John Sharp (New Zealand politician)

Early life

Sharp was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1828. He was educated at Chatham House College, Ramsgate, for the Navy for four years. However, he joined the merchant service. He was an honorary member of Lodge Southern Star, No. 735, E.C., of the New Zealand Freemasons.

Career

In 1843 Sharp migrated to New Zealand in the ship Ursula as clerk to Sir Francis Dillon Bell. Next Sharp became a surveyor for the New Zealand Company. He then received the appointment of assistant clerk to John Tinline, who was clerk to the Superintendent and Resident Magistrate. When Tinline resigned Sharp became clerk. A few months later he was appointed of Registrar of the Supreme Court. A notable trial during this time related to the Maungatapu murders.

When Mr Poynter died, he was appointed Resident Magistrate (1868–1871), Registrar of Deeds, and Deputy Commissioner of Stamps. Sharp held these appointments for three years and then retired.

In 1872 he went into partnership with JA and TH Harley as a co–owner of Kent Breweries. In 1876 he took a controlling share of Nelson's largest brewery, changing its name to The City Brewery. This he sold to Harley and Little. His second business interest was Sharp and Sons, an auctioneering firm.

Fellworth House

Sharp commissioned John Scotland, a local builder and architect to construct a substantial 620 square metre, two story residence for him and his family in 1876 at a cost of 3,000 pounds.

The house at 193 Milton Street, was named "Fellworth" after an old English family residence. It was constructed from Rimu, Totara, Matai, and Kauri timber, had an English slate tile roof, and African back basalt steps at its main entrance. Following Sharp's death there on 4 June 1919, the house was sold to the Cawthron Trust Board. From 1920 to 1970 the house was transformed into a series of labs, a library, and a museum. It is now privately owned.

Fellworth House is a Category II historic place registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. It was registered on 25 November 1982 with registration number 1553.

Provincial Council

Sharp was representative for Waimea East for two years and then representative for Amuri. He held the position of Provincial Treasurer for three years.

Parliament

He represented the City of Nelson electorate from 1875 to 1879, when he resigned. During Sharp’s term in Parliament he enabled Nelson to purchase from the Government the Nelson waterworks and gasworks. The Government had taken these over when the provinces were abolished.

Mayor

Sharp was the Mayor of Nelson from 1887 until 1890. He was first elected to replace Charles Fell who had resigned.

Militia

When the war broke out in the North in 1845, and after the destruction of Kororaraka the Governor, Captain FitzRoy, ordered the militia to be called out in Wellington, New Plymouth and Nelson A hundred men were to be balloted for in Nelson and divided into two companies of fifty each.

No 1 Company was under Captain Dr Greenwood, Lieutenant Dr Renwick, Ensign Charles Thorpe of Motueka, and Sergeant, Gibson. No 2 Company was under Captain Dr Monro, Lieutenant, Dillon Bell, Ensign A.L.G. Campbell and Sergeant, Plumbridge. The Nelson militia Adjutant was Major Newcombe, a British Army officer and Quarter-master, Mr Seymour.

Sharp was one of those balloted. He was placed in No 2 Company. Sharp was made a Corporal because he had had four years drill at college. The militia had a fife and drum band. Its leader was Knapp, father of Constable Knapp, of Spring Grove. The drummer was FitzRoy, an old drummer of the Life Guards.

The reveille was at 5.30am and drill twice daily from 6am to 8am and 5pm to 6pm so that the men could attend work during the day. The militia later became the Nelson Rifles. Sharp was one of its Captains and later an honorary member.

He was also a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Nelson Bowling Club, and had the reputation as an excellent cricketer.