Hunter, Hiram (1874-1966)
In his career he was a member of the Social Democrats, the Labour Party and the National Party. He was an elected Christchurch City Councillor and held a number of roles in civic and union organisations.
A biographical overview of Hiram can be found here https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3h46/hunter-hiram though a simple search through Papers Past reveals a wealth of information on the extensive and interesting career of this politically active man.
He is first mentioned as a general grocer with a store in Montreal Street. Unfortunately after being in business for only two (or three) months he was burnt out, and the insurance payout was insufficient to cover his creditors. After trying to sell the balance of his produce around the countryside, he saw that he could not clear his debts so,represented by Mr J A Flesher, he was elected to be adjudicated bankrupt in 1899 losing his estate to the official assignee. (Reference).
Shortly after his adjudication in June there is a public notice posted by Mr Flesher in July, of a hearing to have the bankruptcy discharged. A notice in the Press shows it appears to have been successful.
Five years later in 1905, Hiram Hunter appears to have settled in the Auckland as a breeder of fine harness horses, taking first prize at the Auckland Agricultural show of that year with his 3 year old Colt, "Velocity". (Reference)
A year later he is reported to have lost a Mare and the Colt, when the stable he had just leased burned down. He received insurance of 80 pound for the horses but it was unclear if the building was covered. (Reference)
In 1908 Hunter is in Christchurch as secretary for the Drivers Union; he was employed by Canterbury Carrying Company. After this date he started is political career with a nomination in the Sydenham ward for Christchurch City Council.
Other actions included his chairing the meeting in 1912 that formed the racist group, the Anti-Chinese League.
A Christchurch City Councillor, Hunter was sentenced to 3 months in prison for sedition in 1918. (paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)
Though we know he owned a dog kennel on the corner of Gayhurst Road and Landsdowne Terrace, the first mention of Hiram in the papers as a Dallington resident is an article in 1931 reporting the destruction of his house at 42 Gayhurst Road, by fire.
When the street names of Christchurch were reevaluated and the name "Landsdowne Terrace" was lost to Dallington, the new (short) stretch of road adjoining his property became formally recognised as Glenarm Terrace.
References
Information on this page has been sourced from the following places
- Christchurch Street and Place Names (https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/christchurch-place-names/)
- Papers Past (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz)