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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

The Ministry

The Ministry.

The changes in the Cabinet, up to the time of writing (February, 1897), include the retirement of the late Hon. Sir P. A. Buckley, K.C.M.G. (see page 43), from the positions of Colonial Secretary and Attorney-General, on the 20th of December, 1895; of the Hon. W. P. Reeves, as Minister of Education and Labour (vide page 43), on the 10th of January, 1896; of the Hon. J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General (page 47), on the 16th of June, 1896; and of the Hon. W. Montgomery, as a member of the Executive Council, on the 17th of December, 1895. Three new ministers have joined the Cabinet, viz.:—The Hons. W. C. Walker, W. Hall-Jones, and T. Thompson, and the portfolios as now allotted are held as follows:—

Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier, Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Postmaster-General, Electric Telegraph Commissioner, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Native Affairs.

Hon. J. Mckenzie, Minister of Lands, Minister of Agriculture, Commissioner of Forests, and Minister in charge of Advances to Settlers Office.

Hon. A. J. Cadman, Minister for Railways and Minister of Mines.

Hon. J. Carroll, Commissioner of Stamp Duties, Acting Colonial Secretary, and Member of Executive Council representing the Native Race.

Hon. W. C. Walker, Minister of Immigration, Minister of Education, and Minister in charge of Hospitals and Charitable Aid.

Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, Minister of Marine, and Minister in charge of Printing Office.

Hon. T. Thompson, Minister of Justice, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Industries and Commerce.

The Hon. William Campbell Walker, M.A., M.L.C., Minister of Education and Immigration, is the eldest son of the late Sir William Stuart Walker, K.C.B., for many years chairman of the Board of Supervision, Edinburgh. Born in 1837, at Bowlandstow, Midlothian, Scotland, Mr. Walker was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire, and at Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1861, subsequently page 1494 taking his M.A. degree. Landing in Lyttelton in January, 1862, per ship “Evening Star,” Mr. Walker has been intimately associated with the settlement and development of the Provincial District of Canterbury. With his brother, Mr. A. J. Walker, he was for many years concerned in sheep-farming pursuits. Their station in the Ashburton District is known as “Mount Possession.” The honourable gentleman's connection with public life dates back to the year 1877, when he was elected as the first chairman of the Ashburton County Council, which position he held continuously till the year 1893. Mr. Walker sat in two Parliaments as member for Ashburton, having been elected for that constituency in 1884. Three years later he was re-elected, but was defeated at the General Election of 1890. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1892, and became a member of the Seddon Government in February, 1896, soon after the retirement of the Hon. W. P. Reeves to accept office as Agent-General for the Colony in London. In 1896 Mr. Walker was instrumental in passing an Act for the reconstitution of Canterbury College, which provided for the separation of the Agricultural College from the college proper. For a considerable, period he has occupied a seat as a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and from 1891, until joining the Ministry as Leader of the Upper House, he was a member of the Land Board of Canterbury. The Hon. W. C. Walker was married in 1871 to a daughter of the late Archdeacon Wilson, of Christchurch, and has five sons and one daughter.
The Hon. William Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works and Marine, and Minister in charge of the Government Printing Office, is a native of Kent. Born in Folkstone in 1853, he was educated at English public schools, and served an apprenticeship as a joiner in his native country. Up to the time of his embarking for New Zealand, and for some time after his arrival in the Colony, Mr. Hall-Jones worked at his trade. Landing in 1873 in Port Chalmers he remained for about two years in Dunedin, removing to Timaru in 1875. For six-years-and-a-half Mr. Hall-Jones acted as foreman for Mr. George Filmer, a local builder, and then commenced business on his own behalf, which he continued till the demands of public life necessitated his retirement. His early experiences in politics were gained during about five years as councillor for the Borough of Timaru, and as a member of the Levels Road Board, with which he was connected for some three years. On the death of Mr. Richard Turnbull, Mr. Hall-Jones was elected Member of the House of Representatives for Timaru, at a bye-election in August, 1890. Subsequently he was re-elected for the same constituency, at the General Elections held in December, 1890, November, 1893, and December, 1896, respectively. Mr. Hall-Jones has always supported the Liberal cause, and when the late Hon. J. Ballance came into office, he was appointed colleague to Mr. (now Sir) W. B. Percival, as junior Government whip. On the latter gentleman's leaving to take up the duties of Agent-General in London, Mr. Hall-Jones became senior whip, Mr. W. C. Smith taking the junior position. The honourable gentleman was married in 1876 to a daughter of Mr. H. Purss, of Surrey, England, and has two sons and four daughters.

The Hon. Thomas Thompson, Minister of Justice and Defence, is a native of Cork, Ireland. Upon the discovery of gold in Australia he came out to Melbourne, landing in 1853, and commenced business as a carrier from Melbourne to the various stores in the interior. Owing to ill-health he came to Auckland and started in the grocery and provision business, from which he retired in 1883. Mr. Thompson has taken considerable interest in the Volunteer movement, and was one of the first to take part in it when started in Auckland, in 1858. He held a commission and served during the native troubles in the early sixties, part of the time with the Imperial troops. He has been chairman of several local bodies, and for many years was a member of the Auckland City Council. He was also for some time a member of the Auckland Harbour Board. In the General Election of 1884 he stood for Auckland City (North), and defeated his opponent, Mr. Joseph Newman, by a large majority. In 1890 he was successful against Mr. S. Vaile—the railway reformer—for the same seat. At the General Election of 1893 Mr. Thompson was defeated, but at the bye-election in the following year, caused by the retirement of Sir George Grey, he was again returned to the House by a majority of nearly 2000 votes against Mr. Monk. In March, 1896, he was appointed Minister of Justice in the Seddon Ministry, and a few months later received the portfolio of Defence. At the 1896 election Mr. Thompson was returned for Auckland City at the head of the poll, there being ten candidates in the field for the three seats.

page 1495
Mrs. Thompson.

Mrs. Thompson.