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{{Short description|New Zealand Legislative Council member}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2017}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|name = Matthew Holmes
| name = Matthew Holmes
|honorific-suffix =
| honorific-suffix =
|image = Matthew Holmes, 1872.jpg
| image = Matthew Holmes, 1872.jpg
|alt =
| alt =
|caption = Holmes in 1872
| caption = Holmes in 1872
|office7 = Member of the {{nowrap|[[New Zealand Legislative Council]]}}
| office7 = Member of the {{nowrap|[[New Zealand Legislative Council]]}}
|term_start7 = 19 June 1866
| term_start7 = 19 June 1866
|term_end7 = 27 September 1901
| term_end7 = 27 September 1901
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1817|09|15|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1817|09|15|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Strabane]], [[County Tyrone]], Ireland
| birth_place = [[Strabane]], [[County Tyrone]], Ireland
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1901|09|27|1817|09|15|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1901|09|27|1817|09|15|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
| death_place = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
|restingplace = [[Karori Cemetery]]
| restingplace = [[Karori Cemetery]]
|restingplacecoordinates =
| restingplacecoordinates =
|birthname =
| birthname =
|nationality =
| nationality =
|party =
| party =
|spouse = {{marriage |Anne McLean |1841 | 1897 | end=d.}}
| spouse = {{marriage |Anne McLean|1841|1897|end=d.}}
| relatives = {{ubl|[[Allan Holmes (lawyer)|Allan Holmes]] (son)|[[Katherine McLean Holmes]] (daughter)|[[Annie Julia White]] (daughter)|[[George McLean (New Zealand politician)|George McLean]] (son-in-law)|[[Charles White (New Zealand politician)|Charles White]] (grandson)|[[John White (jurist)|John White]] (great-grandson)|{{nowrap|[[Douglas White (jurist)|Douglas White]] (great-great-grandson)}}}}
|relations = [[George McLean (New Zealand politician)|George McLean]] (son-in-law)
|children = Six, including [[Allan Holmes (lawyer)|Allan Holmes]]
| children = 6
|residence =
| residence =
|alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
|occupation =
| occupation =
|profession =
| profession =
|cabinet =
| cabinet =
|committees =
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|portfolio =
| portfolio =
|religion =
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|signature =
| signature =
}}
}}
'''Matthew Holmes''' (15 September 1817 – 27 September 1901) was a New Zealand politician and [[wiktionary:runholder|runholder]]. He was a member of the [[New Zealand Legislative Council]] for 35 years (1866–1901). Holmes was from Ireland and made his money in Victoria from farming, exporting wool, and supplying the gold fields. The family lived in Scotland for some years but Holmes moved to New Zealand. His family followed him years later and they lived for most of their time in [[Otago]], but retired to [[Wellington]].
'''Matthew Holmes''' (15 September 1817 – 27 September 1901) was a New Zealand politician and [[wiktionary:runholder|runholder]]. He was a member of the [[New Zealand Legislative Council]] for 35 years (1866–1901). Holmes was from Ireland and made his money in Victoria from farming, exporting wool, and supplying the gold fields. The family lived in Scotland for some years but Holmes moved to New Zealand. His family followed him years later and they lived for most of their time in [[Otago]], but retired to [[Wellington]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Born in [[Strabane]], [[County Tyrone]], Ireland on 15 September 1817,<ref>{{cite book |last= Burke |first= Bernard |title= Burke’s Colonial Gentry |accessdate= |edition= 2 |origyear= 1891 |year= 1970 |publisher= Genealogical Publishing Company |location= Baltimore, Ohio |isbn= 0-8063-0415-4 |oclc= |page= |pages= 201,202 }} </ref> Holmes received his education in his home town. After school, he was trained in commerce at McFarland's woollen mill in [[Derry|Londonderry]].<ref name="NZETC Holmes">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts |year=1905 |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc04Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d4-d8.html |publisher=[[The Cyclopedia of New Zealand]] |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |accessdate= 3 February 2017 |location=Christchurch |chapter=The Hon. Matthew Holmes}}</ref><ref name="ES obit">{{cite news| title=Obituary| url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19010927.2.62| accessdate=3 February 2017| work=[[The Evening Star (Dunedin)|The Evening Star]]| issue=11665| date=27 September 1901| page=8}}</ref>
Born in [[Strabane]], [[County Tyrone]], Ireland on 15 September 1817,<ref>{{cite book |last= Burke |first= Bernard |title= Burke's Colonial Gentry |edition= 2 |orig-year= 1891 |year= 1970 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company |location= Baltimore, Ohio |isbn= 0-8063-0415-4 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera0000burk/page/201 201,202] |url= https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera0000burk/page/201 }}</ref> Holmes received his education in his home town. After school, he was trained in commerce at McFarland's woollen mill in [[Derry]].<ref name="NZETC Holmes">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts |year=1905 |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc04Cycl-t1-body1-d2-d4-d8.html |publisher=[[The Cyclopedia of New Zealand]] |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |access-date= 3 February 2017 |location=Christchurch |chapter=The Hon. Matthew Holmes}}</ref><ref name="ES obit">{{cite news| title=Obituary| url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19010927.2.62| access-date=3 February 2017| work=[[The Evening Star (Dunedin)|The Evening Star]]| issue=11665| date=27 September 1901| page=8}}</ref>


