John Miles Verrall (1849 – 17 September 1921), also known as John Miles Verrell, was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in Canterbury, New Zealand. In his later years, he was known throughout the country as an advocate for a state bank.[1]

Early life

Verrall was born in Lewes, Sussex, England, in 1849. He was a tenant farmer in his home country.[2] He married Louisa Waters Aylwin, the daughter of John Aylwin, of Plumpton, Sussex.[2][3] They emigrated to Queensland, Australia, in 1880, where he ran a cattle station with a partner. After a few years, he left his partner in charge of the cattle station and emigrated to New Zealand.[2]

New Zealand

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1888–1890 10th Ashley Independent
Advertisement placed by Verrall in the Oxford Observer in 1896; note the spelling of his surname

Verrall first settled in Ohoka, where he bought some land. In 1893, he sold up and moved to the nearby Swannanoa.[2] During his time in Swannanoa, he advertised as a photographer using the surname Verrell.[4]

Verrall first stood for election to the House of Representatives in the 1887 election in the Ashley electorate. Of the three candidates, he came last.[5] The successful candidate, William Fisher Pearson, died the following year, and this caused an 1888 by-election. Verrall was one of three candidates, and the result was very tight: he defeated Alfred Saunders by just two votes, and Marmaduke Dixon[6] was only nine votes behind him.[7] He represented the Ashley electorate to the end of the parliamentary term in 1890, when he retired.[8]

He contested the 1899 election in the Kaiapoi electorate, but his candidacy was not taken seriously.[9] As he did not even poll 10% of the vote, he lost his £10 deposit.[10]

He died at his homestead in Swannanoa on 17 September 1921.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Obituary". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVIII, no. 17890. 19 September 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda (PDF). Vol. II. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Evans, Beverley. "Verrall - BMD". homepages.ihug.co.nz/~ashleigh/. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "John Miles Verrall". Early Canterbury Photography. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "The General Election, 1887". National Library. 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Marmaduke Dixon – 1828–1895". Waimakariri Libraries. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ashley Election". The Press. Vol. XLV, no. 7132. 31 July 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 242. OCLC 154283103.
  9. ↑ "Kaiapoi". The Press. Vol. LVI, no. 10522. 7 December 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Results". The Press. Vol. LVI, no. 10523. 8 December 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  • Bio on early New Zealand photographers website
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