Thomas Gapes (1848 – 16 April 1913) was Mayor of Christchurch 1893/94. His father James Gapes was twice mayor in the 1870s/80s. The family was of humble origin, had come out to New Zealand from London as assisted immigrants and were running a painting and paper-hanging business, but had come to status in their new country.
Gapes was born in London in 1848,[1] to James Gapes and his wife Jane (née Le Lean). His father had moved there from Saffron Walden in Essex. The Gapes family emigrated to New Zealand in 1859 when Thomas was eleven years old. The parents came out with their children and other relatives – Hannah (21 years), Charlotte (16 years), Mary (7 years), Angelina (5 years) and Emily (8 months), plus his father's cousin Lizzie Westwood (b. 1826 in Hertfordshire).[2] They left Gravesend on 29 August 1859 and arrived in Lyttelton on 4 December 1859 on board the Regina.[3]
Gapes received part of his education in London, and part of it in Christchurch.[1]
Professional lifeedit
Gapes worked in his father's painting and paper-hanging business in 71 Victoria Street, Christchurch. He took over the business in 1889 when his father retired.[1]
Political careeredit
Before 1916, elections for Christchurch City Council were held annually. Gapes became a Member of the City Council in 1890 for the North-East Ward, was re-elected 1893, 1894 and was then represented from 1905 to 1913.[4][5]
On 29 November 1893, Gapes contested the mayoral election against the incumbent, Eden George.[6] George had been the youngest mayor so far (at the 1893 election, he was 30 years of age[7]) and was the only mayor thus far who had not previously served as a councillor, that is he had not had any political experience. George had been ineffective as a mayor, and had been in conflict with the councillors.[8] Gapes and George received 820 and 365 votes, respectively, which represented the largest majority in a Christchurch mayoral election at that time.[9] Gapes was installed as the new mayor at a council meeting on 20 December[10] and was mayor during 1894.[11] During his mayoralty, he was involved with several relief and charitable funds, including for the sinking on 29 October 1894 of the SS Wairarapa, which was one of New Zealand's deadliest disasters.[12]
The next mayoral election was held on 28 November 1894.[13] Gapes stood again, and was challenged by two sitting councillors, Walter Cooper and Edward Smith.[14][15] Cooper, Gapes, and Smith received 587, 364, and 246 votes, respectively.[16] Cooper was thus declared elected and was installed as mayor on 19 December 1894.[12]
Family and deathedit
On 23 February 1876, he married Marion (or Marianne) Elizabeth Prebble (24 September 1852 – 17 March 1919) at St Luke's Church in Christchurch.[17][18] They had one daughter, Bertha Marion (29 January 1877 – 4 August 1954).[1][19][20]
Gapes had come from a working-class background, but the family gained a high status in Christchurch. When the Canterbury edition of The Cyclopedia of New Zealand was produced, it was him who wrote the various entries for the Gapes family. As the Cyclopedia was vanity press, it gave Gapes the chance to downplay the family's humble background, and he focussed on their important associations in Christchurch.[21]
Gapes died at his Christchurch residence on 16 April 1913, aged 65,[22] and was buried at Linwood Cemetery.[23] His wife, Marion Elizabeth Gapes, died on 17 March 1919, aged 65.[21]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Ex Mayors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
^"Unsung Heroines – Lizzie Coker". Christchurch: Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^"Regina". New Zealand Yesteryears. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
^. Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
^"Ex Councillors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
^"Christchurch". The Star. No. 4807. 22 November 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^"Brief Mention". Marlborough Express. Vol. XXIX, no. 311. 27 December 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^"Mayoral Elections". The Star. No. 4814. 30 November 1893. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^"Mayoral Installations". The Star. No. 4830. 20 December 1893. p. 3. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
^"Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
^ ab"Christchurch". North Otago Times. Vol. XXXVII, no. 8161. 21 December 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^"Mayoral Elections". The Press. Vol. LI, no. 8956. 21 November 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^"Mayoral Elections". Colonist. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 8102. 21 November 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^"Civic Institutions". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
^"Mayoral Elections". The Press. Vol. LI, no. 8963. 29 November 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^Sheehan, Christine. "James was the son of George PREBBLE". reap.co.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
^"Marriage". The Press. Vol. XXV, no. 3272. 25 February 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
^"Births". Search for registration number 1877/2267: The Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 2 June 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^Sheehan, Christine. "George was the first son of James Prebble and 1st wife Anna Maria GURR". reap.co.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
^ abGreenaway, Richard L. N. (June 2007). "Linwood Cemetery Tour" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 27. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
^"Personal Matters". Evening Post. Vol. LXXXV, no. 91. 18 April 1913. p. 7. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^"Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Gapes.
Biography for Alice Gapes, sister-in-law of Thomas Gapes
thomas, gapes, 1848, april, 1913, mayor, christchurch, 1893, father, james, gapes, twice, mayor, 1870s, family, humble, origin, come, zealand, from, london, assisted, immigrants, were, running, painting, paper, hanging, business, come, status, their, country, . Thomas Gapes 1848 16 April 1913 was Mayor of Christchurch 1893 94 His father James Gapes was twice mayor in the 1870s 80s The family was of humble origin had come out to New Zealand from London as assisted immigrants and were running a painting and paper hanging business but had come to status in their new country Thomas GapesThomas Gapes wearing mayoral chains20th Mayor of ChristchurchIn office 20 December 1893 19 December 1894Preceded byEden GeorgeSucceeded byWalter CooperPersonal detailsBorn1848LondonDied16 April 1913ChristchurchResting placeLinwood CemeteryRelationsJames Gapes father William Gapes uncle Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional life 3 Political career 4 Family and death 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editGapes was born in London in 1848 1 to James Gapes and his wife Jane nee Le Lean His father had moved there from Saffron Walden in Essex The Gapes family emigrated to New Zealand in 1859 when Thomas was eleven years old The parents came out with their children and other relatives Hannah 21 years Charlotte 16 years Mary 7 years Angelina 5 years and Emily 8 months plus his father s cousin Lizzie Westwood b 1826 in Hertfordshire 2 They left Gravesend on 29 August 1859 and arrived in Lyttelton on 4 December 1859 on board the Regina 3 Gapes received part of his education in London and part of it in Christchurch 1 Professional life editGapes worked in his father s painting and paper hanging business in 71 Victoria Street Christchurch He took over the business in 1889 when his father retired 1 Political career editBefore 1916 elections for Christchurch City Council were held annually Gapes became a Member of the City Council in 1890 for the North East Ward was re elected 1893 1894 and was then represented from 1905 to 1913 4 5 On 29 November 1893 Gapes contested the mayoral election against the incumbent Eden George 6 George had been the youngest mayor so far at the 1893 election he was 30 years of age 7 and was the only mayor thus far who had not previously served as a councillor that is he had not had any political experience George had been ineffective as a mayor and had been in conflict with the councillors 8 Gapes and George received 820 and 365 votes respectively which represented the largest majority in a Christchurch mayoral election at that time 9 Gapes was installed as the new mayor at a council meeting on 20 December 10 and was mayor during 1894 11 During his mayoralty he was involved with several relief and charitable funds including for the sinking on 29 October 1894 of the SS Wairarapa which was one of New Zealand s deadliest disasters 12 The next mayoral election was held on 28 November 1894 13 Gapes stood again and was challenged by two sitting councillors Walter Cooper and Edward Smith 14 15 Cooper Gapes and Smith received 587 364 and 246 votes respectively 16 Cooper was thus declared elected and was installed as mayor on 19 December 1894 12 Family and death editOn 23 February 1876 he married Marion or Marianne Elizabeth Prebble 24 September 1852 17 March 1919 at St Luke s Church in Christchurch 17 18 They had one daughter Bertha Marion 29 January 1877 4 August 1954 1 19 20 Gapes had come from a working class background but the family gained a high status in Christchurch When the Canterbury edition of The Cyclopedia of New Zealand was produced it was him who wrote the various entries for the Gapes family As the Cyclopedia was vanity press it gave Gapes the chance to downplay the family s humble background and he focussed on their important associations in Christchurch 21 Gapes died at his Christchurch residence on 16 April 1913 aged 65 22 and was buried at Linwood Cemetery 23 His wife Marion Elizabeth Gapes died on 17 March 1919 aged 65 21 References edit a b c d Ex Mayors The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Canterbury Provincial District Christchurch Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903 Retrieved 16 March 2010 Unsung Heroines Lizzie Coker Christchurch Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 22 February 2010 Regina New Zealand Yesteryears Retrieved 2 June 2010 Councillors of the City of Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch City Council Archived from the original on 20 July 2011 Retrieved 12 May 2010 Ex Councillors The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Canterbury Provincial District Christchurch Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903 Retrieved 3 June 2010 Christchurch The Star No 4807 22 November 1893 p 3 Retrieved 23 April 2012 Mr Eden George 1863 1927 Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 23 June 2019 Brief Mention Marlborough Express Vol XXIX no 311 27 December 1893 p 2 Retrieved 23 April 2012 Mayoral Elections The Star No 4814 30 November 1893 p 2 Retrieved 23 April 2012 Mayoral Installations The Star No 4830 20 December 1893 p 3 Retrieved 23 April 2012 Chairmen and mayors Christchurch Christchurch City Council Retrieved 10 February 2010 a b Christchurch North Otago Times Vol XXXVII no 8161 21 December 1894 p 1 Retrieved 12 April 2013 Mayoral Elections The Press Vol LI no 8956 21 November 1894 p 5 Retrieved 12 April 2013 Mayoral Elections Colonist Vol XXXVIII no 8102 21 November 1894 p 3 Retrieved 12 April 2013 Civic Institutions The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Canterbury Provincial District Christchurch Cyclopedia Company Limited 1903 Retrieved 13 April 2013 Mayoral Elections The Press Vol LI no 8963 29 November 1894 p 5 Retrieved 12 April 2013 Sheehan Christine James was the son of George PREBBLE reap co nz Retrieved 13 April 2013 Marriage The Press Vol XXV no 3272 25 February 1876 p 2 Retrieved 13 April 2013 Births Search for registration number 1877 2267 The Department of Internal Affairs Retrieved 2 June 2010 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint location link Sheehan Christine George was the first son of James Prebble and 1st wife Anna Maria GURR reap co nz Retrieved 13 April 2013 a b Greenaway Richard L N June 2007 Linwood Cemetery Tour PDF Christchurch City Libraries p 27 Retrieved 2 June 2010 Personal Matters Evening Post Vol LXXXV no 91 18 April 1913 p 7 Retrieved 12 April 2013 Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database Christchurch City Libraries Retrieved 18 August 2011 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Gapes Biography for Alice Gapes sister in law of Thomas Gapes Civic officesPreceded byEden George Mayor of Christchurch1893 1894 Succeeded byWalter Cooper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Gapes amp oldid 1168250844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
