William Montgomery (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Hon. William John Alexander Montgomery (c.1821 – 21 December 1914) was a New Zealand
politician from Little River
on Banks Peninsula
, and a merchant. Born in London, he lived in a number of places and pursued a number of occupations before settling in Christchurch
, New Zealand.
and baptised on 14 January 1821. His father was Josias Montgomery, a saddler, and his mother was Eleanor Martin. His father was killed in a hunting accident in 1825, and William was educated in Belfast
at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
, where his uncle Henry Montgomery was head of English.
Montgomery started going to sea when he was 13. At age 18, he was made a captain, having taken control of a ship with a drunken captain and a first mate who was unable to navigate. He later bought this ship.
, these days a suburb of Melbourne
, Australia
, in 1850 or 1851, and joined the gold rush. After a short period of digging, he set himself up as a merchant and earned enough money to be able to buy a sheep station on the Darling Downs. Several years of drought crippled him financially, though, and he decided to emigrate to New Zealand.
. He bought the wharf in Heathcote
and imported timber from the bays on Banks Peninsula for the Christchurch market. This developed into a company as a timber merchant.
On 29 August 1865, he married Jane Todhunter, born in Shenley
in Hertfordshire
, England
. She was a daughter of John Todhunter from London. Montgomery was one of the men from a Victorian era who did not marry until they were in their Middle Ages, and the eventual bride would be many years their junior.
The Canterbury Club was founded in 1872 to provide an alternative to those businessmen who had less of a rural background, as was common with Christchurch Club members. Montgomery chaired the initial meeting. Both the Canterbury and Christchurch clubs still exist.
Road Board in 1864. In 1865, he was elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council for the Heathcote constituency. He held this seat until 1870. In 1873, he again contested the Heathcote seat on the Provincial Council, to fill the vacancy left by Andrew Duncan
. He was elected without opposition. During his time on the Provincial Council, he was on the executive in 1866, was provincial treasurer in 1868, deputy superintendent for a brief period in 1868 and leader of the Executive Council in 1874–75.
Following the resignation of Robert Heaton Rhodes
from his Akaroa seat in the New Zealand parliament, Montgomery contested the 20 April 1874 by-election against Walter Pilliet
. The results were 168 and 76 votes, respectively, i.e., a margin of 92 for Montgomery. He thus entered parliament during the 5th
term.
In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers
with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent. Montgomery stood for re-election in the 10 August 1874 by-election and was returned unopposed.
Montgomery opened the Little River railway in 1884 and worked on the extension to Akaroa, which did not proceed. He represented Akaroa until the end of the 9th
parliament. He announced on 1 July 1887 that he would not stand for re-election because of ill health. Six candidates stood for the 1887 general elections
in Akaroa; former Akaroa mayor Alexander McGregor
won by a large margin.
Ministerial appointments
During the first Stout
-Vogel
ministry, in August 1884, he was colonial secretary and the 4th Minister of Education
. The Stout-Vogel ministry lasted for two weeks from 16 August to 28 August 1884. He unselfishly stood aside when Stout needed to give ministries to Auckland members to continue in power.
Young New Zealand Party
Montgomery was recognised as the leader of the Young New Zealand Party
, a reformist and left-leaning faction in Parliament which was supported by small businessmen, small farmers, and the Labour movement (particularly miners), and which grew into the Liberal Party
.
represented Ellesmere
in 1893–99. The couple are buried at the Barbadoes Street Cemetery
in the central city of Christchurch
, together with those of their children who died young.
Montgomery Street in Cheviot
is named for William Montgomery. Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve above the Summit Road near Hilltop is a native bush reserve that William Hugh Montgomery donated to the Wairewa County Council in 1941. The gift was to commemorate both William Hugh and his father. It contains a tōtara
estimated to be 2000 years old, with a girth of 8.5 m.
Montgomery Spur is located in the Port Hills
between Rapaki Track and the Avoca Valley. It was named after John Montgomery. Part of the spur is Montgomery Spur Reserve, held by Christchurch City Council
as a Scenic Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.
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...
politician from Little River
Little River, New Zealand
Little River is a town in New Zealand on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury district.-Location:Little River is approximately 30 minutes drive from Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, a major South Island tourist destination, and 45 minutes drive from Christchurch. It is on State Highway 75, which links...
on Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
, and a merchant. Born in London, he lived in a number of places and pursued a number of occupations before settling 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.
