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Michael Hart
Portrait of Michael Hart
7th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 17 December 1873 – 16 December 1874
Preceded by	Edward Bishop
Succeeded by	Fred Hobbs
Personal details
Born	c. 1814 Freshford, Somerset, England
Died	9 August 1878 Freshford House, Lichfield Street, Christchurch
Spouse(s)	Mary Anne Hart (d. 1866) Ellen Gardner (m. 1866)

Michael Brannan Hart (c. 1814 – 9 August 1878) was the publican of the White Hart Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, that stood on the corner of High and Cashel Streets. It was Christchurch's first hotel. Hart, originally from Freshford, Somerset, England, was one of the first settlers of Christchurch. He was a colourful character and stood for elections to the Canterbury Provincial Council and Parliament, but was unsuccessful. He was elected onto Christchurch City Council in 1869, and was chosen as Mayor of Christchurch 1873–1874 by his fellow councillors. He gave the first chain to the Christchurch mayoral chain. He was the first mayor to wear regalia, modelled on the robes of the Lord Mayor of London. He intended to leave the robes to Christchurch City Council, but after a disagreement, he changed his will and the robes were buried with him.

Early life

Hart was born probably in 1814 in Freshford, Somerset, England. His parents were Paul Hart (yeoman, later a shearer) and his wife Mary Brennan (m. 28 October 1804). He was a plumber before he emigrated.

Hart arrived in Lyttelton with his wife, Mary Ann Hart (née Swan), and their sons Michael Brannan (1843–1908) and George Robert (1841–1911) on the Cressy on 27 December 1850, one of the First Four Ships reaching Canterbury. He was briefly in business in Lyttelton as a plumber with Henry Allwright.

White Hart Hotel

Hart and his family soon moved to Christchurch. Together with Charles Day of Sydney, he bought the block of land on the south-western side of High Street between Cashel Street and Lichfield Street. The family first lived on the site in a tent before Hart built an A-frame hut.

On the High Street (then called Sumner Road) and Cashel Street corner, Hart founded the White Hart, the first hotel in Christchurch. The hotel opened on 15 November 1851, less than a year after the organised settlement of Christchurch. On 16 December 1852, Hart catered for 150 guests who had assembled to farewell John Robert Godley, the founder of Canterbury who returned to England after his short stay in the colony. Hart bought out Day in September 1854 for £525. A new building was built on the site in 1866.

The trustees of the Hart estate decided to rebuild the White Hart Hotel in 1902. A design competition was called for and won by Sidney Luttrell. This competition win was the impetus for the Launceston-based Luttrell Brothers to move to Christchurch. The 1902 design, estimated to have cost £25,000, was not built due to the No Licence vote at the election that year. A plainer design was built in 1905, which burned down three years later. A new building was erected behind the façade.

The photo from the 1940s shows the White Hart Hotel to the right of the building that is these days occupied by Cheapskates. The site of the hotel is these days occupied by the Westpac high rise, which is soon to be demolished due to damage sustained in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Political career

Hart stood for election to the Canterbury Provincial Council on several occasions and was always unsuccessful. Hart contested the November 1857 election for the 2nd Council, where six candidates stood for four positions in the Town of Christchurch electorate. Hart came fifth, only one vote behind the fourth candidate; the successful candidates were Richard Packer (165 votes), Charles Wellington Bishop (160 votes), Charles Berjew Fooks (152 votes) and Thomas Cass (96 votes).

The 18 January 1860 Town of Christchurch by-election, caused by the resignation of Richard Packer from the Christchurch electorate, was contested by Hart and Henry Sewell, who had been New Zealand's first Premier in 1856. It was the general expectation that Sewell would be elected unopposed, but he faced strong criticism by the Lyttelton Times, whilst generally endorsing him for his obvious ability, the newspaper was demanding from him that he publicly talk about his policies and plans. Sewell eventually arranged a public meeting the evening prior to nomination day; this was the only public meeting during the election campaign. After a lengthy address, which was favourably received by the Lyttelton Times, Hart put his name forward at that meeting. Sewell won the election two days later.

Hart returned to England for a few years. He returned and was elected to the Christchurch Town Council in 1869. Before 1916, elections for town, then city council, were held annually. Hart was again elected in 1872 and 1874.

At the Christchurch City Council meeting on 17 December 1873, the outgoing mayor, Edward Bishop, was thanked for his service and presented by the city councillors with a gift. The councillors then proceeded to elect the next mayor from their midst. Councillor Calvert proposed Hart as mayor, as he had shown administrative skill as the chairman of the works committee. Councillor Fred Hobbs seconded the motion and Hart was elected unanimously. The former mayors William Wilson, John Anderson, James Jameson and Henry Sawtell were present at the meeting. Hart wore regalia at the occasion; the first Christchurch mayor to do so. It was a copy of the robes worn by the Lord Mayors of London and Hart had it made at his own cost. He also gave the first link to the Christchurch mayoral chain.

During his term as mayor, the City Outfall Drain through Linwood, designed by Cornelius Cuff, was completed. Hart formally opened the drain by pouring a bottle of champagne into it.

At the Christchurch City Council meeting on 16 December 1874, a new mayor was elected. The councillors decided unanimously on Fred Hobbs as the successor to Hart. Since his election of mayor almost exactly one year earlier, it was the first time that Hart wore the mayoral robes again. Hart intended to leave the robes to Christchurch City Council, but after a disagreement, he changed his will and the robes got buried with him on his death.

Family and death

Hart's first wife died on 1 June 1866 aged 53 years, and she was buried at Addington Cemetery. Hart remarried only a month later, on 3 July 1866, to Ellen Gardiner, witnessed by John Ollivier and William Wilson. They had five girls and one boy together. Hart died on 9 August 1878 at his home 'Freshford' in Lichfield Street, Christchurch. He was buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery. He had been ill for some time and not taken part in public life owing to illness.

His second wife remarried on 19 February 1879 to Richard Norman Newby. Ellen Newby died in 1904 in Beckenham. She was buried at Barbadoes Street Cemetery.

Hartley Avenue in Strowan is named after his son Leonard Brannon Hart (1874–1960). Michael Hart gave the land for the first Town Hall, which was built on the corner of Hereford Street and Cathedral Square, from where one would look down Sumner Road (since renamed High Street).

References

1. Harper, Margaret. "Lost Christchurch" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 113. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
2. ^ "The Hart Family". Retrieved 30 October 2010.
3. ^ Greenaway, Richard L. N. (June 2007). "Barbadoes Street Cemetery Tour" (PDF). Christchurch City Council. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
4. "Michael Brennan Hart The Cressy". Christchurch Press. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
5. "The Lyttelton Times". Rootsweb. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
6. ^ Conway, Glenn (23 October 2010). "Mayor takes regalia to the grave". p. A15.
7. "Christchurch – a chronology". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
8. "Notice". Lyttelton Times. Vol. IV, no. 204. 14 October 1854. p. 1. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
9. "News of the Day". The Press. Vol. LIX, no. 11356. 20 August 1902. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
10. Jenny May (January 1996). "The Architectural Heritage of Christchurch: 9. Wood's Mill" (PDF). Christchurch: Christchurch City Libraries. p. 10. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
11. "Proposed design for the White Hart Hotel, High Street, Christchurch". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
12. Heather, Ben (24 September 2011). "Demolition drags on". The Press. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
13. "Christchurch". Lyttelton Times. Vol. VIII, no. 522. 4 November 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
14. "Christchurch". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XVIII, no. 523. 7 November 1857. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
15. Scholefield, Guy (1950) . New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer. pp. 192–197.
16. "Christchurch Election". Lyttelton Times. Vol. XIII, no. 752. 21 January 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
17. ^ "The Late Michael Brannan Hart". The Star. No. 3227. 10 August 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
18. "Councillors of the City of Christchurch". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
19. ^ "Mayoral Elections". The Press. Vol. XXI, no. 2611. 18 December 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
20. ^ "News of the Day". The Press. Vol. XXX, no. 4068. 10 August 1878. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
21. "Chairmen and mayors". Christchurch: Christchurch City Council. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
22. "Election of Mayor of City of Christchurch". The Star. No. 2114. 17 December 1874. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
23. ^ "Mayoral Election : Christchurch". The Press. Vol. XXII, no. 2910. 17 December 1874. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
24. "Death". The Press. Vol. IX, no. 1114. 4 June 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
25. ^ "Personal". The Star. No. 8105. 2 September 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
26. "Death". The Star. No. 3226. 9 August 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
27. "Marriage". The Press. Vol. XXXi, no. 4233. 21 February 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
28. "Marriage". The Star. No. 3391. 21 February 1879. p. 2.
29. "Death". The Star. No. 8105. 2 September 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
30. "News of the Day". The Press. Vol. LXI, no. 11981. 6 September 1904. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
31. Harper, Margaret (November 2011). "Christchurch Street Names H" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries. p. 33. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
32. Mosley, M. (1885). "Historical". Illustrated Guide to Christchurch and Neighbourhood. J. T. Smith & Co. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 14 February 2012.

• 1810s births
• 1878 deaths
• Mayors of Christchurch
• Burials at Barbadoes Street Cemetery
• Christchurch City Councillors
• Canterbury Pilgrims
• 19th-century New Zealand politicians