==Life in Australia==
==Life in Australia==
[[File:Holmes White & Co, William Street, Melbourne.jpg|thumb|Premises of Holmes White & Co, [[William Street, Melbourne|William Street]], Melbourne]]
[[File:Holmes White & Co, William Street, Melbourne.jpg|thumb|Premises of Holmes White & Co, [[William Street, Melbourne|William Street]], Melbourne]]
[[File:VictorianBuilding0005.jpg|thumb|The rightmost building was constructed in 1862 for Holmes White & Co in Lydiard Street, [[Ballarat]].]]
[[File:VictorianBuilding0005.jpg|thumb|The rightmost building was constructed in 1862 for Holmes White & Co in Lydiard Street, [[Ballarat]].]]
Holmes moved to Australia in 1837 and his first business venture was a stationery shop in [[Melbourne]]'s [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins Street]] with [[William Kerr (journalist)|William Kerr]].<ref name="ES obit" /> The partnership was dissolved at the end of 1841;<ref>{{cite news|title=Dissolution of Partnership |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226509927 |accessdate=4 February 2017|work=[[Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser]]|date=30 December 1841|page=1}}</ref> his business partner would later found ''[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Late Matthew Holmes |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/150294064 |accessdate=3 February 2017 |work=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |date=10 October 1901 |page=4}}</ref> Holmes took over the running of the stationery shop by himself. In 1843, he was declared insolvent by the courts and the stock was auctioned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Insolvency Proceedings |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225009981 |accessdate=4 February 2017 |work=[[Port Phillip Gazette]] |date=8 April 1843 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In the Estate of Matthew Holmes, Insolvent |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225012653 |accessdate=4 February 2017 |work=[[Port Phillip Gazette]] |date=19 April 1843 |page=3}}</ref> It was not until 1845 that he was discharged.<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226363888 |accessdate=4 February 2017|work=The Melbourne Courier|date=15 September 1845|page=4}}</ref> For some time, he had a dairy farm called "Glencairn" in the [[Barrabool Hills]] outside of [[Geelong]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940">{{cite book | ref = harv | editor-last = Scholefield | editor-first = Guy | editor-link = Guy Scholefield | title = A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L | volume = I | year = 1940 | publisher = [[Department of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)|Department of Internal Affairs]] | location = Wellington | url = http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v1.pdf | accessdate = 15 January 2017 | pages=406f}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=To Let on Terms|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94443689|accessdate=4 February 2017|work=Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate|date=5 December 1846|page=3}}</ref>
Holmes moved to Australia in 1837 and his first business venture was a stationery shop in [[Melbourne]]'s [[Collins Street, Melbourne|Collins Street]] with [[William Kerr (journalist)|William Kerr]].<ref name="ES obit" /> The partnership was dissolved at the end of 1841;<ref>{{cite news|title=Dissolution of Partnership |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226509927 |access-date=4 February 2017|work=[[Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser]]|date=30 December 1841|page=1}}</ref> his business partner would later found ''[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Late Matthew Holmes |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/150294064 |access-date=3 February 2017 |work=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |date=10 October 1901 |page=4}}</ref> Holmes took over the running of the stationery shop by himself. In 1843, he was declared insolvent by the courts and the stock was auctioned.<ref>{{cite news |title=Insolvency Proceedings |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225009981 |access-date=4 February 2017 |work=[[Port Phillip Gazette]] |date=8 April 1843 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In the Estate of Matthew Holmes, Insolvent |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225012653 |access-date=4 February 2017 |work=[[Port Phillip Gazette]] |date=19 April 1843 |page=3}}</ref> It was not until 1845 that he was discharged.<ref>{{cite news |title=Untitled |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226363888 |access-date=4 February 2017|work=The Melbourne Courier|date=15 September 1845|page=4}}</ref> For some time, he had a dairy farm called "Glencairn" in the [[Barrabool Hills]] outside of [[Geelong]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940">{{cite book | editor-last = Scholefield | editor-first = Guy | editor-link = Guy Scholefield | title = A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L | volume = I | year = 1940 | publisher = [[Department of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)|Department of Internal Affairs]] | location = Wellington | url = https://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v1.pdf | access-date = 15 January 2017 | pages=406f}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=To Let on Terms|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94443689|access-date=4 February 2017|work=Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate|date=5 December 1846|page=3}}</ref>


