Harry Beswick

Harry Joseph Beswick (2 May 1860 – 11 April 1934) was Mayor of Christchurch in 1896.[1]

Harry Beswick
Beswick during his mayoralty
22nd Mayor of Christchurch
In office
18 December 1895 – 17 December 1896
Preceded byWalter Cooper
Succeeded byWalter Cooper
Personal details
Born2 May 1860
Kaiapoi
Died11 April 1934(1934-04-11) (aged 73)
London, England
FatherJoseph Beswick
RelativesJames Mills (father-in-law)

Early life

Beswick was born in Kaiapoi in 1860, the son of Joseph Beswick. In the mid-1860s, his father was a member of parliament for the Kaiapoi electorate.[2] Beswick Jr received his education at Christ's College in Christchurch.[3] Beswick played rugby union for Christchurch Football Club and also played for the Canterbury representative team.[4]

On 25 October 1899, Beswick married Florence Ethel Mills (known as Florence) at St. Matthew's Church in Dunedin.[5] She was the second daughter of James Mills, the founder of the Union Steam Ship Company in Dunedin.[6]

Professional life

After school, he trained at Harper and Harper, solicitors in Christchurch. Later, he worked for Thomas Duncan and Henry Cotterill; the law firm still exists under the name Duncan Cotterill.[6][7]

Political career
Florence Beswick planting a Coronation oak in the Christchurch Domain in 1911

John Anderson resigned from Christchurch City Council in mid-April 1894 to visit England.[8] Anderson was succeeded in the North-West ward by Beswick who was unopposed for the position.[9] Beswick's term expired in September 1895 and he was again returned unopposed for the North-West Ward.[10] Beswick would by the end of 1895 be elected mayor.[11] He was installed as mayor on 18 December 1895.[12] In his speech after his installation, Beswick claimed that he was the youngest Christchurch mayor yet (he was 35 years and 7 months old)[12][13][14] but that was not correct. Andrew Duncan, the third mayor, had also been 35 years old when he got installed (although only Duncan's year of birth is known) but Fred Hobbs, the eighth mayor, got installed the day before his 33rd birthday.[15][16]

In October 1896, Mayor Beswick decided to stand for Parliament in the City of Christchurch electorate. He was eventually backed by the National Conservative Association.[17] He was one of eleven candidates in the three-member electorate in the 1896 election and came sixth.[18] Beswick did not stand for re-election as mayor, but a contest was held by former mayor Cooper and senior councillor John Tippett Smith.[19]

Beswick was again elected as a Christchurch city councillor in 1903 at the first elections for Greater Christchurch (when many suburbs got amalgamated). He served until 1905.[20][21]

Beswick was for many years chairman of the Christchurch Domain, now known as the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. An avenue of lime trees planted in 1917 in the domain is named Beswick's Walk in his honour.[22]

Death

Beswick died in London on 11 April 1934.[6][23]

References
  1. "Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 185. OCLC 154283103.
  3. "Ex Mayors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  4. "Harry Beswick: Footy Playing City Mayor". Christchurch Football Club. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. "A Dunedin Wedding". The Press. LVI (10487). 27 October 1899. p. 3. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. "Mr. H. J. Beswick". The Evening Post. CXVII (87). 13 April 1934. p. 16. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  7. "Duncan Cotterill celebrates 150 years" (Press release). Christchurch: Duncan Cotterill. Scoop. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  8. "A Departing Councillor". The Press. LI (8770). 17 April 1894. p. 4. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  9. "Local & General". The Star (4937). 28 April 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. "Christchurch City Council". Lyttelton Times. XCIV (10744). 6 September 1895. p. 8. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. "The Mayoral Elections". The Press. LII (9275). 28 November 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  12. "Mayoral Installations". The Star (5442). 18 December 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  13. "Mayoral Installations". Lyttelton Times. XCIV (10833). 19 December 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  14. "Christchurch". The Press. LII (9293). 19 December 1895. p. 3. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  15. "Ex Mayors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  16. "Mayoral Election : Christchurch". The Press. XXII (2910). 17 December 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  17. "In a Nutshell". The Star (5704). 24 October 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  18. "Page 3 Advertisements Column 3". The Star (5740). 7 December 1896. p. 3. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  19. "Mayoral Elections". Lyttelton Times. XCVI (11118). 18 November 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  20. "Councillors of the City of Christchurch". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  21. "Municipal Elections". Ashburton Guardian. XXI (5951). 30 April 1903. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  22. "Mrs Beswick planting a Coronation oak in the Christchurch Domain". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  23. "Deaths". The Press. LXX (21138). 13 April 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
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