John Stevens (New Zealand politician)

John Stevens (1845 – 31 July 1916) was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand.

John Stevens MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Rangitikei
In office 1881 – 1884
Preceded by	William Fox
Succeeded by	Robert Bruce
In office 1893 – 1896
Preceded by	Robert Bruce
Succeeded by	Frank Lethbridge
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Manawatu
In office 1896 – 1902
Succeeded by	Job Vile
In office 1905 – 1908
Preceded by	Job Vile
Succeeded by	Edward Newman
Personal details
Born	1845 Wellington, New Zealand
Died	31 July 1916 Bulls, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal

Biography

Early life

Stevens was born in Wellington in 1845.[1] Stevens moved north and resided in first the Rangitikei then Manawatu districts from 1854. He made a living in agricultural until 1873, when he was hired by Henry Russell as an assistant and interpreter during a Native Lands Alienation Commission at Napier. He pursued an occupation as a Maori interpreter and land agent, then began an auctioneering and land agency in 1875.[2]

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1881–1884	8th	Rangitikei		Independent
1893–1896	12th	Rangitikei		Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Manawatu		Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Manawatu		Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Manawatu		Liberal

Stevens represented the Rangitikei electorate from 1881 to 1884 when he was defeated, and then from 1893 to 1896.[3] He unsuccessfully contested the Palmerston electorate in the 1890 election.[4]

Stevens contested the 1892 Rangitikei by-election as an Independent Liberal as the Liberal Party was reluctant to endorse him in light of the recent Bruce by-election in which the candidate the Liberal Party endorsed lost by a large margin. Stevens lost by only 61 votes.[5]

He later returned to parliament, representing the Manawatu electorate from 1896 to 1902 when he was defeated, and from 1905 to 1908 when he was again defeated.[3] Stevens served as the Liberal Party's Senior Whip from 1900 until 1902.[6]

Later life

In his later years, he had become blind and his lower limbs were paralysed, but he was in good spirits and would not allow others to sympathise with him. He was in the midst of a conversation with friends when he leaned back and died on 31 July 1916.[7][8]

Notes

1. "Interprovincial". The Press. LII (15657). 1 August 1916. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
2. "The New Members. Biographical Sketches". The Evening Post. Wellington. 7 December 1905. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
3. Wilson 1985, pp. 236.
4. "The General Election, 1890". National Library. 1891. p. 1. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
5. "Rangitikei Election". The Press. 49 (8190). 4 June 1892. p. 6. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
6. Wilson 1985, pp. 279–80.
7. "Interprovincial". Poverty Bay Herald. XLIII (14058). 31 July 1916. p. 5. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
8. "Interprovincial". The Press. LII (15658). 2 August 1916. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2013.

References

• The New Zealand Liberals: the Years of Power 1891–1912 by David Hamer (1988, Auckland University Press, Auckland)
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.