Early life
Montgomery was from an old Scottish family that had settled in Ireland. He was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and baptised on 14 January 1821. His father was Josias Montgomery, a saddler, and his mother was Eleanor Martin. His father was killed in a hunting accident in 1825, and William was educated in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
, where his uncle Henry Montgomery was head of English.
Montgomery started going to sea when he was 13. At age 18, he was made a captain, having taken control of a ship with a drunken captain and a first mate who was unable to navigate. He later bought this ship.
Australia
Montgomery sailed to Williamstown, VictoriaWilliamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
, these days a suburb of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in 1850 or 1851, and joined the gold rush. After a short period of digging, he set himself up as a merchant and earned enough money to be able to buy a sheep station on the Darling Downs. Several years of drought crippled him financially, though, and he decided to emigrate to New Zealand.
New Zealand
He came to New Zealand in 1860 and settled in CanterburyCanterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
. He bought the wharf in Heathcote
Heathcote Valley
-Location:The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network...
and imported timber from the bays on Banks Peninsula for the Christchurch market. This developed into a company as a timber merchant.
On 29 August 1865, he married Jane Todhunter, born in Shenley
Shenley, Hertfordshire
Shenley is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, between Barnet and St Albans. The village is located 18.7 miles from Central London.-History:...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She was a daughter of John Todhunter from London. Montgomery was one of the men from a Victorian era who did not marry until they were in their Middle Ages, and the eventual bride would be many years their junior.
The Canterbury Club was founded in 1872 to provide an alternative to those businessmen who had less of a rural background, as was common with Christchurch Club members. Montgomery chaired the initial meeting. Both the Canterbury and Christchurch clubs still exist.
Local politics
Montgomery was elected onto the first HeathcoteHeathcote Valley
-Location:The suburb is dominated by the approaches to the Lyttelton road tunnel, a major arterial that passes through the Port Hills. The road is part of the State Highway 74 network...
Road Board in 1864. In 1865, he was elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council for the Heathcote constituency. He held this seat until 1870. In 1873, he again contested the Heathcote seat on the Provincial Council, to fill the vacancy left by Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan (mayor)
Andrew Duncan was Mayor of Christchurch 1869–1870. From a working class background in Scotland, he emigrated to New Zealand as a young man and became a highly respected member of the Christchurch community...
. He was elected without opposition. During his time on the Provincial Council, he was on the executive in 1866, was provincial treasurer in 1868, deputy superintendent for a brief period in 1868 and leader of the Executive Council in 1874–75.
Member of Parliament
Following the resignation of Robert Heaton Rhodes
Robert Heaton Rhodes
Robert Heaton Rhodes was a New Zealand politician, who represented the Akaroa electorate from 1871 to 1874, when he resigned. He was elected unopposed in 1871....
from his Akaroa seat in the New Zealand parliament, Montgomery contested the 20 April 1874 by-election against Walter Pilliet
Walter Pilliet
Walter Hippolyte Pilliet JP was a 19th century Member of Parliament in Christchurch, New Zealand. He worked initially as a surveyor and was then Resident Magistrate in several places. He was a newspaper editor and was represented in Parliament for one term.-Early life:He was born in Lyon on 8...
. The results were 168 and 76 votes, respectively, i.e., a margin of 92 for Montgomery. He thus entered parliament during the 5th
5th New Zealand Parliament
The 5th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 68 European electorates between 14 January and 23 February 1871. Elections in the four Māori electorates were held on 1 and 15 January 1871. A total of 78 MPs were elected. Parliament was...
term.
In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent. Montgomery stood for re-election in the 10 August 1874 by-election and was returned unopposed.
Montgomery opened the Little River railway in 1884 and worked on the extension to Akaroa, which did not proceed. He represented Akaroa until the end of the 9th
9th New Zealand Parliament
The 9th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and xx general electorates on 21 and 22 July 1884, respectively. A total of 95 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in July 1887...
parliament. He announced on 1 July 1887 that he would not stand for re-election because of ill health. Six candidates stood for the 1887 general elections
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 Akaroa; former Akaroa mayor Alexander McGregor
Alexander McGregor
Alexander Innes McGregor was a 19th century Member of Parliament in New Zealand.He represented the Akaroa electorate from 1887 to 1890 when he was defeated.He was a mayor of Akaroa.-References:...
won by a large margin.
