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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

The Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell

The Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell , who in the early days of the colony was associated with the New Zealand Company, joined the service of the Company in England, in 1839, and for some time filled the position of Chief Secretary. He arrived in New Zealand shortly after the Wairau masacre, and was engaged in negotiating the purchase of land and settling many land disputes. In 1848 he succeeded Mr. Fox as Attorney-General for the Southern Province, and was subsequently appointed a member of the Legislative Council of New Munster, as the South Island was then called. He resigned this position in 1850, and a year later he was appointed page 77 Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wellington district. From 1853 to 1856 he was a member of the Wellington Provinoial Council. Sir Francis was summoned to the Legislative Council in Auckland, in 1854, when he became a member of the Executive Council. In the first responsible Government of the colony, known as the Bell-Sewell Ministry, he was Colonial Treasurer. He was elected for Wallace, Otago, in 1861, and in the following year he joined the Domett Administration as Colonial Treasurer, Commissioner of Customs, and Minister for Native Affairs. In the latter capacity he accompained the troops to Taranaki, and shortly afterwards went with Mr. Gorst to New South Wales and Victoria, to raise more troops for the Maori war. Sir Francis took up his residence in Otago in 1864, and for some time represented Mataura and Dunedin in the Otago Provincial Council. In 1866 he was returned to the House of Representatives for Mataura, and afterwards became a member of the Fox Ministry. In 1871 he was elected for the same district, was chosen Speaker of the House, and held the position for four years. Sir Francis was again called to the Legislative Council in 1877. There years later he was appointed Agent-General for the colony in London, and retained the position for ten years. He died on the 15th of July, 1898.