William Prudhoe

William Prudhoe JP (14 January 1832 – 29 April 1908) was Mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand, for 1892.[1]

William Prudhoe
18th Mayor of Christchurch
In office
16 December 1891  21 December 1892
Preceded byCharles Gray
Succeeded byEden George
Personal details
Born14 January 1832
Sunderland
Died29 April 1908(1908-04-29) (aged 76)
264 Montreal Street, Christchurch Central City
Professionbuilder

Early life

Prudhoe was born Sunderland, England. He received his education at a public school and then undertook an apprenticeship as a builder and mason. He married Anne (Annie) Adamson in 1855 and they had two boys in England; the second one (Joseph) born in Durham.[2][3] They emigrated on the Regina, arriving in Lyttelton on 4 December 1859.[2][4] The Prudhoes never returned to England.[5] They had one further child in New Zealand; Mary Evangaline was born in 1867.[6]

Professional life

Prudhoe participated in one of the New Zealand gold rushes as a digger after his arrival.[7] Otherwise, was self-employed in Christchurch. He built many of the town's important buildings, including the first section of the Canterbury Museum (1870),[8] the Kaiapoi Borough School (1874),[9] Coker's Hotel in Manchester Street (1879),[10] the synagoge in Gloucester Street (1881),[11][12] and Bonnington's (or Bonnington House) in High Street (1883).[13] For many years, he was in a partnership with William Henry Cooper.[14]

Political career

Gravestone for William and Anne Prudhoe at Linwood Cemetery

Prudhoe was first elected onto Christchurch City Council for the North-west ward in September 1882[15] and remained a member until his election as mayor.[16][17] Prudhoe announced his intention to run for mayor and for a long time, it was expected that he was going to be returned unopposed. George Bonnington, another city councillor, received a petition to stand for election that he acceded to. Prudhoe won the election, held on 25 November 1891, by 604 votes to 544.[18] Prudhoe was installed as mayor on 16 December 1891.[19] He served for one term and did not stand for re-election in November 1892.[20] He was succeeded by Eden George, who was installed on 21 December 1892.[21]

Prudhoe was again elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1894 and remained a city councillor until 1901.[12] He was a member of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board and was on the Hospital Board for five years.[16]

Community involvement

While still in England, he was a member of the Odd Fellows.[12] He was "Grand Master of the Orange Order for the Middle Island" (i.e. South Island).[16] He took a deep interest in the Canterbury Bowling Club in Salisbury Street.[12]

Death

Prudhoe died on 29 April 1908 at his home in Montreal Street in the central city. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery two days later.[22] He was survived by his wife and their three children.[16] His wife died on 24 November 1909.[23] Their son Joseph died in 1930.[3][24] Their eldest son, William, died in 1934.[25] Their daughter, never having married, died in 1951.[26]

References

  1. "Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  2. "Ex Mayors". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District). Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company Limited. 1903. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  3. Macdonald, George. "Macdonald Dictionary Record: Joseph Cumberland Prudhoe". Macdonald Dictionary. Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  4. "Shipping news". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XII, no. 739. 7 December 1859. p. 4. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  5. Husband, Dale (17 June 2017). "Karin Williams – reclaiming our stories and our culture through filmmaking". E-tangata. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  6. "Registration number 1867/327". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  7. Eldred-Grigg, Stevan (2014). Diggers, hatters, whores : the New Zealand gold rushes. Random House. ISBN 978-1869797041. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  8. "The Museum". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XXXIV, no. 3059. 31 October 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  9. "Kaiapoi". The Press. Vol. XXII, no. 2863. 12 October 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  10. "Cokers Hotel, 52 Manchester Street". Kete Christchurch. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  11. Goldman, Lazarus Morris (1958). The History of the Jews in New Zealand. Wellington: Reed Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  12. "Obituary: Mr W. Prudhoe". The Press. Vol. LXIV, no. 13103. 30 April 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  13. "Commercial Building and Setting – 225 High Street, Christchurch" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  14. "Magisterial". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XLIII, no. 4452. 21 May 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  15. "Christchurch". The Press. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 5313. 15 September 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  16. "Obituary". Lyttelton Times. Vol. CXIX, no. 14671. 30 April 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  17. Macdonald, George. "Macdonald Dictionary Record: William Prudhoe". Macdonald Dictionary. Canterbury Museum. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  18. "Christchurch". The Press. Vol. XLVIII, no. 8030. 26 November 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  19. "Town & Country". Lyttelton Times. Vol. LXXVI, no. 9598. 16 December 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  20. "Mayoral Elections". The Star. No. 7434. 1 December 1892. p. 4. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  21. "Christchurch". The Star. No. 7450. 21 December 1892. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  22. "Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  23. "Deaths". Lyttelton Times. Vol. CXX, no. 15160. 25 November 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  24. "Obituary: Mr. J. C. Prudhoe". The Press. Vol. LXVI, no. 19862. 25 February 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  25. "Registration number 1934/5034". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  26. "Registration number 1951/24733". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
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