James Arthur Flesher
Encyclopedia
James Arthur Flesher OBE
(13 August 1865 – 18 August 1930) was a politician in Christchurch
, New Zealand. He held many public offices and was Mayor of Christchurch
from 1923 to 1925.
. His parents were William Flesher (a land agent) and Dorothy Flesher (née Johnson). He attended Christ's College
.
After school, he started a legal career, first at the Christchurch and Ashburton
offices of Messrs Wilding and Lewis. Four years later, he joined the offices of Messrs Joynt and Acton-Adams. When that firm was dissolved, he joined the offices of Messrs Acton-Adams and Kippenberger. In 1898, he was admitted as a solicitor. In 1899, he was admitted as a barrister and started his own legal practice at 9 Cathedral Square, Christchurch
.
He married Margaret Lucy England on 18 January 1900 at the Weslyan Church in St Albans
. At the time, his wife was 32 years old and working as a teacher. She was born in Adelaide
to Robert Deakin and Ellen Taylor England (née Grant). Their relatives E.M. Deakin (Ashburton
) and Harold Edmund Flesher were the witnesses to the marriage ceremony.
. He was the mayor of the New Brighton
Borough from 1915 to 1917. From 1918 to 1920, he represented Christchurch City Council as a councillor. During that time, he chaired the By-laws and Finance Committee. From 1923 to 1925, Flesher was the elected Mayor of Christchurch. He was once again elected councillor for Christchurch City Council in 1928 and held that post until his death.
, and James Flesher inherited Avebury house.
After James Flesher’s death, the house was in turn passed to his son Hubert de Rie Flesher, who sold the building and 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of land to the Crown in 1945, and it was on-sold to Christchurch City Council. The house became the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel in 1965 and the land became a public reserve (Avebury Park). After a threat of demolition in 1997, the house was renovated. It was opened in 2002 by Prime Minister Helen Clark
and serves as the Avebury House Community Centre.
Avebury House and Avebury Park are located in Eveleyn Couzins Avenue in Richmond, Christchurch. Flesher Avenue, off Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, is named after the Flesher family. Both roads occupy land that was previously part of the Avebury House property.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(13 August 1865 – 18 August 1930) was a politician in Christchurch
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. He held many public offices and was Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
from 1923 to 1925.
Early life
Flesher was born on 13 August 1865 in ChristchurchChristchurch
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...
. His parents were William Flesher (a land agent) and Dorothy Flesher (née Johnson). He attended Christ's College
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
.
After school, he started a legal career, first at the Christchurch and Ashburton
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
offices of Messrs Wilding and Lewis. Four years later, he joined the offices of Messrs Joynt and Acton-Adams. When that firm was dissolved, he joined the offices of Messrs Acton-Adams and Kippenberger. In 1898, he was admitted as a solicitor. In 1899, he was admitted as a barrister and started his own legal practice at 9 Cathedral Square, Christchurch
Cathedral Square, Christchurch
Cathedral Square, locally known simply as the Square, is the geographical centre and heart of Christchurch, New Zealand, where the city's Anglican cathedral, ChristChurch Cathedral is located...
.
He married Margaret Lucy England on 18 January 1900 at the Weslyan Church in St Albans
St Albans, New Zealand
St Albans is one of Christchurch, New Zealand's largest suburbs. It is a short walk from the central city. To the east of St Albans is Shirley and to the west is Fendalton...
. At the time, his wife was 32 years old and working as a teacher. She was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
to Robert Deakin and Ellen Taylor England (née Grant). Their relatives E.M. Deakin (Ashburton
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
) and Harold Edmund Flesher were the witnesses to the marriage ceremony.
Political life
Flesher's political career began in either 1891 or 1893, when he was elected onto the Richmond Ward of Christchurch City CouncilChristchurch 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...
. He was the mayor of the New Brighton
New Brighton, New Zealand
New Brighton is a coastal suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, about to the east of the city centre.-Naming:The naming of New Brighton was apparently done on a 'spur of moment' decision by William Fee, an early settler of the area...
Borough from 1915 to 1917. From 1918 to 1920, he represented Christchurch City Council as a councillor. During that time, he chaired the By-laws and Finance Committee. From 1923 to 1925, Flesher was the elected Mayor of Christchurch. He was once again elected councillor for Christchurch City Council in 1928 and held that post until his death.
Community involvement
Flesher was involved in a great number of organisations, and held important roles with many of those:- Christchurch Tramway Board (1906–1930, including chairman from 1913–1916)
- Christchurch Domains Board
- Waimakariri RiverWaimakariri RiverThe Waimakariri River is the largest of the North Canterbury rivers, in the South Island of New Zealand. It flows for 151 kilometres in a generally southeastward direction from the Southern Alps across the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean....
Trust - Richmond Domain Board
- Richmond School Committee
- McLean’s Institute
- Avon Licensing Committee
- Royal Christchurch Musical Society
- Red CrossNew Zealand Red CrossThe New Zealand Red Cross was created by nurse Beth Charpentier in 1914 shortly after the beginning of World War I generally for the purpose of responding to natural disasters or man-made disasters and also helping out vulnerable or needy people both in New Zealand and abroad.The organization is...
- St. John AmbulanceSt. John AmbulanceSt John Ambulance, branded as St John in some territories, is a common name used by a number of affiliated organisations in different countries dedicated to the teaching and practice of medical first aid and the provision of ambulance services, all of which derive their origins from the St John...
- Canterbury Pilgrims Association
- RichmondRichmond, CanterburyRichmond is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand.Situated to the inner north east of the city centre, the suburb is bounded by Shirley Road to the north, Hills Road to the west, Gloucester Street to the south and the Avon River to the east....
Methodist Church ("James Flesher, 4 May 1886" is written on the foundation stone) - North Canterbury Methodist Sunday School Union (including being its president)
Avebury House
In 1871, James Flesher’s father William (born 1837) bought a 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) site of the Avebury farm from Dr John Seager Gundry for £500. Flesher senior commissioned Avebury House from architect James Glanville. The 4,289 m2 dwelling was completed in 1885, replacing an earlier house from 1873. William Flesher died suddenly on the steamship SS Tarawera on a passage from Melbourne to LytteltonLyttelton, 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....
, and James Flesher inherited Avebury house.
After James Flesher’s death, the house was in turn passed to his son Hubert de Rie Flesher, who sold the building and 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of land to the Crown in 1945, and it was on-sold to Christchurch City Council. The house became the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel in 1965 and the land became a public reserve (Avebury Park). After a threat of demolition in 1997, the house was renovated. It was opened in 2002 by Prime Minister Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
and serves as the Avebury House Community Centre.
Avebury House and Avebury Park are located in Eveleyn Couzins Avenue in Richmond, Christchurch. Flesher Avenue, off Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, is named after the Flesher family. Both roads occupy land that was previously part of the Avebury House property.