Richard Reeves (New Zealand politician)

Richard Harman Jeffares Reeves (1836 – 1 June 1910) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. He was acting Speaker of the Legislative Council in 1905.

The Honourable Richard Reeves
12th Speaker of the Legislative Council
In office 23 March 1905 – 30 June 1905
Preceded by	Alfred Cadman
Succeeded by	Charles Bowen
Personal details
Born	1836 Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland
Died	1 June 1910 Nelson, New Zealand
Political party	Liberal
Relations	Charles Stephen Reeves (brother)

Biography

Early life and career

Reeves was born in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, in 1836. He was educated at Barrow Grammar School, and subsequently at Tarvin, Cheshire. In early youth he went to sea and in 1852 he left England for Sydney, New South Wales. He worked in various trades, including mining, store keeping, cattle dealing and auctioneering.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1878–1879	6th	Grey Valley		Independent
1879–1881	7th	Grey Valley		Independent
1887–1890	10th	Inangahua		Independent
1890–1893	11th	Inangahua		Liberal

Whilst absent on a visit to Australia in 1866, he was elected member for the Hokitika electorate in the Canterbury Provincial Council, but resigned on his return to New Zealand, as he found that pressure of business prevented him from taking his seat.[1] His membership lasted from 4 July to 20 October 1866.[2] When the West Coast was separated from Canterbury, Reeves was elected onto the Westland County for the Hokitika riding (May 1869 – June 1870).[3] He represented the Grey electorate on the Nelson Provincial Council in the last few months before the abolition of the provincial governments (28 April 1876 – 31 October 1876).[4]

He represented the Grey Valley electorate in Parliament from an 1878 by-election, caused by the resignation of Martin Kennedy,[1] to 1881.[5] He was defeated for the Inangahua electorate in the 1881 general election, but won that electorate in 1887.[5] Reeves joined the Liberal Party when it was formed after the 1890 election and all through his political career he has been a consistent advocate of all liberal and labour measures.[1] He resigned on 26 April 1893 as he had been adjudged bankrupt.[5] At the November 1893 election, he contested the electorate once more, but came last of the three candidates.[6]

Reeves was appointed to the Legislative Council on 13 December 1895, and was reappointed at the end of the term in 1902 and 1909.[7] After the death of Alfred Cadman, he was acting Speaker in 1905 (23 March – 30 June).[8] He was Chairman of Committees for three periods between 1904 and his death on 1 June 1910.[9]

He died in Nelson aged 76 of a heart attack after an illness.[10][11] His wife had died in November 1908.[12][13] They are both buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery.[14]

Reeves was an elder brother of Charles Stephen Reeves, who was Mayor of Dunedin in 1876.[15]

See also

• 1893 Inangahua by-election

Notes

1. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present Members Of The Legislative Council". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
2. Scholefield 1950, p. 195.
3. Scholefield 1950, p. 243.
4. Scholefield 1950, p. 213.
5. Scholefield 1950, p. 134.
6. "The General Election, 1893". National Library. 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
7. Scholefield 1950, p. 83.
8. Scholefield 1950, p. 88.
9. Scholefield 1950, pp. 83, 89.
10. "Obituary". The Evening Post. 1 June 1910.
11. "Obituary". Mataura Ensign. 1 June 1910.
12. "Local & General News". Nelson Evening Mail. XLII (XLII). 17 November 1908. p. 2. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
13. "Obituary". Colonist. LI (12405). 21 November 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
14. "Plot record details". Nelson City Council. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
15. "Obituary". Evening Star. 1 June 1910.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Present Members Of The Legislative Council". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Who’s Who in New Zealand (1st edition, 1908)
• Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (1940)