Orton Stevens

Orton Stevens (2 February 1865 – 27 May 1914) was a New Zealand businessman and politician. A large man with an imposing frame he was Mayor of Lower Hutt from 1900 to 1905.

Orton Stevens
4th Mayor of Lower Hutt
In office
24 April 1901 – 26 April 1905
Preceded byWilliam Fitzherbert
Succeeded byThomas William McDonald
Personal details
Born(1865-02-02)2 February 1865
Forbes, New South Wales
Died27 May 1914(1914-05-27) (aged 49)
Whangamarino, New Zealand
Political partyReform
Children2
ProfessionInsurance manager

Biography

Stevens was born in 1865 at Forbes in New South Wales. Upon leaving school he gained employment in the insurance industry at the office of the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria, that later amalgamated with the National Mutual Life Assurance Society in 1896. At the time of amalgamation Stevens was appointed as the company's assistant secretary in its Queensland office. In 1898 he was appointed New Zealand manager for National Mutual.[1]

In 1901 he was elected Mayor of Lower Hutt, defeating the incumbent Edmund Percy Bunny He served until 1905 when he retired.[2] His mayoralty was dominated by the need to build a new bridge over the Hutt River (the fifth time a new bridge was required). He lobbied the government hard for funding and logistical assistance. The Prime Minister Richard Seddon was loathe to commit support, but was eventually convinced by Stevens to help.[3]

He died in 1914 at a Whangamarino in a train accident which killed two other people.[4] He was survived by his wife and two children.[1] At the time of his death he was expected to stand in the 1914 election in the Hutt electorate for the Reform Party.[5]

Notes
  1. "The Late Orton Stevens". The Evening Post. Vol. LXXXVII, no. 124. 27 May 1914. p. 8.
  2. McGill 1991, p. 212.
  3. McGill 1991, p. 124, 127.
  4. "Mr. Orton Stevens Killed". Nelson Evening Mail. Vol. XLVIII, no. XLVIII. 27 May 1914. p. 6.
  5. "The Late Orton Stevens – To Have Stood for Reform". Waikato Times. No. 12878. 27 May 1914. p. 4.

References
  • McGill, David (1991). Lower Hutt – The First Garden City. Petone, New Zealand: The Lower Hutt City Council. ISBN 1-86956-003-5.
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