Alfred Newman (politician)

1896 caricature of Dr Alfred Newman

Newman was born in Madras, India, in 1849. His father was commander of an East India Company ship. The family migrated to New Zealand in 1853 and farmed at Waipukurau. He received his primary education in the Hawke's Bay Region and Auckland, and travelled in 1863 to receive his secondary education in Bath, England.[1]

Newman became a doctor of medicine and returned to New Zealand in 1875.[1]

Newman was a Wellington City Councillor from 1881 to 1885. He was Mayor of Wellington in 1909–1910.[1]

Newman contested the 1881 election in the Foxton electorate, where he came fifth of six candidates, beaten by James Wilson.[2]

The resignation of William Levin from the Thorndon electorate caused an 1884 by-election. At the nomination meeting, Thomas Dwan, Alfred Newman and Henry Bunny were proposed as candidates, with Dwan winning the show of hands.[3] At the election on 14 May 1884, Newman, Bunny and Dwan received 636, 379 and 121 votes, respectively.[4]

He was married to Octavia Featherston (1854–1912), daughter of Isaac Earl Featherston, a leading colonial politician. Newman was to have one son. The family prospered, owning estates at Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, and also ran small thoroughbred stud.[1]

At the 1884 election, Newman was re-elected unopposed.[5] At the 1887 election, Newman beat William McLean by 873 to 425 votes.[6]

The Thorndon electorate was abolished at the end of the parliamentary term in 1890.[7] Newman successfully contested the Hutt electorate in the 1890 election.[8] At the 1893 election, he successfully contested the Suburbs of Wellington electorate. He was defeated in 1896 when he stood for Otaki.[9] In the 1899 election, he came second in the Suburbs of Wellington electorate.[10]

Later he was MP for Wellington East, from 1911 to 1922, when he retired.[9] From 1909, he belonged to the Reform Party.[8]

He was a member of the Legislative Council from 1 June 1923 to when he died on 3 April 1924,[11] and for many years was on the Wellington Education Board, the Wellington College Board of Governors and the Senate of the University of New Zealand.[1]

Newman Terrace in Wellington is named after him.[12]

• Irvine-Smith, F. L. (1948). The Streets of My City. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed.
• No Mean City by Stuart Perry (1969, Wellington City Council) includes a paragraph and a portrait or photo for each mayor
• Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.