User:Schwede66/mayors/Charles Allison (mayor)

Charles Allison (29 June 1845 – 8 April 1920) was Mayor of Christchurch in 1907–1911.

Early life
Charles Allison was born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. He was the son of Charles (d. 21 July 1892) and Mary Anne Robinson. Trained as a joiner, Charles Allison senior emigrated to New Zealand with his wife, four sons (Charles Jr. Henry, Arthur, Frank) and an infant daughter Lucy. They arrived in Lyttelton on 4 January 1856. His sister had succumbed to typhoid fever on the journey, aged five months. Charles junior fell ill on the journey, too, and his survival was called a miracle.

Family
Allison married Jane Howard on 2 June 1868 at St Luke's Church in Manchester Street, Christchurch.

Alfred Ernest Allison, bap. 27 June 1869 to  Charles & Jane Allison  nee HOWARD,  sp:  Henry Allison

Herbert Harold Allison b. 26 January  1871 to Charles & Jane Allison, Goings road,   carpenter  sp. Charles Allison sen. Harriett Howard

Walter Dunstan Allison, b. 23 February 1873  to Charles & Jane  nee HOWARD,  Colombo street, South, Sydenham, sp: Charles Allison, Arthur Allison. Francis Sarah Howard

Leonard Charles Allison, b. 30 June 1875  to Charles & Jane  of Waltham,  labourer,  sp: Harriett Howard

Mabel Gertrude Allison, b. 26 March 1878  to Charles & Jane,  Pound road,   Sydenham,  contractor

Lucy Ethel Allison 1 April 1880  to Charles & Jane of Sydenham,   clerk   sp: Emily Malbon Allison,  Charles & Jane Allison (also with different date below?)

Hilda Howard Allison b.  7 May 1882   to  Charles & Jane Allison,  Leonards street, Sydenham

Lucy Ethel Allison, b. 7 May 1882  to Charles & Jane,   Sydenham,  clerk. sp: Emily Malbon Allison (two on the same day? different date above)

Hilda Howard Allison, b. ca 1883, m. George Waldemar EIBY on 3 April 1907 at St Saviour's, Sydenham, ages: 29 / 24, occ: Agent,  b: Kaiapoi / Sydenham, parents: Charles & Jane Allison nee Howard witness: Charles Allison, Sydenham, Lucy Ethel Allison, Sydenham.

Edgar Vivian b. 3 March  1884   to  Charles & Jane  Allison,   Leonards street,  Sydenham,   Town Clerk.

Percy Errol Allison, b. 15 November 1891,   to Charles & Jane of Gladstone street,  Sydenham,  clerk,  sp: C & H. Allison,  E. J. Allison

Una Malbon Allison, b.  5 July 1893,  to Charles & Jane, Gladstone street, Sydenham, Town Clerk, sp: Emily Malbon Allison

Professional life
Charles Allison started his professional life as a bank clerk, but he soon turned to building and became a carpenter.

Political career
Allison was actively involved in the formation of the Sydenham Borough Council in 1877. He became the borough's first town clerk. He became chairman of the Colombo Street District School Committee. Later, he chaired the Board of Governors of the Technical College, where he is credited with lifting the skill levels and availability of technical skills in Christchurch.

He was first elected in 1905 as a councillor for Christchurch City Council and he remained a councillor until his election as mayor. Although he was the lesser known candidate, he defeated the incumbent George Payling in the 1907 mayoral elections by a narrow majority of 142 votes. A few months later, he unsuccessfully contested the New Zealand general election, 1908 as an independent liberal (his third attempt to get into parliament). After that, his focus turned to improvements in Christchurch, and he worked on roading, electricity and water supply.

In 1909, he stood for re-election as mayor and was challenged by Henry Hamilton Loughnan. Voter turnout on 28 April was unusually high, as a parallel poll was held to determine whether to introduce an annual half day holiday. 8,819 votes were cast in the mayoral elections, and Allison had a majority of 2,106 votes over Loughnan.

1910 installation

During his mayoralty, he welcomed Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott, whose ships where berthed in Lyttelton Harbour prior to their explorations to the Antarctic.

He unsuccessfully contested the Christchurch South electorate in the 1911 general election.

Death
Allison died on 8 April 1920 at his home in 47 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham and was buried at Sydenham Cemetery two days later. He was survived by his wife, who died on 23 July 1926. A granite cross is placed on their grave.