John Ollivier (25 March 1812 – 31 July 1893) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand, but was better known for his membership of the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was the second chairman of the Christchurch Town Council.

Early life

Ollivier was born in 1812 on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...

in England. His parents were Claude Nicholas Ollivier (c.1780–c.1855) and Ann Wilby (c.1782–c.1820). Ollivier was educated in France. He worked as a publisher in London for about 20 years. The most popular work that he published was ''Eothen; or Traces of travel brought home from the East'' by Alexander William Kinglake. He married Elizabeth Morton in 1839. They had a large family, with 10 children born before they emigrated, and one more son born in Christchurch. Their 8th son, Arthur Morton, was born in 1851 and achieved some prominence as a cricketer, mountaineer and businessman. The family came to New Zealand on the ''John Taylor''; the ship left London on 10 July 1853 and arrived in Lyttelton on 18 October. He took up farming next to what is now known as Halswell Road, opposite the suburb of

Aidanfield Aidanfield is a suburb in the south-west of Christchurch, New Zealand, about from the city centre. The land, which had been owned by the Good Shepherd Sisters since 1886, now incorporates the Mount Magdala Institute and the St John of God ...

. After a few years, he moved into town and built a house on Ferry Road, where he lived for the rest of his life. In

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

, he established himself as an auctioneer with premises in High Street. He also worked as an accountant and became known as a humorist.

Political career

;Town Council Ollivier was elected onto the Christchurch Town Council for the period from 1863 to 1865, and was selected by his fellow councillors as their chairman for the 1863–1864 council year. He was the second chairman, and the role is the forerunner to the position of

Mayor of Christchurch The mayor of Christchurch is the elected head of local government in Christchurch, New Zealand; one of 67 Mayors in New Zealand, mayors in the country. The mayor presides over the Christchurch City Council and is directly elected using the First ...

. ;Provincial Council Ollivier was first elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1855 for the Christchurch Country electorate. He served until the dissolution of the 1st Provincial Council in July 1857. He then stood in the Heathcote electorate and was elected onto the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Provincial Council (1857–1863). During the term of the 4th Provincial Council in early 1863, he stood in the City of Christchurch electorate, and he represented that electorate until the dissolution of the 4th Council in May 1866. When the Superintendency of James FitzGerald came to an end in 1857, it was generally expected that

Joseph Brittan Joseph Brittan (12 January 1806 – 27 October 1867) was a New Zealand surgeon, newspaper editor, and provincial councillor, was one of the dominant figures in early Christchurch. Born into a middle-class family in southern England, he followed ...

would succeed him. Brittan published his political views in a long letter that appeared in the ''

Lyttelton Times The ''Lyttelton Times'' was the first newspaper in Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand, publishing the first edition in January 1851. It was established by the Canterbury Association as part of its planned community, planned settlem ...

'' for several months.

William Sefton Moorhouse William Sefton Moorhouse ( 1825 – 15 September 1881) was a British-born New Zealand politician. He was the second Superintendent of Canterbury Province. Early life Moorhouse was born in Yorkshire, England, and baptised on 18 December 1825; th ...

announced his candidacy months later, was less experienced and the worse public speaker of the two candidates. It was Ollivier's support as a skilled orator that gained Moorhouse the Superintendency at the election on 30 October 1857 and Ollivier was regarded as the 'kingmaker'. Ollivier had a reputation as 'perhaps the best after-dinner speaker'. Ollivier served on the Executive Council from 8 December 1857 to 8 November 1859, and again from 21 November 1859 to 2 January 1860. He was speaker of the council from 30 May 1865 to 7 May 1866. ;Parliament Ollivier contested the seat of

Christchurch Country Christchurch Country was a parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region of New Zealand from 1853 to 1860. It was thus one of the original 24 electorates used for the 1st New Zealand Parliament. Geography The area covered by the Christchurc ...

against

Crosbie Ward Crosbie Ward (10 February 1832 – 10 November 1867) was a New Zealand politician who served as member of parliament. Early life Ward was born in Killinchy, Ireland, on 10 February 1832, to Rev. Henry Ward. His paternal grandfather was Edwar ...

, following the resignation of Dingley Askham Brittin. At 14 October , Ollivier was returned with 191 votes, a majority of 71 over Ward. Ollivier resigned on 20 January 1860, and Isaac Cookson was returned to represent the electorate. John Olliver Tce

Ollivier stood for parliament again late in his life. On the first occasion, the resignation of Arthur O'Callaghan from the electorate on 9 November 1888 caused the 16 January between Ollivier and

Alfred Saunders Alfred Saunders (12 June 1820 – 28 October 1905) was a New Zealand farmer, reformer, women's suffrage and temperance advocate and politician. He was Superintendent of Nelson Province and represented several electorate in the New Zealand Hous ...

. Saunders congratulated Ollivier for the humorous and witty campaign and remarked that "he had not heard a more amusing speech at a nomination than that of Mr Ollivier". Saunders won the election with 676 votes to 332. The resignation of Sir

Julius Vogel Sir Julius Vogel (24 February 1835 – 12 March 1899) 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. He was the first Jewish prime min ...

caused the 19 June 1889 by-election in the Christchurch North electorate, contested by three candidates. Edward Humphreys beat Ollivier by a small margin, with Eden George (a later mayor of Christchurch) coming a distant third.

Death and commemoration

Ollivier died on 31 July 1893. He was buried at Woolston Cemetery. John Olliver Terrace in Halswell is named after him (this is the area where he first farmed), but his surname is misspelt. The street is in a recent subdivision and the name was approved in 1999. Olliviers Road in Linwood was named after him and is located near his Ferry Road residence. The road name first appeared in a report to the Heathcote Road Board in 1877.

References

;Sources * * * * , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Ollivier, John 1812 births 1893 deaths Burials at Woolston Cemetery Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Members of the Canterbury Provincial Council Christchurch City Councillors Mayors of Christchurch Members of Canterbury provincial executive councils New Zealand MPs for South Island electorates Politicians from the Isle of Wight English emigrants to New Zealand