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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

The Hon. Thomas Dick

The Hon. Thomas Dick, sat in three successive Ministries, in which he held besides others, the portfolios of Colonial Secretary and Minister for Education. He was a member of the Hall Government from March, 1880, to April, 1882, and held the portfolio of Justice for about a year. In the Whitaker Government that succeeded, he had the position of Minister for Justice for six months, and was Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs for nearly twelve months. Throughout the third Atkinson Ministry he was a member of the Cabinet, holding the two offices first named. Born in Edinburgh in 1823, Mr Dick gained commercial experience in London. After spending seven years in St. Helena, he came to New Zealand in 1857. Two years later he entered the political arena as a member of the Otago Provincial Council, to which he was returned unopposed. The hon. gentleman soon became a member of the Executive. At the general election of 1860 and 1863 he was returned at the head of the poll. In 1862 he was appointed Provincial Secretary, and three years after became Superintendent of the Province, which office he held for two years. Mr Dick was returned to the House of Representatives in 1861 and again in 1862. He was elected for Port Chalmers in 1866, but resigned the seat after the first session. He was again elected in 1879, this time for Dunedin, which he represented till 1884 when he was defeated, as also in 1887. The hon. gentleman has not since entered Parliament.