Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me
Sir John Hall
Description
TitleThe politician and sheep farmer whose legacy is still felt todayDescriptionIt must have been a sight to behold. Politician and Hororata resident Sir John Hall staggering into the House of Representatives carrying an enormous roll of paper prepared by the suffragist Kate Sheppard.
To the members gathered in the chamber on the night of July 1893, Hall announced he was presenting “a petition from the women of the colony, more numerously signed than any other petition that had ever been presented to the House, or for that matter in any of the Australian colonies". He then preceded to unfurl the 270m-long roll along the floor of the chamber. The petition contained the signatures of 25,000 women (final total was 31,000) from across the colony who wanted the right to vote. If women had more control, reasoned Hall, they would maintain a conservative influence over the country’s direction. After a seven-year battle, Kate Sheppard and her political champion Sir John Hall, rejoiced as the Electoral Bill was passed on 19 September 1893.
Hall was a member of parliament for decades and mayor of Christchurch. He was Premier of New Zealand (Prime Minister) from 1879 to 1887. His stamina for work was much admired, with one colleague acknowledging that 'whatever he did, he did creditably'. His dedication to public life was aptly summed up by the Otago Witness:
'He took on the transaction of department business as a labour of love. Correspondence on public service, files of former papers, memoranda, returns, dispatch boxes, and pigeon-holes were to him…what unascended alps are to a member of the Alpine Club.'
LASTING LEGACY IN HORORATA
Hororata locals have tangible reminders of their founding father and his generosity to the community. In the 1870s, Hall gifted land for the Hororata Domain, Public Hall and Presbyterian Church. After his death in June 1907, Hall’s will provided for numerous worthy charities, including money for swimming baths at the local school. He left a substantial amount of money to build St John’s Church and a vicarage. His lasting legacy is his home at Terrace Station. Most of the farmland has been sold off, but the homestead and surrounding grounds are now owned by a charitable trust. Hall’s great granddaughter Kate Foster still lives in the homestead.
TERRACE STATION
Hall came from a sea-faring family in Hull, and he was inspired to make his fortune on land after reading a pamphlet on the potential of sheep farming in New Zealand. The 27-year-old disembarked from the Samarang in Lyttelton on 31 July 1852. He brought with him some investment capital, his ‘man’ Charles Wright and two dogs.
After an exploratory trip to the North Island, Hall eventually settled on farming in Canterbury and leased the Run No.20 on the Rakaia’s north bank. Brothers George and Thomas arrived within a year with their wives and children and they farmed in partnership for 18 months, before the brothers moved on. Hall then acquired the adjoining Run No.17, forming the 30,000 acre Rakaia Terrace Station. Hall would keep possession of the property until the year prior to his death.
The success of Hall’s farming enterprise was due in part to his hard work and canny business sense - and also the competency of his manager John Fountaine. He was one of a stable core of employees, who were highly valued and respected, many of whom spent all their working lives on the property (John managed the farm for 30 years).
At the time, it was common practice for sheep farmers to lease land so they could invest most of their capital in stock. But Hall’s aim was always to freehold the land. Through astute farming practice, Hall achieved excellent prices for his meat and wool. All this would change after the government pushed through legislation to break up large land holdings, such as Rakaia Terrace Station.
THE HOMESTEAD
John and his wife Rose settled into their Rakaia Terrace Station homestead at Hororata, the first section of which had arrived from Australia as a pre-cut, three-roomed house. Over the years, Hall made major additions and alterations, including an entrance hall designed by prominent architect Samuel Hurst Seager. Several generations of the family lived in the homestead and today it has a Category One listing with Heritage New Zealand.
FINAL PUBLIC DUTY
In 1906, Hall was invited to assume the mayoralty of Christchurch, overseeing the launch of the New Zealand International Exhibition. He gave each child at the local school a half-crown to spend at the show.
The sheer size of the exhibition can be gauged by the fact that a temporary railway line was constructed from Riccarton across Hagley Park to bring in timber for the exhibits and buildings which were fully removed at the end of the exhibition. Sir John Hall made an entry in his diary, 8 May 1906: ‘[The buildings] are enormous ... One thing is certain, second hand timber ought to be cheap next May.’
In a nod to New Zealand being the first to give women the vote, Sir John encouraged the construction of a Suffrage Display. However, this final public duty took a toll on his health, and he lamented being away from Rakaia Terrace Station. Hall died a year later on 25 June 1907 and is buried in the graveyard of his local church, St John's in Hororata.
POLITICAL CAREER
The Hon. Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G had a distinguished career in politics: In 1853, he was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council and remained a member for 17 years. He occupied various top positions and as Secretary of Works supported and approved the construction of a new road across Arthur’s Pass (completed 1865-1866).
He was Colonial Secretary in the Fox Ministry of 1856, member of the Stafford Government from 1866 to 1869, of the Waterhouse Ministry from 1872 to 1873, of the Atkinson Administration in 1876, and Premier of New Zealand from 1879 to 1882. He was knighted in 1882.
Although a prominent as a provincial leader, Hall was active in local government and community activities. He was a magistrate in Lytellton and then in Christchurch between 1856 and 1863. As the first chairman of the Christchurch City Council, from 1862 to 1863, he was commended on his voluntary work with a pick and shovel. Hall also served on a number of local boards as a founding member. He was a leading light in the Selwyn County Council from 1877 to 1879.