On 26 May 1841 at [[City of Port Phillip|Port Phillip]], he married Anne McLean, the daughter of Allan McLean of Strathallan near [[Echuca]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Married |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226509548| accessdate=3 February 2017| work=[[Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser]] |date=27 May 1841 |page=2}}</ref> After being burned out in the [[Black Thursday bushfires]] on 6 February 1851 and their youngest child dying from the effects,<ref name="wife's obit">{{cite news |title=Obituary |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM18970123.2.21 |accessdate=3 February 2017 |work=[[The Oamaru Mail]] |volume=XXII |issue=6797 |date=23 January 1897 |page=2}}</ref> he relocated to Geelong<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> and built up a profitable wool exporting company operating under the style of Holmes, White & Co.<ref name="ES obit" />
On 26 May 1841 at [[City of Port Phillip|Port Phillip]], he married Anne McLean, the daughter of Allan McLean of Strathallan near [[Echuca]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Married |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226509548| access-date=3 February 2017| work=[[Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser]] |date=27 May 1841 |page=2}}</ref> After being burned out in the [[Black Thursday bushfires]] on 6 February 1851 and their youngest child dying from the effects,<ref name="wife's obit">{{cite news |title=Obituary |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM18970123.2.21 |access-date=3 February 2017 |work=[[The Oamaru Mail]] |volume=XXII |issue=6797 |date=23 January 1897 |page=2}}</ref> he relocated to Geelong<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> and built up a profitable wool exporting company operating under the style of Holmes, White & Co.<ref name="ES obit" />


He also supplied the gold diggings during the [[Victorian gold rush]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> The store of Holmes, White & Co in [[William Street, Melbourne|Melbourne's William Street]] does not exist any longer, but their premises at 114 Lydiard Street North in [[Ballarat]] still stand and are listed on the [[Victorian Heritage Register]].<ref>{{cite web|title=J.J Goller & Co, 114 Lydiard Street North|url=http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/177412?print=true|publisher=[[Victorian Heritage Register]]|accessdate=3 February 2017}}</ref>
He also supplied the gold diggings during the [[Victorian gold rush]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> The store of Holmes, White & Co in [[William Street, Melbourne|Melbourne's William Street]] does not exist any longer, but their premises at 114 Lydiard Street North in [[Ballarat]] still stand and are listed on the [[Victorian Heritage Register]].<ref>{{cite web|title=J.J Goller & Co, 114 Lydiard Street North|url=http://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/places/result_detail/177412?print=true|publisher=[[Victorian Heritage Register]]|access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>


==Life in Scotland==
==Life in Scotland==
Holmes and his family moved to Scotland in 1854 as there was better medical care available for his wife's poor health.<ref name="ES obit" /> He purchased a large estate in [[Lasswade]]<ref>{{cite book | url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-PlaNine-t1-body-d1-d1274.html |last=Platts |first=Una |title=Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook | chapter=White, Annie Julia née Holmes 1852–1932 |year=1980 |publisher=Avon Fine Prints |location=Christchurch |accessdate=3 February 2017 | pages=252f}}</ref> near [[Edinburgh]],<ref name="ES obit" /> and became involved in a group which became the [[New Zealand and Australia Land Company]].
Holmes and his family moved to Scotland in 1854 as there was better medical care available for his wife's poor health.<ref name="ES obit" /> He purchased a large estate in [[Lasswade]]<ref>{{cite book | url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-PlaNine-t1-body-d1-d1274.html |last=Platts |first=Una |title=Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook | chapter=White, Annie Julia née Holmes 1852–1932 |year=1980 |publisher=Avon Fine Prints |location=Christchurch |access-date=3 February 2017 | pages=252f}}</ref> near [[Edinburgh]],<ref name="ES obit" /> and became involved in a group which became the [[New Zealand and Australia Land Company]].


