Samuel Manning

Samuel Manning (1841 – 21 November 1933) was a New Zealand brewer and Mayor of Christchurch in 1890.

Early life and family Manning was born in Suffolk in 1841 and attended primary school at Needham Market. Together with his father and three siblings, he arrived on 23 December 1856 in Lyttelton on the Egmont; Bishop Harper and his family arrived on the same ship.

On 11 July 1861, Manning married Ellen Piper at St Michael's Church. His wife died, after some indifferent health, on 8 December 1894 aged 54. She was interred at Barbadoes Street Cemetery.

On 3 July 1897, he married the widow Margaret Mary Innes, the daughter of William Healy of Nelson.

Professional life Like his father William, he was a maltster and brewer by trade. In 1865, he founded his own brewing company, S. Manning and Co, in Ferry Road. He sold this company in 1882 but remained its managing director until 1889.

Later in life, he was on the board of several large companies or was a director, including the Mutual Benefit Building Society, the Provident and Industrial Insurance Company, the Crown Iron Works Company, and the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. and the Drainage Board in 1882. Manning was first elected as a councillor of Christchurch City Council in 1885, and he was re-elected in 1888. When he received a deputation from influential citizens in that respect a few days later, the local newspaper, The Press, gave councillor Manning a glowing report card. Councillor William Prudhoe was also asked to stand but he eventually declined, and Manning was declared elected unopposed. Manning was installed as mayor on 18 December 1889.

Mayoral elections were held on 26 November 1890. The two candidates were the incumbent, Samuel Manning, and Charles Gray, who received 492 and 665 votes, respectively. Gray was thus elected as the 17th mayor of Christchurch and was installed on 17 December 1890.

During his time on council, Manning was one of the strong advocates for amalgamating the outlying boroughs and districts with the city.

Death and commemoration Manning died on 21 November 1933 at his home in Holly Road, St Albans. Manning Street in Woolston is named after him.