Mr. R. M. Houston,

Bay of Islands,

Mr. R. M. Houston,

R. M. Houston was born at Belfast Ireland, in 1846, and is thus 49 years of age. His father was a clergyman. Mr. Houston was educated at Belfast, and when about 20 years of age determined to seek his fortune in this Colony. For several years after his arrival in New Zealand, he was engaged in school teaching in the Otahuhu district. His mind being bent towards commercial pursuits, he made his way to the North of Auckland district, and he became the proprietor of a general store at Mongonui, also entering largely into the timber and kauri gum trades. His aptitude for business marked him out for public life, and he was elected to the local bodies in his district, being Chairman of the Mongonui County Council as well as holding several other offices on local bodies. He was first returned to the House in 1890, when he defeated Messrs. Trounsen, Lundon and Dargaville. He is Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee.

Votes recorded, 3030; number on roll, 4916. Women on roll, 1051, of whom 828 voted.