==Life in New Zealand==
==Life in New Zealand==
In 1859, he returned to New Zealand on the ''Pirate'' as the company's general manager, but also spent time in Victoria to look after business interests there. In 1862, he travelled to England as one of the commissioners for the [[1862 International Exhibition]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> In 1864, he sold his estate in Scotland and moved his family back to New Zealand.<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> At first, they were living at [[Andersons Bay]] on [[Otago Peninsula]]. They then lived partly at Andersons Bay and partly at Awamoa, near [[Oamaru]] in North [[Otago]].<ref name="NZETC Holmes" /><ref name="wife's obit" /> He was the owner of large sheep runs both at Awamoa and at Castlerock near [[Lumsden, New Zealand|Lumsden]] in [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]].<ref name="Southern">{{cite book | editor-last= Thomson | editor-first=J. | year=1998 | title=Southern people: A dictionary of Otago Southland biography | pages=263f | isbn=1 877135 11 9}}</ref> His station at Castlerock was overrun by rabbits in the 1870s, but Holmes managed to get on top of the problem;<ref name="ES obit" /> his son Stuart later gave presentations on how they went about this.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbit-Proof Fences in New Zealand|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162818215|accessdate=3 February 2017|work=[[The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser]]|date=10 October 1885|page=770}}</ref> Holmes was well known for importing quality stock for breeding, including [[Clydesdale horse]]s and [[Cheviot sheep]]. Holmes was one of the original directors of the [[Mosgiel Woollen Mill]] and on retirement from active business, he sold his trading interests to [[Dalgety plc|Dalgety, Rattray & Co]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> In their later years, the Holmes lived in Hawkestone House, [[Wellington]].<ref name="wife's obit" />
In 1859, he returned to New Zealand on the ''Pirate'' as the company's general manager, but also spent time in Victoria to look after business interests there. In 1862, he travelled to England as one of the commissioners for the [[1862 International Exhibition]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> In 1864, he sold his estate in Scotland and moved his family back to New Zealand.<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> At first, they were living at [[Andersons Bay]] on [[Otago Peninsula]]. They then lived partly at Andersons Bay and partly at Awamoa, near [[Oamaru]] in North [[Otago]].<ref name="NZETC Holmes" /><ref name="wife's obit" /> He was the owner of large sheep runs both at Awamoa and at Castlerock near [[Lumsden, New Zealand|Lumsden]] in [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]].<ref name="Southern">{{cite book | editor-last= Thomson | editor-first=J. | year=1998 | title=Southern people: A dictionary of Otago Southland biography | pages=263f | publisher=Longacre Press | isbn=1-877135-11-9}}</ref> His station at Castlerock was overrun by rabbits in the 1870s, but Holmes managed to get on top of the problem;<ref name="ES obit" /> his son Stuart later gave presentations on how they went about this.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rabbit-Proof Fences in New Zealand|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/162818215|access-date=3 February 2017|work=[[The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser]]|date=10 October 1885|page=770}}</ref> Holmes was well known for importing quality stock for breeding, including [[Clydesdale horse]]s and [[Cheviot sheep]]. Holmes was one of the original directors of the [[Mosgiel Woollen Mill]] and on retirement from active business, he sold his trading interests to [[Dalgety plc|Dalgety, Rattray & Co]].<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> In their later years, the Holmes lived in Hawkestone House, [[Wellington]].<ref name="wife's obit" />


===Political career===
===Political career===
Holmes represented the Oteramika electorate in the [[Southland Provincial Council]] from 7 November 1864 to 6 July 1867.<ref name="Scholefield 1950">{{cite book | ref = harv |authorlink = Guy Scholefield | last = Scholefield | first= Guy | title = New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 | edition = 3rd | origyear=First published in 1913 | year = 1950 |publisher = Govt. Printer |location = Wellington | pages=221, 227}}</ref> He represented the Oreti electorate in Southland on the [[Otago Provincial Council]], after Otago and Southland had reunited, from 31 March 1871 to 22 May 1873.<ref name="Scholefield 1950" />
Holmes represented the Oteramika electorate in the [[Southland Provincial Council]] from 7 November 1864 to 6 July 1867.<ref name="Scholefield 1950">{{cite book |author-link = Guy Scholefield | last = Scholefield | first= Guy | title = New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 | edition = 3rd | orig-year=First published in 1913 | year = 1950 |publisher = Govt. Printer |location = Wellington | pages=221, 227}}</ref> He represented the Oreti electorate in Southland on the [[Otago Provincial Council]], after Otago and Southland had reunited, from 31 March 1871 to 22 May 1873.<ref name="Scholefield 1950" />


