John Verrall (politician)

John Miles Verrall (1849 – 17 September 1921), also known as John Miles Verrell, was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand. In his later years, he was known throughout the country as an advocate for a state bank.[1]

For the American composer, see John Verrall.

Early life

Verrall was born in Lewes, Sussex, England, in 1849. He was a tenant farmer in his home country.[2] He married Louisa Waters Aylwin, the daughter of John Aylwin, of Plumpton, Sussex.[2][3] They emigrated to Queensland, Australia, in 1880, where he ran a cattle station with a partner. After a few years, he left his partner in charge of the cattle station and emigrated to New Zealand.[2]

New Zealand
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1888–1890 10th Ashley Independent
Advertisement placed by Verrall in the Oxford Observer in 1896; note the spelling of his surname

Verrall first settled in Ohoka, where he bought some land. In 1893, he sold up and moved to the nearby Swannanoa.[2] During his time in Swannanoa, he advertised as a photographer using the surname Verrell.[4]

Verrall first stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 1887 election in the Ashley electorate. Of the three candidates, he came last.[5] The successful candidate, William Fisher Pearson, died the following year, and this caused an 1888 by-election. Verrall was one of three candidates, and the result was very tight: he defeated Alfred Saunders by just two votes, and Marmaduke Dixon[6] was only nine votes behind him.[7] He represented the Ashley electorate to the end of the parliamentary term in 1890, when he retired.[8]

He contested the 1899 election in the Kaiapoi electorate, but his candidacy was not taken seriously.[9] As he did not even poll 10% of the vote, he lost his £10 deposit.[10]

He died at his homestead in Swannanoa on 17 September 1921.[1]

References
  1. "Obituary". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVIII, no. 17890. 19 September 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  2. Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda (PDF). Vol. II. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  3. Evans, Beverley. "Verrall - BMD". homepages.ihug.co.nz/~ashleigh/. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  4. "John Miles Verrall". Early Canterbury Photography. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  6. "Marmaduke Dixon – 1828–1895". Waimakariri Libraries. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. "Ashley Election". The Press. Vol. XLV, no. 7132. 31 July 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 242. OCLC 154283103.
  9. "Kaiapoi". The Press. Vol. LVI, no. 10522. 7 December 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. "The Results". The Press. Vol. LVI, no. 10523. 8 December 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  • Bio on early New Zealand photographers website
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