Lewis was born in Christchurch on 21 September 1857.[1] His father, David Lewis, was a farmer in Halswell and one of the early settlers of Canterbury. On 25 December 1856, his father had married Annie Gould, a sister of George Gould (G. Gould's son, also George Gould, would thus be Lewis' cousin).[2] His mother Annie died in February 1860 when Lewis was two years old.[3] Lewis attended Christ's College in his home city, and Clifton[4] and Malvern Colleges in England. Upon his return to New Zealand in 1874, he was employed as a farmer in Springfield, Ellesmere, and Brookside, until he inherited his father's farm in Halswell upon his death in 1874.[5][6][7]
Lewis was a member of various local bodies, most importantly the Halswell Road Board.[6] In the 1890 election, he was secretary to the election committee of William Rolleston, who stood in the Halswell electorate that year. Lewis himself was asked to stand in rural electorates in 1890 and 1893, but he refused; partially because of a weak constitution of his health.[8]
When William Pember Reeves' appointment as Agent-General to the United Kingdom caused a vacancy in the City of Christchurch electorate, Lewis was on the committee of the National Association (i.e. the opposition) and was part of a small majority that decided that the resulting 1896 by-election should be contested by conservative interests. Together with two others, he was tasked with finding a suitable candidate, and it was him who informed the print media that a conservative candidate would stand. No candidate being found, Lewis saved the situation by consenting to become the candidate himself.[8] Due to vote splitting between liberal candidates,[9] he unexpectedly won the 13 February 1896 by-election.[10]
Lewis was confirmed by the voters in the 1896 and 1899 general elections, but as he had predicted, he found the parliamentary work demanding to his health. At the time, sessions regularly extended into the evening or the early morning, sometimes even all night. He missed the last week of the session in 1900 due to exhaustion.[8] During the parliamentary recess, Lewis invited the electorate to a meeting on 3 June 1901 to present his views for the upcoming session. Queen Victoria had died earlier in the year, and the royal tour of Prince George, Duke of Cornwall and York and his wife Mary were about to visit Christchurch, and as The Press noted, there was little interest in politics at the time.[11] Consequently, the speech was poorly attended—only about 60 people turned up—and Lewis was so disappointed about the lack of support by the constituency that on 7 June, he sent his resignation to the Speaker of the House.[8][12] The resulting by-election was won by George John Smith.[5][13]
Lewis had a number of race horses that at times were successful at winning. He was a committee member of the Canterbury A&P Association.[6] He was on the board of governors of Canterbury College and from 1904 to 1907, he was the board's chairman.
Death
Lewis retired to Waipukurau, in the North Island and "died there by his own hand on 28 November 1927. He was nervous and ill at the time".[14]
^"Marriage". Lyttelton Times. Vol. VII, no. 435. 3 January 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
^"Died". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XIII, no. 760. 18 February 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^"Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p20: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948
^ ab"Mr. Charles Lewis". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Canterbury Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
^ abc"The Christchurch Election". The Star. No. 5489. 14 February 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
^"Death". The Press. Vol. XXII, no. 2704. 8 April 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
^ abcd"Mr Lewis Explains". The Press. Vol. LVIII, no. 10993. 17 June 1901. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
^"The Star". No. 5457. 8 January 1896. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
charles, lewis, zealand, politician, charles, lewis, september, 1857, november, 1927, independent, conservative, member, parliament, zealand, charles, lewisportrait, charles, lewismember, zealand, parliament, city, christchurchin, office, february, 1896, 1901p. Charles Lewis 21 September 1857 28 November 1927 was an independent conservative Member of Parliament in New Zealand Charles LewisPortrait of Charles LewisMember of the New Zealand Parliament for City of ChristchurchIn office 13 February 1896 1901Preceded byWilliam Pember ReevesSucceeded byGeorge John SmithMember of the New Zealand Parliament for CourtenayIn office 1902 1908Preceded bynew electorateSucceeded byelectorate abolishedPersonal detailsBorn21 September 1857ChristchurchDied28 November 1927 1927 11 28 aged 70 Political partya Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Other interests 4 Death 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life EditLewis was born in Christchurch on 21 September 1857 1 His father David Lewis was a farmer in Halswell and one of the early settlers of Canterbury On 25 December 1856 his father had married Annie Gould a sister of George