Holmes was a member of the [[New Zealand Legislative Council]] from 19 June 1866 until 1901, when he died.<ref>{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |origyear= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103 |page=155}}</ref>
Holmes was a member of the [[New Zealand Legislative Council]] from 19 June 1866 until 1901, when he died.<ref>{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103 |page=155}}</ref>


==Family and death==
==Family and death==
His wife was related to the brothers [[John McLean (New Zealand politician)|John]] and [[Allan McLean (philanthropist)|Allan McLean]].<ref name="wife's obit" /> The Holmes had six children, including the barrister [[Allan Holmes (lawyer)|Allan Holmes]].<ref name="ES obit" /> Their daughter [[Katherine McLean Holmes|Katherine]] was an artist whose work has been collected by the Hocken Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-PlaNine-t1-body-d1-d599.html|title=HOLMES, Katherine McLean 1849–1925? {{!}} NZETC|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz|access-date=2019-06-20}}</ref> A daughter was Isabella, a founder of [[Dunedin Public Art Gallery]].<ref name="Southern"/> Isabella married [[George McLean (New Zealand politician)|George McLean]], who served as a member of parliament in the 1860s and 1870s, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1881.<ref name="ST obit">{{cite news |title=Death of a True Colonist |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ST19010928.2.8 |accessdate=6 April 2014 | work=[[The Southland Times]] |date=28 September 1901 |issue=15057 |page=2}}</ref> A daughter of Isabella and George McLean married [[Thomas Wilford]].<ref>{{DNZB|Butterworth|Susan |3w17|Wilford, Thomas Mason - Biography|4 February 2017}}</ref> The eldest daughter of the Holmes, Elizabeth, married in Melbourne in 1860.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marriage|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154843245|accessdate=3 February 2017|work=[[The Age]]|date=1 May 1860|page=4}}</ref> His wife died in 1897,<ref name="wife's obit" /> and Holmes died on 27 September 1901 aged 84.<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> He was buried at [[Karori Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Local and General|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19010930.2.23?query=holmes%20funeral|accessdate=4 February 2017|work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]]|volume=LXII|issue=79|date=30 September 1901|page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Details|url=http://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/cemeteries-search/details?id=85852&serviceType=Burial&previousPage=%2fservices%2fcommunity-and-culture%2fcemeteries%2fcemeteries-search%2fresults%3fserviceType%3dAll%26lastName%3dHolmes%26fromDate%3d01%252f01%252f1897%26toDate%3d31%252f12%252f1901%26cemetery%3dKarori|publisher=[[Wellington City Council]] |accessdate=4 February 2017}}</ref>
His wife was a half-sister to the brothers [[John McLean (New Zealand politician)|John]] and [[Allan McLean (philanthropist)|Allan McLean]].<ref name="wife's obit" /> The Holmes had six children, including the barrister [[Allan Holmes (lawyer)|Allan Holmes]].<ref name="ES obit" /> Their third daughter [[Katherine McLean Holmes|Katherine]] was an artist whose work has been collected by the [[Hocken Library]] and the [[Alexander Turnbull Library]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-PlaNine-t1-body-d1-d599.html|title=HOLMES, Katherine McLean 1849–1925? {{!}} NZETC|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz|access-date=20 June 2019}}</ref> Their youngest daughter [[Annie Julia White|Annie Julia]] was also an artist, known for her watercolour painting. Another daughter was Isabella, a founder of [[Dunedin Public Art Gallery]].<ref name="Southern"/> Isabella married [[George McLean (New Zealand politician)|George McLean]], who served as a member of parliament in the 1860s and 1870s, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1881.<ref name="ST obit">{{cite news |title=Death of a True Colonist |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=ST19010928.2.8 |access-date=6 April 2014 | work=[[The Southland Times]] |date=28 September 1901 |issue=15057 |page=2}}</ref> A daughter of Isabella and George McLean married [[Thomas Wilford]].<ref>{{DNZB|Butterworth|Susan |3w17|Wilford, Thomas Mason – Biography|4 February 2017}}</ref> The eldest daughter of the Holmes, Elizabeth, married in Melbourne in 1860.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marriage|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154843245|access-date=3 February 2017|work=[[The Age]]|date=1 May 1860|page=4}}</ref> His wife died in 1897,<ref name="wife's obit" /> and Holmes died on 27 September 1901 aged 84.<ref name="Scholefield 1940" /> He was buried at [[Karori Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Local and General|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19010930.2.23?query=holmes%20funeral|access-date=4 February 2017|work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]]|volume=LXII|issue=79|date=30 September 1901|page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Details| date=12 July 2012 |url=http://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/cemeteries-search/details?id=85852&serviceType=Burial&previousPage=%2fservices%2fcommunity-and-culture%2fcemeteries%2fcemeteries-search%2fresults%3fserviceType%3dAll%26lastName%3dHolmes%26fromDate%3d01%252f01%252f1897%26toDate%3d31%252f12%252f1901%26cemetery%3dKarori|publisher=[[Wellington City Council]] |access-date=4 February 2017}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


