Frederic Jones
Encyclopedia
Frederic Jones was a New Zealand
politician. Originally from England, he settled in the colony in 1863 for health reasons.
region in England
. He received his education from the Reverend G. Wharton, vicar
of Kinver
, and learned the trades of architecture and surveyor. He was employed by the architecture firm Haslam and Butler in London
.
In January 1863, Jones arrived in Lyttelton
with his brother T. D. Jones on the Chariot of Fame. His second brother, John Humphreys, remained in Dalston
, London. The main reason for emigration was to improve his health by a change of climate.
Jones was for several years employed in the office of the builder Jenkins, and he worked in the office of Messrs W. Montgomery and Co after that. Jenkins, Jones and a Mr Innes started a flax mill in Kaiapoi
, but the business failed. The site was later occupied by the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company.
He was a member of the Heathcote Road Board, including its chairman. In 1880, he was chosen to represent the Heathcote
district on the South Waimakariri Board of Conservators, which later became the South Waimakariri River Board. For some time, he chaired the board and retired from the it in December 1887, owing to parliamentary workload. In January 1882, he was chosen as the Heathcote Road Board representative on the Drainage Board, but he resigned from that role in May of that year.
In 1881, he was elected onto the Selwyn County Council
as the representative for the Heathcote riding, and remained a councillor until his death. His main contributions were a principal part in organising the Halswell
drainage scheme and securing the Cashmere
Hills domain as a public reserve. From 1883 until his death, he was the chairman of the board that administered this domain. He was appointed in 1885 by the Selwyn County Council as their representative on the Hospital Board, and on the Charitable Aid Board, the latter of which he chaired in 1886-87. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Hospital Board.
, who represented the Heathcote electorate
in parliament
, caused the February 1887 Heathcote by-election. There were several people interested in standing in the electorate, including the former Heathcote MP William Wynn-Williams
, but with Jones and the current Mayor of Christchurch
, Aaron Ayers considered as the only contenders of having a chance of success, most other candidates withdrew from the contest. On nomination day on 2 February 1887, Jones and Ayers were nominated. A third person, James Arthur Williams, nominated himself, but could not find anybody to second this motion. Thus, the by-election was a two-person contest. On election day, 8 February 1887, the majority opinion was that Ayers would win. There was great interest in the election, as evidenced by the high turnout. Jones had a considerable majority over Ayers, with 527 and 336 votes, respectively. The 191 votes majority was mirrored by Jones having won all four polling stations.
At the 26 September 1887 general election, Jones and J. H. Hopkins were nominated. Hopkins was an active supporter of Jones for the by-election some seven months earlier and had proposed him at the 2 February nomination meeting, but had developed policy differences with regards to the economic recession. Jones and Hopkins received 756 and 309 votes, respectively. Hence, the majority for Jones was 447 votes, and he was elected to the 10th Parliament
.
Jones was a first cousin of Edward Wingfield Humphreys
, who represented the Christchurch North
electorate in 1889-90.
. On the day of his death, the House of Representatives adjourned their meeting for almost five hours out of respect for the deceased member. He was buried at the Barbadoes Street Cemetery
on 10 September.
As his death was close to the next general election, which was held in December 1890, there was no by-election for the vacant seat. The Heathcote seat was won by William Tanner
.
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. Originally from England, he settled in the colony in 1863 for health reasons.
Early life
Jones was the third son of John Humphreys Jones, from the ShropshireShropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
region in 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...
. He received his education from the Reverend G. Wharton, vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Kinver
Kinver
Kinver is a large village in South Staffordshire district, Staffordshire, England. It is in the far south-west of the county, at the end of the narrow finger of land surrounded by the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. The nearest towns are Stourbridge in the West...
, and learned the trades of architecture and surveyor. He was employed by the architecture firm Haslam and Butler in London
London
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...
.
In January 1863, Jones arrived in Lyttelton
Lyttelton, 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....
with his brother T. D. Jones on the Chariot of Fame. His second brother, John Humphreys, remained in Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London. The main reason for emigration was to improve his health by a change of climate.
Jones was for several years employed in the office of the builder Jenkins, and he worked in the office of Messrs W. Montgomery and Co after that. Jenkins, Jones and a Mr Innes started a flax mill in Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
, but the business failed. The site was later occupied by the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company.