Ministerial appointments
During the first Stout
Robert Stout
Sir Robert Stout, KCMG was the 13th Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century, and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both these offices...
-Vogel
Julius Vogel
Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG was the eighth Premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works...
ministry, in August 1884, he was colonial secretary and the 4th Minister of Education
Minister of Education (New Zealand)
The Minister of Education is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the country's schools, and is in charge of the Ministry of Education.The present Minister is Anne Tolley, a member of the National Party.-History:...
. The Stout-Vogel ministry lasted for two weeks from 16 August to 28 August 1884. He unselfishly stood aside when Stout needed to give ministries to Auckland members to continue in power.
Young New Zealand Party
Montgomery was recognised as the leader of the Young New Zealand Party
Young New Zealand Party
The Young New Zealand Party was a faction in the New Zealand Parliament in the 19th century. It predated the creation of political parties as they are understood today....
, a reformist and left-leaning faction in Parliament which was supported by small businessmen, small farmers, and the Labour movement (particularly miners), and which grew into the Liberal Party
New Zealand Liberal Party
The New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
.
Member of the Legislative Council
On 15 October 1892, he was appointed to the Legislative Council, the upper house of New Zealand. At the time, appointments were for a seven-year period. He was reappointed on 16 October 1899. Upon the expiry of his second term on 15 October 1906, the cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor that Montgomery be appointed for another term. But Montgomery decided to retire, and was granted permission to retain his title 'the Honourable'. 'The Honourable' became his nickname among his friends.Death and commemoration
Montgomery's wife Jane died young aged 43, several decades before him on 27 July 1879. Montgomery died at his residence in Little River on 21 December 1914. He was survived by two sons, William Hugh (1866–1958) and John (1874–1946). His son William Hugh MontgomeryWilliam Hugh Montgomery
William Hugh Montgomery was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party, from the Canterbury Region.Montgomery represented Ellesmere in the 12th and 13th parliaments from 1893 to 1899, when he was defeated....
represented Ellesmere
Ellesmere (New Zealand electorate)
Ellesmere was a parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand. It existed for two periods between 1861 and 1928 and was represented by six Members of Parliament.-Population centres:Ellesmere was a rural electorate...
in 1893–99. The couple are buried at the Barbadoes Street Cemetery
Barbadoes Street Cemetery
-Description:Some of the notable people buried at the cemetery include William Armson, William Montgomery, Frederic Jones and Henry Tancred. Six former Mayors of Christchurch are buried at the Barbadoes Street Cemetery:* Henry Sawtell...
in the central city of Christchurch
Christchurch Central City
Christchurch Central City is the geographical centre and the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is defined as the area within the four avenues and thus includes the densely built up central city, some less dense surrounding areas of residential, educational and industrial usage, and green...
, together with those of their children who died young.
Montgomery Street in Cheviot
Cheviot, New Zealand
Cheviot is a town in the Hurunui District of north Canterbury, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the Main North Line railway and State Highway 1 approximately north of Christchurch. It was originally called Mackenzie after politician John McKenzie, who was closely...
is named for William Montgomery. Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve above the Summit Road near Hilltop is a native bush reserve that William Hugh Montgomery donated to the Wairewa County Council in 1941. The gift was to commemorate both William Hugh and his father. It contains a tōtara
Podocarpus totara
Podocarpus totara is a species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand. It grows throughout the North Island and northeastern South Island in lowland, montane and lower subalpine forest at elevations of up to 600 m.-Description:...
estimated to be 2000 years old, with a girth of 8.5 m.
Montgomery Spur is located in the Port Hills
Port Hills
The Port Hills form the northern rim of the ancient Lyttelton volcano, separating the port of Lyttelton from the city of Christchurch in Canterbury, New Zealand...
between Rapaki Track and the Avoca Valley. It was named after John Montgomery. Part of the spur is Montgomery Spur Reserve, held by Christchurch City Council
Christchurch 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...
as a Scenic Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.