William Montgomery

William John Alexander Montgomery ( 1821 – 21 December 1914) was a New Zealand politician and merchant from Little River on Banks Peninsula. Born in London, he lived in a number of places and pursued a number of occupations before settling in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Private life

Early life

Montgomery was from an old Scottish family that had settled in Ireland. He was born in London and baptised on 14 January 1821. His father was Josias Montgomery, a saddler, and his mother was Eleanor Martin. His father was killed in a hunting accident in 1825, and William was educated in Belfast at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, where his uncle Henry Montgomery was head of English. He bought the wharf in Heathcote and imported timber from the bays on Banks Peninsula for the Christchurch market. This developed into a company as a timber merchant.

The Canterbury Club was founded in 1872 to provide an alternative to those businessmen who had less of a rural background, as was common with Christchurch Club members. Montgomery chaired the initial meeting. Both the Canterbury and Christchurch clubs still exist.

Montgomery served as acting honorary consul for the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway in Christchurch from 22 January 1872, and as honorary consul from 12 March 1875 to 6 August 1881.

Political career

Local politics Montgomery was elected onto the first Heathcote Road Board in 1864. In 1865, he was elected onto the Canterbury Provincial Council for the Heathcote constituency. He held this seat until 1870. to fill the vacancy left by Andrew Duncan. He was elected without opposition. was provincial treasurer in 1868, deputy superintendent for a brief period in 1868 and leader of the Executive Council in 1874–75.

In July 1874, a select committee declared Montgomery's election to be "null and void", as he had a contract for the supply of railway sleepers with the general government in breach of election rules. The select committee accepted that the breach was inadvertent. Montgomery stood for re-election in the 10 August 1874 by-election and was returned unopposed.

Montgomery opened the Little River railway in 1884 and worked on the extension to Akaroa, which did not proceed. He announced on 1 July 1887 that he would not stand for re-election because of ill health. Six candidates stood for the 1887 general election in Akaroa; former Akaroa mayor Alexander McGregor won by a large margin.

Ministerial appointments During the first Stout-Vogel ministry, in August 1884, he was colonial secretary and the 4th Minister of Education. The Stout-Vogel ministry lasted for two weeks from 16 to 28 August 1884. He unselfishly stood aside when Stout needed to give ministries to Auckland members to continue in power.

Member of the Legislative Council On 15 October 1892, he was appointed to the Legislative Council, then the upper house of New Zealand. At the time, appointments were for a seven-year period. He was reappointed on 16 October 1899. Upon the expiry of his second term on 15 October 1906, the Cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor that Montgomery be appointed for another term. But Montgomery decided to retire, and was granted permission to retain his title 'the Honourable'. 'The Honourable' became his nickname among his friends. Montgomery died at his residence in Little River on 21 December 1914. He was survived by two sons, William Hugh (1866–1958) and John (1874–1946). Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve above the Summit Road near Hilltop is a native bush reserve that William Hugh Montgomery donated to the Wairewa County Council in 1941. The gift was to commemorate both William Hugh and his father. It contains a tōtara estimated to be 2000 years old, with a girth of 8.5 m.

Montgomery Spur is located in the Port Hills between Rapaki Track and the Avoca Valley. It was named after John Montgomery.