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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Mr. Crosbie Ward

Mr. Crosbie Ward, Postmaster-General and Secretary for Crown Lands in the second Fox Ministry, August, 1861, to August, 1862, and Postmaster-General in the Domett Government from its formation to October, 1863, was a young politician of great promise. He was the son of the Hon. and Rev. Henry Ward, Rector of Kilhirchy, County Down, Ireland, and grandson of the Hon. Edward Ward. Born in 1833, and educated at Castletown, Isle of Man, and at Trinity College, Dublin, he was one of the pioneers of Canterbury, where he arrived in 1852. Three years later he was elected to the Provincial Council for Akaroa, and in 1858 he was returned to the House of Representatives for Lyttelton and shortly afterwards to the Canterbury Provincial Council for the same port. He became part proprietor of the Lyttelton Times in 1856, and was an able contributor to its columns. A pleasant, fluent and forcible speaker, possessed of great energy and perseverance, he soon took a leading position in the House of Representatives. To Mr. Ward New Zealand is mainly indebted for the establishment of the first mail service between England and the Colony via Panama. On the completion of the railway connecting the eastern with the western shores of the United States of America, he advocated the establishment of the San Francisco route in preference to the other line, but unfortunately did not live to see his suggestion carried into practice. He died a few years after entering political life, and thus a promising political career was brought to a close.