CHRISTCHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3188, 16 September 1881, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

September 16

ThelateMrMoorhouse was a native of Yorkshire. He was born in 1825, and came here at the end of 1851 to practise his profession as a lawyer. Not finding much scope here he went to Melbourne, where tradition says, and it is believed truly, that he worked either as a digger, navvy, sub-contractor, or something of the kind. He returned to Canterbury at tbe close of 1853, and immediately made bis first appearance in politics as a supporter of Col. Campbell, who opposed Mr J. G. FitzGerald at the election for the office of .Superintendent of Canterbury. Mr Moorhouse was elected to the Provincial Council a year or two afterwards, and in 1857 he was elected to the Superintendency. The famousLyttelton tunnel was begun during his term of office, despite the opposition against it. He was re-elected Superintendent in 1861, but resigned next year for private reasons. In 1866 he stood again against Mr W. T. L. Travers and Mr J. D. Lance, and won the toughest and most exciting election ever fought in Canterbury. He could not work with his Executive, and in 1868 resigned. He then contested tbe Superintendency for the fourth time, but was beaten. Afterwards he stood for Christchurch ia the

General Assembly and succeeded. In 1876 he was again returned for Christ> church, and in 1879 for Ashley, but for the last eight years he has taken little pirt in active po!itic3, and relied on his name alone to find him favor with the electors.