dickens. After the publication, the widow of the illustrator Robert Seymour claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband's; however, in his preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens strenuously denied any...
. He was one of the founders of the Pickwick Club in Wellington.
Shortly after his arrival, Hunter asked Samuel Parnell, a carpenter he had met on the ship, to build him a store, to which Parnell agreed, provided he only worked eight hours a day, the beginning of the Eight Hour Day in New Zealand. As there were only three carpenters in Wellington, Hunter reluctantly agreed to this condition.
In 1843, while attending a meeting to express sympathy for the victims of the Wairau Affray
Wairau Affray
In New Zealand history, the Wairau Affray on 17 June 1843 was the first serious clash of arms between Māori and the British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the only one to take place in the South Island...
he caught a chill, and died a few days later.
He was succeeded as Mayor by William Guyton
William Guyton
William Guyton was the second Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand in 1843 after the death of George Hunter until the Borough was abolished by the British Government, and he had the job of winding up the borough’s affairs....
.
Hunter's eldest son, George Hunter and his grandson Sir George Hunter were both Members of Parliament.