Ballance Street

At the time that Vogeltown was being laid out as a suburb of New Plymouth, a talented politician from the Liberal party was elected Premier of New Zealand.

Born in Ireland in 1839, John Ballance, immigrated to Whanganui in 1866. Initially running a jeweller's shop, he later became sole proprietor and editor of The Herald. He made a name for himself as an informed writer, which led him to stand for parliament in the Egmont Electorate in 1873. Unsuccessful on that occasion, he eventually entered the house as the member for Rangitikei in 1875.

He became disillusioned with Atkinson's government and joined the Liberals under Sir George Grey in 1877. It wasn't long before he fell out with Grey and resigned from government, although he continued to support Grey's administration in the house.

By 1879 Ballance was elected MP for Whanganui. However over confidence cost him the election in 1881 when local sympathy for the strong-arm policy of John Bryce at Parihaka meant they disapproved of Ballance's criticism of the ill treatment of the prophet Te Whiti. Ballance was eventually elected leader of the Liberal Party in 1889, and led them to victory in December 1890. His reign as Premier then ran from 1891 until his death in 1893.

During his lifetime, Ballance married twice - once to Fanny Taylor in 1863, and later to Ellen Anderson in 1870, but neither marriage produced any offspring. He did however, adopt one of his nieces.

His successor Richard "King Dick" Seddon was effusive in his praise of Ballance as a strong leader and an insightful man who really formed the  Liberal Party saying  " ... Parliament will miss his wise counsel and the great ability which distinguished his efforts as legislator and a public man".

No doubt these qualities were in the minds of New Plymouth folk when they named the Vogeltown street after him.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.

Related plan:

Ballance Street Deed Plan 7, ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)