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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Mr. John Moore Richardson
Mr. John Moore Richardson,
who held a seat on the Council of the City of Wellington, from 1883 to 1888, was born in 1810 at Croydon, Surrey, England, and is a son of the late Mr. George Richardson, for many years a farmer of that locality, who enjoyed the distinction—for indeed it is a distinction—of being first cousin to the world-famed John Ruskin. Ex-Councillor Richardson should be proud of his connection with a man whose name will be famous while English literature endures; and perhaps he is, but the writer knew him intimately for nearly twenty years before he discovered—and then quite accidentally—that any relationship existed. Mr. Richardson was educated in Sussex at a private school, and at the age of fourteen left for New South Wales, whither his brother, Mr. C. T. Richardson, also well known in Wellington, had gone some three or four years before. Arriving in Sydney per ship “Washington Irving” in 1855, young Richardson procured a situation through the influence of his brother, who was also in the “rag trade.” After some three or four years with Messrs. Dawson and Thompson, he crossed over to Wellington and had a taste of station life with his uncles George and John Moore, who had a sheep run at Waikaraka, near Flat Point, on the East Coast. This was just the line of life Mr. Richardson was desirous of leading, but the difficulties of obtaining land were insurmountable in those days to young men with littie capital, so, rather than run the risk of being a farm hand for life, he returned to Sydney and entered the establishment of Messrs. Francis, Giles and Co., of Deniston House. Here he was a shopmate of Mr. Kirkcaldie and Mr. Stains, and here also he met Mr. H. C. Wilson, and began that close friendship which has now subsisted for over a third of a century. Mr. Richardson remained four years in Deniston House,
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and then the two friends made up their minds to begin business in partnership, and somewhere in New Zealand. Nelson was the place decided upon, and Mr. Wilson came on in advance to take a shop and prepare for his partner who was to follow with the stock. This was in 1864, and Messrs. Wilson and Richardson carried on business in Nelson for seven years thereafter, when they sold out and divided a sum which gave each a very fair competence. During his residence in Nelson Mr. Richardson married Miss Francis Thornton, daughter of Mr. John Thornton, the well-known saddler, and his family now numbers seven. On the disposal of the business, both partners with their wives paid a visit to the Old Country, with some intention of staying there. While at Home, Mr. Richardson did a little successful speculating on the Stock Exchange and in other ways; but, after the freedom of colonial life, the conventionalities of English society were irksome, and he and Mrs. Richardson returned to the colonies. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson did likewise, and the friends all met in Sydney, Mr. Richardson having just previously visited Melbourne, Ballarat, and other Australian towns, with a view to recommencing business. Not pleased with the opportunities offering in Australia, Messrs. Wilson and Richardson came on to Wellington and bought the business of the late Mr. Joseph Burne, in which, until 1889, they were so well known and popularly esteemed. In this year, Mr. Wilson's health showed signs of failure, and this decided him to retire to a farm at Feilding, belonging to the firm. Mr. Richardson began his service in the public interest in a very unusual way. He had not been in Nelson very long when that otherwise quiet little town was thrown into a state of great excitement by the report that four men, well known in the province, were missing, and probably murdered. Volunteers were called for to organize a thorough search of the country round about the suspected quarter in the hope of finding, at least, the bodies. Mr. Richardson's name appears third on the list of volunteers, under the captaincy of Mr. Chas. Saxton.
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As is now well known, the success of the search was hastened by the confession of the murderer Sullivan; but this was not until the search-party had endured great hardships, and won for themselves the gratitude and thanks of all. The morning after the deeds were committed, but before any uneasiness had arisen, Mr. Richardson outfitted Burgess, one of the leaders of the gang. Old settlers are conversant with the main facts of the now historic Maungatapu murders, and younger colonists may find any information they need in the “Narrative,” published by Mr. H. D. Jackson, of Nelson, and sold by all booksellers. Mr. Richardson's career as a councillor began in 1883 when he was elected a representative of Lambton Ward by a small majority over the late Dr. Diver. He was a careful, reliable councillor, and his good business abilities were of much use to the city, particularly in his capacity as member of the Finance Committee. He was a member, too, of the Public Works, City Reserves, Electric Lighting, Fire Brigade, and many other committees, and was thorough'y attentive to all his public duties. His fellow councillors bore testimony to his popularity in various ways and on many occasions. He was elected, in the absence of the Mayor, chairman of the Conference of Council and Harbour Board, which settled the limit of reclamation; and was chosen to represent the Council on the Hospital Board, of which he was subsequently elected treasurer. It was ex-Councillor Richardson who was mainly instrumental in the redivision of the four wards of the city, which, of course, necessitated the re-election of the whole Council, and he embraced the opportunity thus offered of escaping from public life. Mr. Richardson is entirely out of business, but is fairly occupied in the management of his property. He has the time, however, to attend to public duties; and, notwithstanding all he has done, he might still be very useful to his fellows.