John Perry Robinson
Encyclopedia
John 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. He remained Superintendent until his accidental drowning on the bar of the Buller River
.
, England. His year of birth is uncertain (either 1810 or 1811). He married Mary Gaskell on 22 October 1836 at Derby
. They had two children (Eliza (b. 1838) and Samuel (b. 1840) when they decided to emigrate to New Zealand. They arrived in Nelson
on the Phoebe on 29 March 1843.
had not managed to attract a sufficient number of landowners to the area and ended up being the major employer themselves. This led to a shortage of employment positions, and the pay was considered inadequate.
In April 1844, Robinson was appointed headmaster of a school in Bridge Street. The following year, he moved to the Bay of Islands
to run an agency for the brewery Hooper and Company. That business failed and he moved to Auckland
, but was back in Nelson by 1848. He was employed as a storekeeper before working in his original trade of woodturning
again. In 1855, he went to Motupipi in Golden Bay
(then known as Massacre Bay) to establish a sawmill with three partners.
George Grey
, and in 1854 to brought the issue to the attention of the Government.
While living in Golden Bay, Robinson was urged to stand for election to the Nelson Provincial Council in 1855 as the representative in the Massacre Bay electorate. At the nomination meeting, the election was contested by Robinson and W. R. Nicholson. A show of hands indicated a majority for Robinson, who was thus declared duly elected.
Edward Stafford
, the first Superintendent of Nelson, resigned from the position in September 1856. Robinson and David Monro
contested the superintendency on class issues. Monro had represented Waimea
in the 1st Parliament
and thus had a high political profile. Robinson represented 'the man of small means' (he has been described as a believer in a "society of small-property owners"), whereas Monro represented the wealthier colonists. An history of Nelson published in 1892 described the election campaign as "the keenest, best fought, political battle ever seen in Nelson". On voting day (31 October 1856), the turnout was low. Many of Monro's supporters stayed away, as Robinson was never expected to be able to win. Robinson and Monro received 425 and 409 votes, respectively. With a majority of 16 votes, Robinson was declared elected.
The 1857 superintendency was contested by Robinson against John Waring Saxton. Saxton had been representing Waimea South on the Provincial Council since 1853. The election on Thursday, 8 October 1857 resulted in 681 and 451 votes for Robinson and Saxton, respectively. With a majority of 230 votes, Robinson was re-elected.
The next election was held in December 1861. Robinson and John Barnicoat contested it. Barnicoat was an early settler, having arrived in Nelson in 1842. He was elected to the first Provincial Council in 1853 and later in life (1883–1902) served on the Legislative Council
. The election was held on Monday, 23 December 1861 resulted in a large majority of 443 votes for Robinson, who received 685 votes, while Barnicoat got 242 votes.
Robinson thus served three terms as Superintendent, being elected in 1856, 1857 and 1861, with his majority increasing at each succeeding election.
During his second term, Robinson laid the foundation stone for the Provincial Government Buildings in Nelson on 26 August 1859.
. The New Provinces Act 1858 allowed for parts of a province to break away if the area was large enough, and enough voters supported such a move. The petition was signed by almost all settlers; only six withholding their support for a split. The new Marlborough Province
was gazetted on 4 October 1859.
and some coal deposits. Robinson, his son Edward and two others drowned when their boat overturned on the bar of the Buller River on 28 January 1865. His body was never found. He was survived by his wife, two sons and seven daughters. Robinson Street in Greymouth
is named after him.
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 Nelson Province
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...
in New Zealand. His election came as a surprise, but he proved so popular that he won two subsequent elections with comfortable majorities. He remained Superintendent until his accidental drowning on the bar of the Buller River
Buller River
The Buller River is in the South Island of New Zealand. One of the country's longest rivers, it flows for 170 kilometres from Lake Rotoiti through the Buller Gorge and into the Tasman Sea near the town of Westport...
.
Early life
Robinson is believed to have been born in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. His year of birth is uncertain (either 1810 or 1811). He married Mary Gaskell on 22 October 1836 at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. They had two children (Eliza (b. 1838) and Samuel (b. 1840) when they decided to emigrate to New Zealand. They arrived 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....
on the Phoebe on 29 March 1843.
Life in New Zealand
The economic situation in Nelson in the early 1840s was difficult. The New Zealand CompanyNew Zealand Company
The New Zealand Company originated in London in 1837 as the New Zealand Association with the aim of promoting the "systematic" colonisation of New Zealand. The association, and later the company, intended to follow the colonising principles of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who envisaged the creation of...
had not managed to attract a sufficient number of landowners to the area and ended up being the major employer themselves. This led to a shortage of employment positions, and the pay was considered inadequate.
In April 1844, Robinson was appointed headmaster of a school in Bridge Street. The following year, he moved to the Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is an area in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, it is close to the northern tip of the country....
to run an agency for the brewery Hooper and Company. That business failed and he moved 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...