First NameJohnLast NameHallOccupationPolitician and farmerDate of Death25th June 1907
To the members gathered in the chamber on the night of July 1893, Hall announced he was presenting “a petition from the women of the colony, more numerously signed than any other petition that had ever been presented to the House, or for that matter in any of the Australian colonies". He then preceded to unfurl the 270m-long roll along the floor of the chamber. The petition contained the signatures of 25,000 women (final total was 31,000) from across the colony who wanted the right to vote. If women had more control, reasoned Hall, they would maintain a conservative influence over the country’s direction. After a seven-year battle, Kate Sheppard and her political champion Sir John Hall, rejoiced as the Electoral Bill was passed on 19 September 1893.
Hall was a member of parliament for decades and mayor of Christchurch. He was Premier of New Zealand (Prime Minister) from 1879 to 1887. His stamina for work was much admired, with one colleague acknowledging that 'whatever he did, he did creditably'. His dedication to public life was aptly summed up by the Otago Witness:
'He took on the transaction of department business as a labour of love. Correspondence on public service, files of former papers, memoranda, returns, dispatch boxes, and pigeon-holes were to him…what unascended alps are to a member of the Alpine Club.'
LASTING LEGACY IN HORORATA
Hororata locals have tangible reminders of their founding father and his generosity to the community. In the 1870s, Hall gifted land for the Hororata Domain, Public Hall and Presbyterian Church. After his death in June 1907, Hall’s will provided for numerous worthy charities, including money for swimming baths at the local school. He left a substantial amount of money to build St John’s Church and a vicarage. His lasting legacy is his home at Terrace Station. Most of the farmland has been sold off, but the homestead and surrounding grounds are now owned by a charitable trust. Hall’s great granddaughter Kate Foster still lives in the homestead.
TERRACE STATION
Hall came from a sea-faring family in Hull, and he was inspired to make his fortune on land after reading a pamphlet on the potential of sheep farming in New Zealand. The 27-year-old disembarked from the Samarang in Lyttelton on 31 July 1852. He brought with him some investment capital, his ‘man’ Charles Wright and two dogs.
After an exploratory trip to the North Island, Hall eventually settled on farming in Canterbury and leased the Run No.20 on the Rakaia’s north bank. Brothers George and Thomas arrived within a year with their wives and children and they farmed in partnership for 18 months, before the brothers moved on. Hall then acquired the adjoining Run No.17, forming the 30,000 acre Rakaia Terrace Station. Hall would keep possession of the property until the year prior to his death.
The success of Hall’s farming enterprise was due in part to his hard work and canny business sense - and also the competency of his manager John Fountaine. He was one of a stable core of employees, who were highly valued and respected, many of whom spent all their working lives on the property (John managed the farm for 30 years).
At the time, it was common practice for sheep farmers to lease land so they could invest most of their capital in stock. But Hall’s aim was always to freehold the land. Through astute farming practice, Hall achieved excellent prices for his meat and wool. All this would change after the government pushed through legislation to break up large land holdings, such as Rakaia Terrace Station.
THE HOMESTEAD
John and his wife Rose settled into their Rakaia Terrace Station homestead at Hororata, the first section of which had arrived from Australia as a pre-cut, three-roomed house. Over the years, Hall made major additions and alterations, including an entrance hall designed by prominent architect Samuel Hurst Seager. Several generations of the family lived in the homestead and today it has a Category One listing with Heritage New Zealand.
FINAL PUBLIC DUTY
In 1906, Hall was invited to assume the mayoralty of Christchurch, overseeing the launch of the New Zealand International Exhibition. He gave each child at the local school a half-crown to spend at the show.
The sheer size of the exhibition can be gauged by the fact that a temporary railway line was constructed from Riccarton across Hagley Park to bring in timber for the exhibits and buildings which were fully removed at the end of the exhibition. Sir John Hall made an entry in his diary, 8 May 1906: ‘[The buildings] are enormous ... One thing is certain, second hand timber ought to be cheap next May.’
In a nod to New Zealand being the first to give women the vote, Sir John encouraged the construction of a Suffrage Display. However, this final public duty took a toll on his health, and he lamented being away from Rakaia Terrace Station. Hall died a year later on 25 June 1907 and is buried in the graveyard of his local church, St John's in Hororata.
POLITICAL CAREER
The Hon. Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G had a distinguished career in politics: In 1853, he was elected to the Canterbury Provincial Council and remained a member for 17 years. He occupied various top positions and as Secretary of Works supported and approved the construction of a new road across Arthur’s Pass (completed 1865-1866).
He was Colonial Secretary in the Fox Ministry of 1856, member of the Stafford Government from 1866 to 1869, of the Waterhouse Ministry from 1872 to 1873, of the Atkinson Administration in 1876, and Premier of New Zealand from 1879 to 1882. He was knighted in 1882.
Although a prominent as a provincial leader, Hall was active in local government and community activities. He was a magistrate in Lytellton and then in Christchurch between 1856 and 1863. As the first chairman of the Christchurch City Council, from 1862 to 1863, he was commended on his voluntary work with a pick and shovel. Hall also served on a number of local boards as a founding member. He was a leading light in the Selwyn County Council from 1877 to 1879.
First NameJohnLast NameHallOccupationPolitician and farmerDate of Death25th June 1907
Image
Connections
CollectionHomesteads and LodgesPlaceHororataSt John's Church, HororataVideoTerrace Station HomesteadMore InformationTerrace Station Charitable TrustTe Ara biography
Sir John Hall. Selwyn Stories, accessed 13/12/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/265
