Joseph Ward (Marlborough politician)

Joseph Ward (1817 – 12 November 1892) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament from Marlborough, New Zealand.

Joseph Ward
Ward in the 1880s
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Wairau
In office
21 June  6 December 1875
Personal details
Born1817
Tixall, Staffordshire, England
Died12 November 1892(1892-11-12) (aged 75)
Blythefield, Blenheim, New Zealand
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Martha Redwood
RelationsHenry Redwood (brother-in-law)
Francis Redwood (brother-in-law)

Early life

Ward was born at Tixall in Staffordshire, England. He was baptised at Tixall on 21 August 1817.[1] He emigrated to Nelson in 1842 on the George Fyfe.[2] He travelled with his wife, Martha, and her family; Henry Redwood and Francis Redwood were her brothers.[3] He was a devout Catholic.[4] Since 1854, he had lived in Brookby, a locality some 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Renwick.[4]

Ward was a surveyor by trade, and he surveyed parts of the Wairau Valley, and the town and district of Kaikōura. He became a significant runholder who at one point had 46,000 sheep.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1875 5th Wairau Independent

Ward was elected to the first Nelson Provincial Council for the Wairau electorate; he and Charles Elliott were declared elected unopposed.[5] Ward represented the Wairau electorate for five years. When the Marlborough Province split off from Nelson, Ward was elected onto the Marlborough Provincial Council and had continuous representation until the abolition of the provincial system in 1876.[6] Ward's first attempt of getting elected to the general assembly was in the 1872 Wairau by-election, but he was beaten by Arthur Seymour. When Seymour resigned in 1875 prior to a trip to England, Ward won the resulting 1875 by-election and represented the electorate from 21 June to 6 December,[6] when he was defeated for Cheviot.[7]

Death and commemoration

Ward had been ill for a few months prior to his death, and for the last few days was unconscious. He died on 12 November 1892 at his home. He was survived by his wife, six sons, and two daughters.[4][8]

Wards Pass, an alpine pass that lies between the valleys of the upper Acheron and Awatere Rivers, was discovered by Ward and his brother-in-law, Cyrus Goulter, in March 1847, and is named after him.[1]

Notes

  1. Orr, Katherine W. "Ward, Joseph". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  2. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Former Members Of The House Of Representatives". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  3. Dickinson, Mollie. "Henry Redwood". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  4. "Local and General News". The Marlborough Express. XXVIII (267). 12 November 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  5. "Election of two members to represent the Wairau in the Provincial Council". Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle. XII (597). 13 August 1853. p. 7. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. Scholefield 1940, pp. 459f.
  7. Wilson 1985, p. 243.
  8. "Death". The Marlborough Express. XXVIII (267). 12 November 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2015.

References

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Arthur Seymour
Member of Parliament for Wairau
1875
Succeeded by
Arthur Seymour
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