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[[Category:Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council]]
[[Category:Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council]]
[[Category:People from Oamaru]]
[[Category:People from Oamaru]]
[[Category:19th-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:Members of the Otago Provincial Council]]
[[Category:Members of the Otago Provincial Council]]
[[Category:New Zealand farmers]]
[[Category:19th-century New Zealand farmers]]
[[Category:Members of the Southland Provincial Council]]
[[Category:Members of the Southland Provincial Council]]
[[Category:Burials at Karori Cemetery]]
[[Category:Burials at Karori Cemetery]]
[[Category:People from Strabane]]
[[Category:Politicians from County Tyrone]]

Latest revision as of 08:49, 25 November 2024

The Honourable
Matthew Holmes
Holmes in 1872
Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council
In office
19 June 1866 – 27 September 1901
Personal details
Born(1817-09-15)15 September 1817
Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland
Died27 September 1901(1901-09-27) (aged 84)
Wellington, New Zealand
Resting placeKarori Cemetery
Spouse
Anne McLean
​
​
(m. 1841; died 1897)​
Children6
Relatives

Matthew Holmes (15 September 1817 – 27 September 1901) was a New Zealand politician and runholder. He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council for 35 years (1866–1901). Holmes was from Ireland and made his money in Victoria from farming, exporting wool, and supplying the gold fields. The family lived in Scotland for some years but Holmes moved to New Zealand. His family followed him years later and they lived for most of their time in Otago, but retired to Wellington.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland on 15 September 1817,[1] Holmes received his education in his home town. After school, he was trained in commerce at McFarland's woollen mill in Derry.[2][3]

Life in Australia

[edit]
Premises of Holmes White & Co, William Street, Melbourne
The rightmost building was constructed in 1862 for Holmes White & Co in Lydiard Street, Ballarat.

Holmes moved to Australia in 1837 and his first business venture was a stationery shop in Melbourne's Collins Street with William Kerr.[3] The partnership was dissolved at the end of 1841;[4] his business partner would later found The Argus.[5] Holmes took over the running of the stationery shop by himself. In 1843, he was declared insolvent by the courts and the stock was auctioned.[6][7] It was not until 1845 that he was discharged.[8] For some time, he had a dairy farm called "Glencairn" in the Barrabool Hills outside of Geelong.[9][10]

On 26 May 1841 at Port Phillip, he married Anne McLean, the daughter of Allan McLean of Strathallan near Echuca.[9][11] After being burned out in the Black Thursday bushfires on 6 February 1851 and their youngest child dying from the effects,[12] he relocated to Geelong[9] and built up a profitable wool exporting company operating under the style of Holmes, White & Co.[3]

He also supplied the gold diggings during the Victorian gold rush.[9] The store of Holmes, White & Co in Melbourne's William Street does not exist any longer, but their premises at 114 Lydiard Street North in Ballarat still stand and are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.[13]

Life in Scotland

[edit]

Holmes and his family moved to Scotland in 1854 as there was better medical care available for his wife's poor health.[3] He purchased a large estate in Lasswade[14] near Edinburgh,[3] and became involved in a group which became the New Zealand and Australia Land Company.