Political career
Jones held numerous offices in local government, and was later described as the foremost expert in the country on local government matters.He was a member of the Heathcote Road Board, including its chairman. In 1880, he was chosen to represent the 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...
district on the South Waimakariri Board of Conservators, which later became the South Waimakariri River Board. For some time, he chaired the board and retired from the it in December 1887, owing to parliamentary workload. In January 1882, he was chosen as the Heathcote Road Board representative on the Drainage Board, but he resigned from that role in May of that year.
In 1881, he was elected onto the Selwyn County Council
Selwyn District
The Selwyn District is a predominantly rural area in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Selwyn River, which is in turn named after Bishop George Selwyn, the first Anglican bishop of New Zealand who, in 1843 and 1844, travelled the length of...
as the representative for the Heathcote riding, and remained a councillor until his death. His main contributions were a principal part in organising the Halswell
Halswell
Halswell is a satellite town of Christchurch, New Zealand, located in open country nine kilometres southwest of the city centre on State Highway 75...
drainage scheme and securing the Cashmere
Cashmere, New Zealand
The suburb of Cashmere rises above the southern end of the city of Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island.-Geography:Cashmere is situated on the north side of the Port Hills, immediately above the southern terminus of Christchurch’s main street, Colombo Street...
Hills domain as a public reserve. From 1883 until his death, he was the chairman of the board that administered this domain. He was appointed in 1885 by the Selwyn County Council as their representative on the Hospital Board, and on the Charitable Aid Board, the latter of which he chaired in 1886-87. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Hospital Board.
Member of Parliament
The death on 17 December 1886 of John CosterJohn Coster
John Lewis Coster was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Christchurch, New Zealand.He represented the Heathcote electorate from 1884 to 1886, when he died.-References:...
, who represented the Heathcote electorate
Heathcote (New Zealand electorate)
Heathcote was a 19th century parliamentary electorate in Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:Heathcote existed from 1861 to 1893.George Williamson Hall resigned in 1862. He was succeeded by William Sefton Moorhouse in the 1862 by-election...
in parliament
Parliament of New Zealand
The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to as "Parliament".The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 Members of...
, caused the February 1887 Heathcote by-election. There were several people interested in standing in the electorate, including the former Heathcote MP William Wynn-Williams
William Wynn-Williams
William Henry Wynn-Williams was a 19th century Member of Parliament from Canterbury, New Zealand. He was a prominent lawyer in Christchurch.-Early life:...
, but with Jones and the current 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...
, Aaron Ayers considered as the only contenders of having a chance of success, most other candidates withdrew from the contest. On nomination day on 2 February 1887, Jones and Ayers were nominated. A third person, James Arthur Williams, nominated himself, but could not find anybody to second this motion. Thus, the by-election was a two-person contest. On election day, 8 February 1887, the majority opinion was that Ayers would win. There was great interest in the election, as evidenced by the high turnout. Jones had a considerable majority over Ayers, with 527 and 336 votes, respectively. The 191 votes majority was mirrored by Jones having won all four polling stations.
At the 26 September 1887 general election, Jones and J. H. Hopkins were nominated. Hopkins was an active supporter of Jones for the by-election some seven months earlier and had proposed him at the 2 February nomination meeting, but had developed policy differences with regards to the economic recession. Jones and Hopkins received 756 and 309 votes, respectively. Hence, the majority for Jones was 447 votes, and he was elected to the 10th Parliament
10th New Zealand Parliament
The 10th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and 91 European electorates on 7 and 26 September 1887, respectively. A total of 95 MPs were elected. Parliament was prorogued in October 1890...
.
Jones was a first cousin of Edward Wingfield Humphreys
Edward Wingfield Humphreys
Edward Wingfield Humphreys was a New Zealand member of parliament representing Christchurch North from 1889 to 1890. He was also a farmer in Otago, and his extended family included a number of political figures.-Early life:...
, who represented the Christchurch North
Christchurch North (New Zealand electorate)
Christchurch North is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.The electorate was in the northern suburbs of Christchurch, New Zealand.-History:The electorate existed three times:*1881 to 1890;*1905 to 1946;...
electorate in 1889-90.
Death
Jones died on 8 September 1890 after several months of illness at his home in Lichfield Street, Christchurch Central CityChristchurch 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...
. On the day of his death, the House of Representatives adjourned their meeting for almost five hours out of respect for the deceased member. He was 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...
on 10 September.
As his death was close to the next general election, which was held in December 1890, there was no by-election for the vacant seat. The Heathcote seat was won by William Tanner
William Tanner (New Zealand)
William Wilcox Tanner was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. In 1905 he was associated with the New Liberal Party group.-Early life:...
.