Charles Gray (New Zealand politician)

The Honourable Charles Gray
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Christchurch North
In office 6 Dec 1905 – 29 Oct 1908
Preceded by	new electorate
Succeeded by	Tommy Taylor
17th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 17 Dec 1890 – 16 Dec 1891
Preceded by	Samuel Manning
Succeeded by	William Prudhoe
In office 1904–1905
Preceded by	Henry Wigram
Succeeded by	John Hall
Personal details
Born	1853 (1853) Geelong
Died	11 June 1918(1918-06-11) (aged 64–65) Christchurch
Nationality	New Zealand

Charles Mathew Gray (1853 – 11 June 1918) was a New Zealand Independent Member of Parliament for Christchurch North, and Mayor of Christchurch.

Early life

Charles Gray was born in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia and came to New Zealand in 1862.

Local body politics

Gray was elected to the Christchurch City Council in 1885. Mayoral elections were held on 26 November 1890. The two candidates were the incumbent, Samuel Manning, and Gray, who received 492 and 665 votes, respectively. Gray was thus elected as the 17th mayor of Christchurch and was installed on 17 December 1890. He was mayor until the end of 1891. On 18 April 1904, he succeeded Henry Wigram as mayor, when he was declared elected unopposed. He served for one year, and his chief aims were beautifying the city, drainage, sanitation, lighting and high pressure water supply.

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1905–1908	16th	Christchurch North			Independent Liberal

Charles Gray represented the Christchurch North electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from the 1905 election to 1908.

Gray defeated Tommy Taylor in the 1905 contest for Christchurch North.

Gray made it clear during the election campaign that he was an independent Liberal who would go to the House unfettered by party obligations. He declared that he was not a 'party man'.

Death

Gray died in Christchurch on 11 June 1918.

Further reading

• Whitcher, G. F. (1966), The New Liberal Party 1905, [M.A.(Hons.) – University of Canterbury]
• Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.