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Historical records matching George Hunter, JP
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About George Hunter, JP
http://www.museumnp.org.nz/early-settlers/voyageDetails.aspx?voyage...
Robert, his wife Margaret and 4 of their 5 children emigrated to NZ on board the 'New Zealand' which left Cumray on the Clyde on 4 July 1842 and arrived in Nelson, NZ on 4 November 1842. Their eldest child, daughter Ellen (aged 18) decided that she didn't want to go to New Zealand so stayed behind in Scotland. Robert Jnr was 15, Gardner was 12, Peter John was 8 and Sarah Jane was 5.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18531001.2.16?ite...
- Census: 1850 - Louisville, Saint Lawrence, New York, USA
- Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2021, 2:00:25 UTC
- Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2021, 2:00:25 UTC
George Hunter Esq., JP (1788 – 19 July 1843) was the first Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand in 1842–43. He was also the first mayor in New Zealand.
Family
Born in McDuff Parish, Banffshire, Scotland he came to Wellington in the ship Duke of Roxburgh in 1840, with his wife Helen, six daughters and four sons. Hunter's wife was the daughter of David Souter, Esq, Chief Factor to the Right Honorable James Duff, 4th Earl Fife.
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 on Lambton Quay, 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.
Hunter's eldest son, George Hunter and his grandson Sir George Hunter were both Members of Parliament.
Business interests
Prior to coming to New Zealand, Hunter had worked for a major mercantile establishment in Aberdeen. He moved to London where he worked as a merchant until leaving in 1839 for New Zealand with the New Zealand Company.
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. Hunter was the Storemaster-General of the New Zealand Company In April 1840 he was appointed as a Director of the Wellington Branch of the Union Bank of Australia. In 1841 Hunter was appointed to the Committee of the New Zealand Flax Association.
Civic duty
Hunter's first appointment to public office in Wellington was as a member of the Management Committee of the Port Nicholson Exchange Room and Public Library. He was one of the first Justices of the Court in Wellington, which was founded in October 1841, having been appointed a Justice of the Peace some time earlier. Hunter was also involved in creating regulations for managing Wellington Harbour.
With the passing of the Municipal Corporation Bill in 1842, Wellington was able to elect its own mayor and aldermen. On 3 October 1842, Hunter, with the most votes of the 12 aldermen elected to the new Wellington Borough, was declared elected. Initial business of the Council was the appointment of officers and organising its finances.
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. His funeral was a significant one, attended by both local Māori and Pākehā alike. He was buried at Bolton Street Cemetery.
He was succeeded as mayor by William Guyton.
Links and sources
- Wikipedia contributors. "George Hunter (mayor)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
- Biography of George Hunter - Te Papa Collections Online
- Past Mayors of Wellington - Wellington City Council
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George Hunter, JP's Timeline
| 1787 |
May 22, 1787
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Macduff, Gamrie, Banffshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
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May 25, 1787
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Gamrie, Banffshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
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| 1820 |
1820
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| 1821 |
October 17, 1821
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Banffshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
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| 1823 |
March 27, 1823
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| 1824 |
July 22, 1824
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| 1825 |
December 7, 1825
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| 1826 |
1826
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Scotland, United Kingdom
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| 1827 |
June 15, 1827
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Banffshire, Scotland (United Kingdom)
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