The Hon. Francis Arkwright, M.L.C., who was called to the Upper House in 1895, has been a resident in the Rangitikei District since 1881. The son of the Rev. G. Arkwright, he was born in Derbyshire in 1846. Mr. Arkwright represented East Derbyshire in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1880. He contested the Rangitikei seat in 1890 against the late Mr. D. H. Macarthur, being defeated by thirty-five votes. His estate, “Overton,” a few miles from Marton, is charmingly situated on the banks of the Rangitikei River.

The Electoral District of Manawatu, as newly constituted under Act of the Session of 1896, includes the townships of Levin, Foxton, Shannon, Tokomaru, Rongotea, Sandon, Bulls, Marton, and Turakina, and the country surrounding each place. The office of the Registrar of Electors, who is also the Returning Officer for the District, is situated in Broadway, Marton.

Mr. John Stevens is the member for the district. He is a Licensed Native Interpreter and Native Agent, and resides at Somerset House, Turakina Road, Bulls. Mr. Stevens is a native of Wellington, and has spent most of his time in Rangitikei, having resided there since 1854, with the exception of three years, during which he took two cargoes of New Zealand horses to India, and visited Ceylon and Australia. For some years Mr. Stevens was auctioneering. He founded the business of Stevens and Gorton, which is now conducted by Abraham and Williams, and Gorton and Son. He has held a certificate as native interpreter for twenty-two years. Mr. Stevens organized the first cavalry corps in Rangitikei, and held the commission of cornet (now obsolete). He was subsequently lieutenant and captain. He served for twelve months under General Cameron, and was one of the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry under Captain Cameron. The Rangitikei Cavalry, under Captain Stevens, took the first honours for the gallop past in 1886–7. Mr. Stevens has always been interested in the sports and pastimes of the people. He was one of the organizers of the local jockey club, and rode two races in 1858, winning both. He is a member of the hunt and polo clubs. Mr. Stevens is also a master Mason, and a member of the Oddfellows and Foresters societies. He is also a J.P. of many years' experience. Politically, Mr. Stevens is a Liberal. He sat in the 'House of Representatives as member for Rangitikei in the 1881–4 Parliament. At the next and all subsequent elections he was defeated, till 1893, when he was again returned for the same electorate. Mr. Stevens was a member of the Royal Commission, composed of the Hon. Mr. Larnach and others, to consider the revision of the Custom's Tariff and report to the session of 1895.