Walter Henry Cooper ( 1845 – 17 April 1941) was

Mayor of Christchurch The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system. The current mayor, Phil ...

in 1895, and again in 1897. Born in Somerset, he came to New Zealand early in his life via Australia. A butcher by trade, he later worked in trade and export. He was for many years a member of

Christchurch City Council The Christchurch City Council is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since October 2022, the Mayor of Christchurch is Phil Mauger, who ...

. After his wife died, he lived with his daughter in Victoria, Australia.

Early life

Cooper was born in

Somerset ( en, All The People of Somerset) , locator_map = , coordinates = , region = South West England , established_date = Ancient , established_by = , preceded_by = , origin = , lord_lieutenant_office =Lord Lieutenant of Somerset , lord_ ...

in circa 1845. He emigrated to Australia in 1852 and shortly after that went to New Zealand.

Professional life

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

, he joined the firm of Messrs Hopkins and Co., butchers, as their manager. Three years later, he left Hopkins and Co, and bought the business from an estate. He worked in wholesale and export trade until he retired in 1893.

Political career

Cooper first stood for

in September 1888, when he defeated Henry Thomson in the North-East Ward. A mayoral election was held on 28 November 1894. The incumbent,

Thomas Gapes Thomas Gapes (1848 – 16 April 1913) was Mayor of Christchurch 1893/94. His father James Gapes was twice mayor in the 1870s/80s. The family was of humble origin, had come out to New Zealand from London as assisted immigrants and were running a ...

, stood again and was challenged by two sitting councillors, Cooper and Edward Smith. Cooper, Gapes, and Smith received 587, 364, and 246 votes, respectively. Cooper was thus declared elected, and was installed as mayor on 19 December 1894. His election as mayor left a vacancy, which was filled by William Epthorp Samuels. At the end of his term as mayor, Cooper did not stand for re-election. The mayoralty was contested by two city councillors, Harry Beswick and Howell Widdowson. Beswick was successful, and he was installed on 18 December 1895. In November 1896, nominations were called for the next mayoral election. For a while, councillor John Tippett Smith was the only candidate. A large and influential deputation requested Cooper to stand again, to which he acceded. On 25 November 1896, Cooper won the election, and he was installed on 17 December. Cooper's return caused a by-election in the North-East Ward, and Dr Adam Mickle was returned unopposed. Cooper did not stand again at the end of his second term, but

Charles Louisson Charles Melville Louisson (1840 – 19 April 1924), known as Charles Louisson or Chas Louisson, was a New Zealand politician. Born in London, and relocated to Australia as a teenager, he worked in farming and on the gold fields. He moved to Chri ...

, a former mayor, was asked to stand again for mayor in September 1897. Louisson was elected unopposed on 16 November and installed on 15 December. Cooper was a member of various organisations. He was chairman of the Conciliation Board, the St. John Ambulance Association, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He was a member of the Charitable Aid Board and Domain Board.

Death

His wife Catherine died on 7 November 1922. Cooper moved to his daughter, Elsie Lee Rawlings, in Upper Maffra, Victoria, Australia, and he died at his daughter's residence on 17 April 1941, aged 96. He was cremated at Springvale.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Walter Mayors of Christchurch 1845 births 1941 deaths New Zealand butchers People from Somerset British emigrants Colony of New Zealand people Immigrants to New Zealand Immigrants to Australia