Robert William Dyer
Robert William Dyer | |
|---|---|
 Robert William Dyer in 1901 | |
| 14th Mayor of Hamilton | |
| In office May 1901 – May 1903 | |
| Preceded by | George Edgecumbe |
| Succeeded by | Charles Barton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1859 Mahurangi |
| Died | 3 August 1939 (age 79-80) Napier |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Augusta Minnitt
(m. 1885) |
| Occupation | solicitor |
Robert William Dyer (1859-1939) was a solicitor, judge and the mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand from 1901 to 1903.
Professional life[edit]
Robert was articled to E. A. Mackechnie, a leading Auckland solicitor, and admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court at the unusually early age of age of 21[1] in 1881.[2][3] He became a leading Auckland solicitor before moving to the Waikato, to enter into partnership with Sir Frederick Whitaker, of Hamilton,[1] managing the Kihikihi and then the Cambridge branch of the business, before moving to Hamilton in 1889,[4] when Sir Frederick's health was failing. He became registrar of deeds in Invercargill in 1903,[4] then in 1905, a stipendiary magistrate in Auckland,[5] then Rotorua and, about 1918, in Hawke's Bay. After nine years he retired to Napier.[1]
As stipendiary magistrate at Whakatāne, he gave evidence in the lengthy case against Rua Kenana Hepetipa in 1916.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Robert was born in Mahurangi, the son of Robert Coates Dyer, at that time a farmer, who subsequently became a member of Auckland Provincial Council and later a teacher at the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell, and then headmaster at Cambridge District High School.[7] Robert went to his father's Parnell school and to St. John's College, Tamaki.[1]
On June 23, 1885, at St Paul's Church, Auckland Robert was married to Elizabeth Augusta Minnitt, eldest daughter of Major Charles Goring Minnitt,[8] late of the Waikato Militia,[9] which he commanded at Kihikihi.[4] She was a granddaughter of Sir Frederick Whitaker.[10]
He was survived by three sons and two daughters.[1]
- Elizabeth Caroline Dyer 1886–1967
- Eileen Dyer 1887–1969
- Robert William Dyer 1889–1962[11] Robert William was wounded during the war in 1915[12] and married in 1918.[13]
- Guy Musgrave Dyer 1891–1971
- Humphrey Goring Dyer 1896–1977[11]
He died on 5 August 1939 at his home on Lighthouse Road in Napier, aged 81.[14] His wife died in 1953[11]
Public life[edit]
Robert was elected to Hamilton Borough Council in 1899[15] and was Mayor of Hamilton from 8 May 1901[16] until 13 May 1903,[1] He had lost mayoral elections in 1898[17] and 1899,[18] but was elected unopposed in 1901[19] and 1902.[20] In summing up his 3½ years on the council, he said the streets were in better order, but regretted making no progress with a replacement of the Union Bridge and not completing the water supply scheme. Money had been spent on a dinner for the prime minister,[21] possibly a reason for his obituary describing him as an ardent supporter of Richard Seddon.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g "OBITUARY. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 August 1939. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "LAW AND POLICE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 March 1881. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Hamilton". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1902. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "Pars ABOUT PEOPLE. OBSERVER". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 December 1903. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 March 1905. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "RUA'S TRIAL. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 19 July 1916. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "THE LATE MR DYER. WAIKATO INDEPENDENT". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 August 1912. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Marriages. AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 June 1885. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "DEATH OF MAJOR MINNITT. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 June 1900. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 26 June 1885. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "FamilySearch.org". ancestors.familysearch.org. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "ROLL OF HONOUR. NEW ZEALAND TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 16 June 1915. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "EVERY LADY'S JOURNAL. GISBORNE TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 August 1918. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "DEATHS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 7 August 1939. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 16 September 1899. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "MAYORAL INSTALLATIONS. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 May 1901. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1 December 1898. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 December 1899. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 16 April 1901. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 22 April 1902. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL. WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 May 1903. Retrieved 15 June 2021.