John Watts-Russell

John Charles Watts-Russell JP (1825 – 2 April 1875) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician, a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council and a member of the Legislative Council. He was supposedly the wealthiest of the early settlers, and his homestead became the centre of entertainment in Christchurch. He was a significant runholder and, together with a business partner, was responsible for building up the Canterbury sheep stock.

Early life

Watts-Russell was born in Ilam Hall in Staffordshire, England in 1825, one of nine children and the youngest son of the family. His father was Jesse Watts-Russell (1786–1875), a wealthy landowner and Conservative MP for the rotten borough of Gatton, and his mother was Mary Watts. His father, who was originally called Jesse Russell, took on the new family name of Watts-Russell in March 1817. Ilam in Staffordshire was built by his father. The valley and surrounding hills reminded his father of the Alps, and consequently he had some new cottages built in a Swiss chalet style and rehoused most of the villagers. In 1857 he built a school matching in style and funded its operation, at a time when schooling was not compulsory.

Watts-Russell purchased a commission in the 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons in 1845. While he was stationed in Ireland in 1850, he married Elizabeth Rose Rebecca Bradshaw. They decided to emigrate, and this decision might have been influenced by him wanting to escape the social stigma of having married beneath his social class. Elizabeth managed to hold onto a rope, but her husband, thinking that she was in trouble, attempted to rescue her. As he could not swim, he himself got into difficulty, so now Elizabeth tried to save him. They had already sunk twice before they got pulled out of the water. That land parcel was bounded by what are now Riccarton, Waimairi and Clyde Roads and the Waimairi Stream.

The Watts-Russells were wealthy and could afford staff; they were supposedly the richest settlers from the First Four Ships. This allowed them the time to participate in social and charitable activities. His wife was known for her charm and vivacity, and their home became one of the centres of entertainment in Christchurch.

Watts-Russell bought the Dalethorpe run off the Deans brothers in 1851 and owned it until 1866. In the early years, he had this run managed by Creyke. Watts-Russell had named it Dalethorpe after a family property back in his native Staffordshire. It was located in the Malvern Hills (named after the English Malvern Hills) behind Homebush, with Dalethorpe Road leading into the area.

Whilst their sheep ventures were most beneficial to the South Island economy, another of their ventures proved disastrous, as they introduced rabbits. Sitting after dinner at Ilam about a month ago, I said I saw no hope for a better state of public policy here unless there was a new newspaper started which would tell the truth without fear or favour. In five minutes the thing was settled. If I would undertake the management of it, it was to be started and five hundred pound was put down on the spot; it was soon found there was a little press and some types to be bought. I promised I would write and would exercise a general superintendence over the matter... The first number appeared three weeks after the conversation referred to.

Overseas travel England In February 1856, they returned to England after having leased their house and sold all their furniture. His wife was quite sick at the time. They returned in January 1858 on the Westminster and had Elizabeth's sister, Mary Ann Bradshaw, with them. They also brought 20,000 bricks with them for a new house. but was rebuilt by the then-owner, ornithologist Edgar Stead. The house and grounds passed to Canterbury College, now the University of Canterbury, in 1950. For many years, the house was the residence of the rector (now the vice-chancellor), and is these days used as the staff club for the university.

He was the first Grand Master of the Freemasons in Canterbury. She died on 7 October 1905 at Horsham, West Sussex. Dovedale Avenue in Ilam is named after their staff member Sarah Hodgkinson's birthplace.