Charles Melville Louisson

Born in London, relocated to Australia as a teenager and worked in farming and on the gold fields.

Moved to Christchurch to join his brother Alfred, later joined by brother Cecil and they bought a brewery.

He first became a Christchurch City Councillor for six years (1881-1887) before being elected mayor in 1887-1889 and 1897-1899.

He was appointed to the Legislative Council between 1900-1924.

He was a Freemason, President of the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club and helped secure the site of the Addington Raceway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Louisson

As a Freemason, Louisson held office for many years as District Grand Master for Canterbury under the Scottish Constitution.[1] Louisson was the first president of the Christchurch Beautifying Association.[9] He held leading positions in the Jewish congregation in Christchurch,[6] e.g. treasurer.[10]

Louisson married Hannah Harris on 3 July 1878, the second daughter of Maurice Harris, JP, of Christchurch.[1] Louisson had known Maurice Harris for many years, as Harris also held leading positions at the synagogue, e.g. president of the Jewish congregation.[10] The wedding was held at the Synagoge in Gloucester Street.[11][12] They had two sons (Maurice George,[13] born 26 May 1879;[14] Cecil, born 3 June 1880[15]%29 and two daughters (one of them born on 1 December 1881[16]).[1] The Louissons lived at 214 Gloucester Street for some years,[17][18] and had at another time a house in Colombo Street designed by Joseph Maddison, one of Christchurch's leading architects.[1]

http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-...

The HON. CHARLES LOUISSON, M.L.C., was Mayor of Christchurch for four terms; first in 1888 and 1889, and afterwards in 1898 and 1899. He is elsewhere referred to as a member of the Legislative Council.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11503-new-zealand

On four occasions C. Louisson was elected to the mayoral chair of Christchurch. He was a member of the first Charitable Aid and Hospital Board of New Zealand, a deputy inspector of the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum, and one of the New Zealand commissioners to the Melbourne Exhibition.