Oswald Curtis (1821 – 1 March 1902) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician born in London, England, on 20 January 1821. He was the son of Stephen Curtis and Eleanora Llewellyn. He migrated to Nelson in 1853, arriving on 18 June.[1][2]
Curtis had been a passenger on the barque Mahomed Shah. The ship sailed from England for New Zealand on 15 January 1853. On 18 April, about 400 miles south of Cape Leeuwin, the ship caught fire. All on board were rescued two days later by the brig The Ellen under Captain Pardon. The Ellen was sailing from Mauritius to Hobart. The ship's position was given as 40°10′00″S119°10′00″E / 40.16667°S 119.16667°E / -40.16667; 119.16667.[3] Those rescued were taken to Hobart, arriving there on 6 May 1853.[citation needed]
He was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council from 1857 to 1867,[4] becoming its Superintendent in March 1867 when Alfred Saunders resigned. He remained Superintendent until 1876 when the Provinces were abolished.[5] Curtis was also a member of parliament for the City of Nelson from 1866 to 1879, when he was defeated.[6] During his term as a member of Parliament, for one month between 10 September and 11 October 1872 Curtis was Commissioner of Stamps and Customs, Post-Master General and Telegraphs Commissioner under the short lived third Stafford Ministry.[7]
As Superintendent, Curtis opened the Nelson Waterworks on 16 April 1868 and turned the first sod at Stoke for the cutting of the Nelson-Foxhill Railway on 6 May 1873.[8]
Community service
Curtis had been, at various times, Magistrate, Warden, Coroner, College Governor at Nelson. He was also Fellow of the New Zealand University and held a seat on its senate from 1870 to 1888.[9]
Curtis was also the second President of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Alfred Fell (father of Charles Fell).[10]
He died at his residence 'Highbury' in Nelson on 1 March 1902 aged 81.[11]
Notes
^Obituary, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 52, 3 March 1902, Page 2
oswald, curtis, 1821, march, 1902, 19th, century, zealand, politician, born, london, england, january, 1821, stephen, curtis, eleanora, llewellyn, migrated, nelson, 1853, arriving, june, contents, mahomed, shah, political, career, community, service, notes, re. Oswald Curtis 1821 1 March 1902 was a 19th century New Zealand politician born in London England on 20 January 1821 He was the son of Stephen Curtis and Eleanora Llewellyn He migrated to Nelson in 1853 arriving on 18 June 1 2 Oswald Curtis Contents 1 Mahomed Shah 2 Political career 3 Community service 4 Notes 5 ReferencesMahomed Shah EditCurtis had been a passenger on the barque Mahomed Shah The ship sailed from England for New Zealand on 15 January 1853 On 18 April about 400 miles south of Cape Leeuwin the ship caught fire All on board were rescued two days later by the brig The Ellen under Captain Pardon The Ellen was sailing from Mauritius to Hobart The ship s position was given as 40 10 00 S 119 10 00 E 40 16667 S 119 16667 E 40 16667 119 16667 3 Those rescued were taken to Hobart arriving there on 6 May 1853 citation needed Political career EditNew Zealand Parliament Years Term Electorate Party1866 1870 4th City of Nelson Independent1871 1875 5th City of Nelson Independent1875 1879 6th City of Nelson IndependentHe was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council from 1857 to 1867 4 becoming its Superintendent in March 1867 when Alfred Saunders resigned He remained Superintendent until 1876 when the Provinces were abolished 5 Curtis was also a member of parliament for the City of Nelson from 1866 to 1879 when he was defeated 6 During his term as a member of Parliament for one month between 10 September and 11 October 1872 Curtis was Commissioner of Stamps and Customs Post Master General and Telegraphs Commissioner under the short lived third Stafford Ministry 7 As Superintendent Curtis opened the Nelson Waterworks on 16 April 1868 and turned the first sod at Stoke for the cutting of the Nelson Foxhill Railway on 6 May 1873 8 Community service EditCurtis had been at various times Magistrate Warden Coroner College Governor at Nelson He was also Fellow of the New Zealand University and held a seat on its senate from 1870 to 1888 9 Curtis was also the second President of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce succeeding Alfred Fell father of Charles Fell 10 He died at his residence Highbury in Nelson on 1 March 1902 aged 81 11 Notes Edit Obituary Nelson Evening Mail Volume XXXVI Issue 52 3 March 1902 Page 2 Obituary Colonist Volume XLV Issue 10347 3 March 1902 Page 2 A pioneer settler Colonist Volume LXII Issue 15326 15 March 1920 Page 5 Scholefield 1950 p 212 Scholefield 1950 p 209 Scholefield 1950 p 102 Scholefield 1950 p 34 The Nelson Waterworks Colonist Volume XLVII Issue 11294 30 March 1905 Page 2 Obituary Star Issue 7362 3 March 1902 Page 3 Early History of the Chamber of Commerce Nelson Evening Mail Volume XLIII 8 June 1909 Page 2 Death Colonist Volume XLV Issue 10347 3 March 1902 Page 2References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oswald Curtis Scholefield Guy 1950 First ed published 1913 New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840 1949 3rd ed Wellington Govt Printer Political officesPreceded byAlfred Saunders Superintendent of Nelson Province1867 1876 Provincial Councils abolishedPreceded byJulius Vogel Postmaster General1872 Succeeded byJulius VogelNew title Telegraph Commissioner1872New Zealand ParliamentPreceded byAlfred Domett Member of Parliament for Nelson1866 1879 Served alongside Edward Stafford Nathaniel Edwards Martin Lightband David Luckie John Sharp Acton Adams Succeeded byAlbert Pitt Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oswald Curtis amp oldid 1027691431, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
