Charles Thomas Ick

Charles Ick
Portrait of Charles Ick
11th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 18 December 1878 – 15 December 1880
Preceded by	Henry Thomson
Succeeded by	James Gapes
Personal details
Born	9 January 1827 Shrewsbury, England
Died	27 April 1885(1885-04-27) (aged 58) Papanui, Christchurch
Resting place	Barbadoes Street Cemetery

Charles Thomas Ick (9 January 1827 – 27 April 1885) was Mayor of Christchurch from December 1878 to December 1880. Born in Shropshire, he learned the trade of a mercer and draper. The Icks had five children when they emigrated to Otago in 1858. He worked in his learned trade in Dunedin for five years before becoming a farmer in Waikouaiti for seven years. In 1870, he came to Christchurch and set himself up as an auctioneer and later opened a drapery business.

Ick was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England in 1827. He was the only son of Joseph Ick, whose estate was known as Lady Halton. Ick married Jane Wainwright in 1849 and their children born in England were Stella, Hubert, Kate, Emily Jane, and Eliza Anne. The family emigrated to New Zealand on the Lord Worsley, arriving in Port Chalmers on 4 October 1858. They had further children in New Zealand.

Ick was in business in Dunedin as a mercer and draper, with his premises in Princes Street. In January 1862, he announced that he would no longer provide credit to his customers, but would offer cash deals only, as that would reduce prices for consumers. He leased his business premises in December 1862 and held a clearance sale during January 1863.

In 1863, he purchased a farm in Waikouaiti. Ick had a hunting accident in May 1867 where his own rifle discharged and shot him in the arm. He remained in Waikouaiti until 1870, first advertising his property for sale in April 1870. His stock and farm produce were auctioned on 26 May by Wright Stephenson.

Moving to Christchurch, he was an auctioneer from 1870 to 1882, when he retired. At first, he was in partnership with Thomas Preece, who had come out to New Zealand on the same ship as Ick. The business arrangement was terminated in August 1872. His auction rooms were in High Street opposite the City Hotel. He leased business premises from George Gould in Whately Road, and set up a drapery shop in a building he named Bradford House near the Victoria Bridge. The business opened on 1 February 1874