Gould G Gould s son also George Gould would thus be Lewis cousin 2 His mother Annie died in February 1860 when Lewis was two years old 3 Lewis attended Christ s College in his home city and Clifton 4 and Malvern Colleges in England Upon his return to New Zealand in 1874 he was employed as a farmer in Springfield Ellesmere and Brookside until he inherited his father s farm in Halswell upon his death in 1874 5 6 7 Political career EditNew Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party1896 12th City of Christchurch Independent1896 1899 13th City of Christchurch Independent1899 1901 14th City of Christchurch Independent1902 1905 15th Courtenay Independent1905 1908 16th Courtenay IndependentLewis was a member of various local bodies most importantly the Halswell Road Board 6 In the 1890 election he was secretary to the election committee of William Rolleston who stood in the Halswell electorate that year Lewis himself was asked to stand in rural electorates in 1890 and 1893 but he refused partially because of a weak constitution of his health 8 When William Pember Reeves appointment as Agent General to the United Kingdom caused a vacancy in the City of Christchurch electorate Lewis was on the committee of the National Association i e the opposition and was part of a small majority that decided that the resulting 1896 by election should be contested by conservative interests Together with two others he was tasked with finding a suitable candidate and it was him who informed the print media that a conservative candidate would stand No candidate being found Lewis saved the situation by consenting to become the candidate himself 8 Due to vote splitting between liberal candidates 9 he unexpectedly won the 13 February 1896 by election 10 Lewis was confirmed by the voters in the 1896 and 1899 general elections but as he had predicted he found the parliamentary work demanding to his health At the time sessions regularly extended into the evening or the early morning sometimes even all night He missed the last week of the session in 1900 due to exhaustion 8 During the parliamentary recess Lewis invited the electorate to a meeting on 3 June 1901 to present his views for the upcoming session Queen Victoria had died earlier in the year and the royal tour of Prince George Duke of Cornwall and York and his wife Mary were about to visit Christchurch and as The Press noted there was little interest in politics at the time 11 Consequently the speech was poorly attended only about 60 people turned up and Lewis was so disappointed about the lack of support by the constituency that on 7 June he sent his resignation to the Speaker of the House 8 12 The resulting by election was won by George John Smith 5 13 Lewis then represented the Courtenay electorate in Canterbury from 1902 to 1908 when he retired 13 Other interests EditLewis had a number of race horses that at times were successful at winning He was a committee member of the Canterbury A amp P Association 6 He was on the board of governors of Canterbury College and from 1904 to 1907 he was the board s chairman Death EditLewis retired to Waipukurau in the North Island and died there by his own hand on 28 November 1927 He was nervous and ill at the time 14 Notes Edit Birth certificate 1857 6781 Department of Internal Affairs Marriage Lyttelton Times Vol VII no 435 3 January 1857 p 4 Retrieved 8 November 2019 Died Lyttelton Times Vol XIII no 760 18 February 1860 p 4 Retrieved 9 November 2019 Clifton College Register Muirhead J A O p20 Bristol J W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society April 1948 a b Mr Charles Lewis The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Canterbury Provincial District Christchurch The Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903 Retrieved 27 March 2010 a b c The Christchurch Election The Star No 5489 14 February 1896 p 2 Retrieved 16 April 2016 Death The Press Vol XXII no 2704 8 April 1874 p 2 Retrieved 9 November 2019 a b c d Mr Lewis Explains The Press Vol LVIII no 10993 17 June 1901 p 3 Retrieved 16 April 2016 The Star No 5457 8 January 1896 p 1 Retrieved 16 April 2016 Wilson 1985 pp 212 229 The Press Vol LVIII no 10982 4 June 1901 p 4 Retrieved 16 April 2016 Resignation of Mr C Lewis M H R The Press Vol LVIII no 10989 12 June 1901 p 5 Retrieved 16 April 2016 a b Wilson 1985 p 212 Charles Lewis entry in G R MacDonald Dictionary of Biographies Canterbury Museum Christchurch New ZealandReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Lewis New Zealand Wilson James Oakley 1985 First published in 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1984 4th ed Wellington V R Ward Govt Printer OCLC 154283103 New Zealand ParliamentPreceded byWilliam Pember Reeves Member of Parliament for Christchurch1896 1901 Served alongside William Whitehouse Collins 1896 1899 1901 George John Smith and Tommy Taylor 1896 1899 Harry Ell 1899 1901 Succeeded byGeorge John SmithAcademic officesPreceded byArthur Rhodes Chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College1904 1907 Succeeded byGeorge Warren Russell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Lewis New Zealand politician amp oldid 1092287274, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