Life in New Zealand

[edit]

In 1859, he returned to New Zealand on the Pirate as the company's general manager, but also spent time in Victoria to look after business interests there. In 1862, he travelled to England as one of the commissioners for the 1862 International Exhibition.[9] In 1864, he sold his estate in Scotland and moved his family back to New Zealand.[9] At first, they were living at Andersons Bay on Otago Peninsula. They then lived partly at Andersons Bay and partly at Awamoa, near Oamaru in North Otago.[2][12] He was the owner of large sheep runs both at Awamoa and at Castlerock near Lumsden in Southland.[15] His station at Castlerock was overrun by rabbits in the 1870s, but Holmes managed to get on top of the problem;[3] his son Stuart later gave presentations on how they went about this.[16] Holmes was well known for importing quality stock for breeding, including Clydesdale horses and Cheviot sheep. Holmes was one of the original directors of the Mosgiel Woollen Mill and on retirement from active business, he sold his trading interests to Dalgety, Rattray & Co.[9] In their later years, the Holmes lived in Hawkestone House, Wellington.[12]

Political career

[edit]

Holmes represented the Oteramika electorate in the Southland Provincial Council from 7 November 1864 to 6 July 1867.[17] He represented the Oreti electorate in Southland on the Otago Provincial Council, after Otago and Southland had reunited, from 31 March 1871 to 22 May 1873.[17]

Holmes was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 19 June 1866 until 1901, when he died.[18]

Family and death

[edit]

His wife was a half-sister to the brothers John and Allan McLean.[12] The Holmes had six children, including the barrister Allan Holmes.[3] Their third daughter Katherine was an artist whose work has been collected by the Hocken Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library.[19] Their youngest daughter Annie Julia was also an artist, known for her watercolour painting. Another daughter was Isabella, a founder of Dunedin Public Art Gallery.[15] Isabella married George McLean, who served as a member of parliament in the 1860s and 1870s, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1881.[20] A daughter of Isabella and George McLean married Thomas Wilford.[21] The eldest daughter of the Holmes, Elizabeth, married in Melbourne in 1860.[22] His wife died in 1897,[12] and Holmes died on 27 September 1901 aged 84.[9] He was buried at Karori Cemetery.[23][24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Burke, Bernard (1970) [1891]. Burke's Colonial Gentry (2 ed.). Baltimore, Ohio: Genealogical Publishing Company. pp. 201, 202. ISBN 0-8063-0415-4.
  2. ^ a b Cyclopedia Company Limited (1905). "The Hon. Matthew Holmes". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Otago & Southland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Obituary". The Evening Star. No. 11665. 27 September 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Dissolution of Partnership". Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser. 30 December 1841. p. 1. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  5. ^ "The Late Matthew Holmes". Geelong Advertiser. 10 October 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Insolvency Proceedings". Port Phillip Gazette. 8 April 1843. p. 1. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  7. ^ "In the Estate of Matthew Holmes, Insolvent". Port Phillip Gazette. 19 April 1843. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Untitled". The Melbourne Courier. 15 September 1845. p. 4. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). Vol. I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. pp. 406f. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  10. ^ "To Let on Terms". Geelong Advertiser and Squatters' Advocate. 5 December 1846. p. 3. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Married". Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser. 27 May 1841. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Obituary". The Oamaru Mail. Vol. XXII, no. 6797. 23 January 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  13. ^ "J.J Goller & Co, 114 Lydiard Street North". Victorian Heritage Register. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  14. ^ Platts, Una (1980). "White, Annie Julia née Holmes 1852–1932". Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook. Christchurch: Avon Fine Prints. pp. 252f. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b Thomson, J., ed. (1998). Southern people: A dictionary of Otago Southland biography. Longacre Press. pp. 263f. ISBN 1-877135-11-9.
  16. ^ "Rabbit-Proof Fences in New Zealand". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. 10 October 1885. p. 770. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  17. ^ a b Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. pp. 221, 227.
  18. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. p. 155. OCLC 154283103.
  19. ^ "HOLMES, Katherine McLean 1849–1925? | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Death of a True Colonist". The Southland Times. No. 15057. 28 September 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  21. ^ Butterworth, Susan. "Wilford, Thomas Mason – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Marriage". The Age. 1 May 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  23. ^ "Local and General". The Evening Post. Vol. LXII, no. 79. 30 September 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Details". Wellington City Council. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
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