Matthew Holmes (politician)

In 1859, he returned to New Zealand on the Pirate as the company's general manager, but also spent time in Victoria to look after business interests there. In 1862, he travelled to England as one of the commissioners for the 1862 International Exhibition.^[9] In 1864, he sold his estate in Scotland and moved his family back to New Zealand.^[9] At first, they were living at Andersons Bay on Otago Peninsula. They then lived partly at Andersons Bay and partly at Awamoa, near Oamaru in North Otago.^[2][12] He was the owner of large sheep runs both at Awamoa and at Castlerock near Lumsden in Southland.^[15] His station at Castlerock was overrun by rabbits in the 1870s, but Holmes managed to get on top of the problem;^[3] his son Stuart later gave presentations on how they went about this.^[16] Holmes was well known for importing quality stock for breeding, including Clydesdale horses and Cheviot sheep. Holmes was one of the original directors of the Mosgiel Woollen Mill and on retirement from active business, he sold his trading interests to Dalgety, Rattray & Co.^[9] In their later years, the Holmes lived in Hawkestone House, Wellington.^[12]

Holmes represented the Oteramika electorate in the Southland Provincial Council from 7 November 1864 to 6 July 1867.^[17] He represented the Oreti electorate in Southland on the Otago Provincial Council, after Otago and Southland had reunited, from 31 March 1871 to 22 May 1873.^[17]

Holmes was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 19 June 1866 until 1901, when he died.^[18]

His wife was a half-sister to the brothers John and Allan McLean.^[12] The Holmes had six children, including the barrister Allan Holmes.^[3] Their third daughter Katherine was an artist whose work has been collected by the Hocken Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library.^[19] Their youngest daughter Annie Julia was also an artist, known for her watercolour painting. Another daughter was Isabella, a founder of Dunedin Public Art Gallery.^[15] Isabella married George McLean, who served as a member of parliament in the 1860s and 1870s, and became a member of the Legislative Council in 1881.^[20] A daughter of Isabella and George McLean married Thomas Wilford.^[21] The eldest daughter of the Holmes, Elizabeth, married in Melbourne in 1860.^[22] His wife died in 1897,^[12] and Holmes died on 27 September 1901 aged 84.^[9] He was buried at Karori Cemetery.^[23][24]