Sir Robert Heaton RHODES [31619]

  General Notes:

RHODES, Hon. Sir Robt. Heaton. M.A.; K.C.V.0.; K.B.E., 176 D. M.L C.; J.P., Chevalier, Legion of Honour; Serbian Red Cross De-coration; Knight of Justice Order of St. John. Sheep Farmer, Ota-huna, Tapu, N.Z. Dir, Chch. Press Co. Ltd. Mem, Canterbury Coll. Board of Governors; Fellow, Board of Governors, Christ's Coll.; Pres., St. John's Ambulance Assoc. of N.Z.; Chm, Canterbury Provincial Buildings Corn.; Mem, Anglican Synod, Chch. First Chm. of Elles-mere Drainage 13d; ex-Mem, Hals-well Rd. Ed. and Selwyn County Council. During Gt. War he went to Egypt, Gallipoli and Malta to report on all matters affecting N.Z. troops. N.Z. Red Cross Comr. in Great Britain and France 1917-19. Mem, Serbian Red Cross. Born: "Purau", Lyttelton, N.Z., 27th Feb., 1861. Son of Robt. Heaton and Sophia Circuit (nee Latter) Rhodes, Elmwood, Chch., J.P.r M.P., Akaroa, who arrived in N.Z. from Aust. in 1849 and witnessed the arrival of the first four ships from his property "Purau" which he took up with his brothers, W. B. and G.. Rhodes, under firm name of W., R. & G. Rhodes. He was also interested in many station properties, including Kaituna and Ahuriri, Banks Peninsula, St. Leonard, Amuri, The Levels, Sth Canterbury, Rissington, Hawke's Bay, etc. He was a mem. of the Anglican Synod. Educated: Mrs. Alabaster's sch.; Turrell's Sch.; Geneva; Brasenose Coll., Oxford M.A., 1887, and the same day call-ed to the Bar, Inner Temple. Re-turning to N.Z., was admitted to the Bar in Chch. Was the first to import Norfolk Red Poll cattle into N.Z. Specialises in English Leicester sheep, Flock No. 104, and Cor-riedale Sheep, Flock No. 134. In 1899 he was elected to Parliament as Mem, for Ellesmere and sat continuously for that electorate until the general election of 1925 which owing to ill health he was unable to contest. He was appointed to the Upper House. Leader in 1926 during the absence of Sir Francis Bell and later Deputy Leader. In 1912, Postmaster Gen. and Minister for Public Health and Tourist Department. In 1915, being the Junior Mem. of the Cabinet, he resigned in order to facilitate the formation of the Nat. Govt. After the Gt. War he was re-appointed as Minister for Defence, Comr. of State Forests and Minister in Charge of Govt. Life and State Fire Insurance. Capt., Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry; commanded Canterbury M.R.B., served in Sth Africa, 1902, awarded Queen's Medal (4 clasps) Contested Heathcote seat 1890, defeated. by W. W. Tanner. Appointed by Prime Minister to accompany the Duke and Duchess of York on their tour of N.Z. Pres, Canterbury Horticultural Soc., which office he has held for many years. Married: Jessie Cooper, daughter of Walter Clark, of Kerrabury Stn, N.S.W., and Glenara, Vie., 20th May, 1891. Clubs: Oxford and Cambridge, Chch., Wellington. Steward, Canterbury Jockey Club; Pres, Chch. Hunt Club; ex-Captain, Chch. Polo Club. He rowed and played Rugby and Assoc. football for his coll. at Oxford. Home add.: "Otahuna", Tai Tapu, N.Z.

Robert married Jessie Cooper CLARK [31620] [MRIN: 11221] on 20 May 1891 in Bulla Victoria AU. (Jessie Cooper CLARK [31620] was born on 26 Sep 1865 in Australia and died in Oct 1929 in Otahuna Christchurch NZ.)