, but was back in Nelson by 1848. He was employed as a storekeeper before working in his original trade of woodturning
Woodturning
Woodturning is a form of woodworking that is used to create wooden objects on a lathe . Woodturning differs from most other forms of woodworking in that the wood is moving while a stationary tool is used to cut and shape it...
again. In 1855, he went to Motupipi in Golden Bay
Golden Bay
Golden Bay lies at the edge of the junction between the Tasman Sea and Cook Strait. It stretches for 45 kilometres from the long sand spit of Farewell Spit in the north to Separation Point in Abel Tasman National Park at its southern extremity...
(then known as Massacre Bay) to establish a sawmill with three partners.
Political career
In April 1850, Robinson chaired a meeting of labourers, when it was decided to approach the New Zealand Company for its unfulfilled promises. The issues were lack of work and difficult working conditions. He followed this up in 1852 with a letter to GovernorGovernor-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....
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 in 1854 to brought the issue to the attention of the Government.
While living in Golden Bay, Robinson was urged to stand for election to the Nelson Provincial Council in 1855 as the representative in the Massacre Bay electorate. At the nomination meeting, the election was contested by Robinson and W. R. Nicholson. A show of hands indicated a majority for Robinson, who was thus declared duly elected.
Edward Stafford
Edward Stafford (politician)
Sir Edward Stafford, KCMG served as the third Premier of New Zealand on three occasions in the mid 19th century. His total time in office is the longest of any leader without a political party. He is described as pragmatic, logical, and clear-sighted.-Early life and career:Edward William Stafford...
, the first Superintendent of Nelson, resigned from the position in September 1856. Robinson and David Monro
David Monro
Sir David Monro was a New Zealand politician. He served as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1861 to 1870.-Early life:...
contested the superintendency on class issues. Monro had represented Waimea
Waimea (New Zealand electorate)
Waimea was a parliamentary electorate in the Nelson Province of New Zealand, from 1853 to 1887.-Geographic coverage:Waimea was located in the northern part of the South Island, facing the Tasman Bay. It is the area around the town of Nelson, but excluded Nelson itself. It includes Wakefield,...
in the 1st Parliament
1st New Zealand Parliament
The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election . It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's election...
and thus had a high political profile. Robinson represented 'the man of small means' (he has been described as a believer in a "society of small-property owners"), whereas Monro represented the wealthier colonists. An history of Nelson published in 1892 described the election campaign as "the keenest, best fought, political battle ever seen in Nelson". On voting day (31 October 1856), the turnout was low. Many of Monro's supporters stayed away, as Robinson was never expected to be able to win. Robinson and Monro received 425 and 409 votes, respectively. With a majority of 16 votes, Robinson was declared elected.
The 1857 superintendency was contested by Robinson against John Waring Saxton. Saxton had been representing Waimea South on the Provincial Council since 1853. The election on Thursday, 8 October 1857 resulted in 681 and 451 votes for Robinson and Saxton, respectively. With a majority of 230 votes, Robinson was re-elected.
The next election was held in December 1861. Robinson and John Barnicoat contested it. Barnicoat was an early settler, having arrived in Nelson in 1842. He was elected to the first Provincial Council in 1853 and later in life (1883–1902) served on 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:...
. The election was held on Monday, 23 December 1861 resulted in a large majority of 443 votes for Robinson, who received 685 votes, while Barnicoat got 242 votes.
Robinson thus served three terms as Superintendent, being elected in 1856, 1857 and 1861, with his majority increasing at each succeeding election.
During his second term, Robinson laid the foundation stone for the Provincial Government Buildings in Nelson on 26 August 1859.
Separation of Marlborough from Nelson
There was considerable conflict between Robinson's policies of supporting smaller land holders, and the objectives of the large pastoral run-holders in the Wairau ValleyWairau Valley
Wairau Valley is the valley of the Wairau River in Marlborough, New Zealand and also the name of the main settlement in the upper valley. State Highway 63 runs through the valley. The valley opens onto the Wairau Plain, where Renwick and Blenheim are sited...
. The New Provinces Act 1858 allowed for parts of a province to break away if the area was large enough, and enough voters supported such a move. The petition was signed by almost all settlers; only six withholding their support for a split. The new 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:...
was gazetted on 4 October 1859.
Death and commemoration
Robinson undertook an official visit to the West Coast to visit the new gold fieldsWest Coast Gold Rush
The West Coast Gold Rush on the West Coast of New Zealand from 1864 to 1867 populated the area, which up till then had been visited by few Europeans. Gold was found near the Taramakau River in 1864 by two Māori, Ihaia Tainui and Haimona Taukau...
and some coal deposits. Robinson, his son Edward and two others drowned when their boat overturned on the bar of the Buller River on 28 January 1865. His body was never found. He was survived by his wife, two sons and seven daughters. Robinson Street in Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
is named after him.