Thomas Dick

Thomas Dick (13 August 1823 – 5 February 1900) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician. Originally a merchant, he worked in London and then represented his firm on Saint Helena for seven years. From there, he was sent to Dunedin as the company's representative; he emigrated with an extended family. He soon became involved in politics and was Superintendent of Otago Province from 1865 until 1867. Over a period of 24 years, he represented various Dunedin electorates in Parliament and was Colonial Secretary (1880–1884), Minister of Justice from 1881 to 1882, and Minister of Education from 1881 to 1884. A deeply religious man, he was involved in many church affairs. He was one of the founders of Hanover Street Baptist Church; the building is now classified as Category I by Heritage New Zealand.

Early life Dick was born in Edinburgh, the son of Thomas Dick and Marjorie Dick (née Sherriff). The family moved to London, but he was sent back to Edinburgh for his education. He was employed by London merchandise firms and his second employer sent him to Saint Helena as their company representative in 1850 for seven years. There he married his second wife, Elizabeth Clarissa Darling in 1850. He was transferred to Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1857, arriving there with his wife, four children, his wife's mother (Elizabeth Darling) and his wife's siblings on the ship Bosworth on 26 November. He became an auctioneer in Dunedin. and was Superintendent from 1865 to 1867. of John Hyde Harris, who claimed significant differences in opinion with his executive, as well as a need to devote more time to his private financial affairs, as reasons for his resignation. At the nomination meeting, Dick, Henry Clapcott and Edward McGlashan were proposed. Clapcott had been on the Executive of the Provincial Council from May 1864 (when he was first elected onto the council) until April 1865. McGlashan had been on the first Council (1853–1855) and had represented the City of Dunedin electorate in Parliament from 1860 until his resignation in 1862. Clapcott withdrew his candidacy (apparently, he was not well received by the voters) and resigned from the council a month later. The election was held on 4 August 1865 and with 990 votes to 565, Dick achieved a clear majority.

He represented four Dunedin electorates, first the City of Dunedin electorate from 1860 to 1862 and 1862 to 1863, then the Port Chalmers electorate in and 1866–1867, then the City of Dunedin electorate again from to 1881, then the Dunedin West electorate from to 1884, when he was defeated by William Downie Stewart by 504 votes to 480 in the . Previously he had not been defeated; he had resigned the seat he then held in 1862, 1863, 1866, 1867 and 1881. Dick contested the Dunedin West electorate again in the , but he was again defeated by Stewart by a similar margin (708 votes to 695). He was then offered to be appointed to the Legislative Council, but he declined and retired from politics.

Family and death In London, he married Mary Barber in 1846. and died on 31 July 1892 in Christchurch and is buried at Linwood Cemetery.

His first wife died in 1849, and he remarried in 1850 at Saint Helena to Elizabeth Clarrissa Darling, and there were two sons and one daughter by this marriage. His daughter, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Low died on 9 September 1924. Both Thomas and Elizabeth Low are buried in the family grave.

His son James Bertram Dick (1859-1930) married Edith Ellen Boot (1865-1945) in 1893. He became a bank manager, and she became a national officer in the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand in 1896. His last address was George Street, Dunedin. He is also buried at Dunedin Southern Cemetery, but not in the family grave.

His mother-in-law, Elizabeth Darling, who had been born on Saint Helena, died on 9 April 1883. His sister-in-law, Agnes Darling, married Andrew Fleming. From 1865, 'Dick & Fleming' traded as land agents. Agnes Fleming died at her residence in Molesworth Street, Wellington on 16 June 1899 and was also interred at Dunedin Southern Cemetery. Another sister-in-law, Charlotte Darling, married Henry Wirgman Robinson. She died at Naseby on 26 October 1873 in childbirth, aged 35, and was also buried in the family grave.

Thomas Dick's second wife died on 29 April 1869 at their residence 'Viewmount' in Queen Street, Dunedin. She is also buried at South Dunedin Cemetery.

He remarried in 1871 to Elizabeth "Eliza" Reid Walker (née Stewart) at Invercargill. She was the widow of Frederick Walker (d. 1866 ), who was Provincial Treasurer of Otago and whom Dick knew from the voyage on the Bosworth. Eliza Reid Dick was a founding secretary in May 1885 of the Dunedin chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand (WCTU NZ). She continued supporting the WCTU NZ campaigns, including signing the petition for women to win the right to vote in 1893. She served as the president of the Dunedin Union from 1895 to 1899, hosting the national convention for the WCTU NZ in Dunedin in April 1896. She assisted with the work and fundraising for the Leavitt House and the Sailor's Rest, both religiously inspired social reform efforts in Dunedin.

Dick died at his residence 'Viewmount' on 5 February 1900. He was survived by his third wife, one daughter and his two sons.

Dick Street in Kihikihi is named for him. Elizabeth Reid Dick died in 1906 and is buried in the family grave.