Charles Gray MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch North | |
| In office 1905–1908 | |
| Preceded by | new electorate |
| Succeeded by | Tommy Taylor |
| 17th Mayor of Christchurch | |
| In office 1891–1892 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Manning |
| Succeeded by | William Prudhoe |
| In office 1904–1905 | |
| Preceded by | Henry Wigram |
| Succeeded by | John Hall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1853 Geelong |
| Died | 11 June 1918 Christchurch |
| Nationality |  New Zealand |
Charles Mathew Gray (1853 – 11 June 1918) was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Christchurch North, and Mayor of Christchurch.
Early life
editCharles Gray was born in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia and came to New Zealand in 1862.
Local body politics
editGray was elected to the Christchurch City Council in 1885. Mayoral elections were held on 26 November 1890. The two candidates were the incumbent, Samuel Manning, and Gray, who received 492 and 665 votes, respectively. Gray was thus elected as the 17th mayor of Christchurch.[1] He was mayor until 1892, and again in 1904 to 1905. His chief aims were beautifying the city, drainage, sanitation, lighting and high pressure water supply.
Member of Parliament
edit| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Christchurch North | Independent | ||
Charles Gray represented the Christchurch North electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from the 1905 election to 1908.
Gray defeated Tommy Taylor in the 1905 contest for Christchurch North.
Gray made it clear during the election campaign that he was an independent Liberal who would go to the House unfettered by party obligations. He declared that he was not a 'party man'.[2]
Death
editGray died in Christchurch on 11 June 1918 and was buried at Linwood Cemetery two days later.[3]
References
edit- ^ "THE MAYORAL ELECTIONS". The Star. Issue 7021, 27 November 1890. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Lyttelton Times, 18 November 1905
{{citation}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) p.7 - ^ "Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
Further reading
edit- Whitcher, G. F. (1966), The New Liberal Party 1905, [M.A.(Hons.) - University of Canterbury]
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985), The New Zealand Parliamentary Record: 1840-1984 (4th ed.), Wellington, [N.Z.]: Government Printer
Category:Independent MPs of New Zealand
Category:Mayors of Christchurch
Category:People of the New Zealand Wars
Category:New Zealand businesspeople
Category:New Zealand businesspeople in retailing
Category:New Zealand people of Australian descent
Category:People from Geelong
Category:1853 births
Category:1918 deaths
Category:New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates
Category:Burials at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch