John Hyde Harris
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John Hyde Harris MLC |
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John Hyde Harris
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| 4th Superintendent of Otago Province | |
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In office 1863–1865 |
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| 2nd Mayor of Dunedin | |
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In office 1867–1868 |
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| Member of the New Zealand Legislative Council | |
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In office 1858–1864 |
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In office 1867–1868 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 November 1826 Deddington, Oxfordshire  England
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| Died | 24 July 1886 (aged 59) Dunedin,  New Zealand
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| Spouse(s) | Annie Cunningham (m. 1851, d. 1881) Kate Philomena (m. 1881) |
| Relations |
William Cargill (father in law) William Cutten (brother in law) |
| Children | three daughters and six sons |
| Profession | Lawyer, judge, run holder, politician |
John Hyde Harris (24 November 1826 – 24 July 1886) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician. Born in England, he came to Dunedin as a young man and practised as a lawyer, and was then a judge. He entered provincial politics and was elected as the fourth Superintendent of the Otago Province. He then became Mayor of Dunedin and was called to the Legislative Council.
Harris was born in 1826 in Deddington in Oxfordshire, England. His parents were John Harris and Ann (née Hyde). He trained in law and came out to New Zealand in September 1850, arriving in Dunedin on the Poictiers.
Harris married Annie Cunningham on 3 September 1851. She was the daughter of William Cargill, who was to become the first Superintendent of Otago in 1853. Harris and Cargill had different political views, but Harris often agreed with William Cutten, who was married to another of Cargill's daughters. Annie Cunningham died on 18 January 1881, aged 51. They had three daughters and six sons.
Harris remarried on 3 November 1881, to Kate Philomena, daughter of William Wallis Dunphy.
After his arrival in Dunedin, Harris practised as a lawyer for several years and was in partnership first with John Gillies and, in addition, since July 1857 with his son Thomas Gillies. In 1858, he was appointed judge at the District Court and he held that position until 1862 when the office was abolished.
Harris speculated with land. He had extensive holdings in Waihola, Otokia (south-west of Mosgiel), Lee Stream (inland from Outram), and West Taieri. He lost £28,000 over a four-year period and this was a major reason for his resignation in 1865 from the Superintendency.
After his political career had finished, he continued working in the legal profession. He never recovered from his financial losses and was even imprisoned for one year for his debts.
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