Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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The Hon. John Davies Ormond, M.L.C., was a member of four Ministries,—as Minister of Public Works in the Fox Ministry for nine months ending the 10th of September, 1872, and again in the Waterhouse Administration in the same year for a few days; as Secretary for Crown Lands and Minister for Immigration in the short-lived Atkinson Government of 1876, and in the re-constituted ministry that followed he was Postmaster-General, and Commissioner of Telegraphs for a short time, but took his old portfolio of Public Works, which he held till the resignation of that Government on the 13th of October, 1877. Born in 1832 at Wallingford, Berks, England, Mr. Ormond was educated at various places in the Old Land, and came to New Zealand at sixteen years of age per ship “Ralph Burnell.” In 1849 he became private secretary to Mr. E. J. Eyre, the Lieutenant-Governor of New Munster, as the South Island was at that time called—a position which he held for some two years. Soon after, he settled in Hawkes Bay, when that district was included in the Province of Wellington. On the passing of the New Provinces Act in 1858, Hawkes Bay was constituted a separate province, and Mr. Ormond warmly espoused its cause. He held the office of Superintendent for some years, and with the late Sir Donald McLean made its interests a special study up to the abolition of the Provinces in 1876. Mr. Ormond also acted as Government Agent, having charge of the East Coast district up to East Cape on the one side, and as far as Taupo on the other. Throughout the trying time when Te Kooti threatened the inhabitants of Hawkes Bay, East Coast, and Taupo, Mr. Ormond directed operations, and was specially thanked for his services in the Governor's speech to Parliament. He describes this period as “the most troublous time I ever had in my life.” Sir Donald McLean, then Native Minister, was his friend and associate. With the exception of one Parliament, the subject of this notice has continuously held a seat in the Legislative halls of the Colony since 1861, when he was first returned to Parliament as member for Clive. After representing this constituency for many years, the honourable gentleman was called to the Upper House in 1891, and has been most regular in his attendance since his appointment. He was married in 1859 to Miss Richardson, in Hawkes Bay, and his family consists of two daughters and three sons, who are all settled in that fertile part of New Zealand.