Edwin Mitchelson

Sir Edwin Mitchelson KCMG (7 April 1846 – 11 April 1934) was a New Zealand politician and timber merchant.

The Honourable Sir Edwin Mitchelson KCMG
19th Mayor of Auckland City
In office 13 May 1903 – 3 May 1905
Preceded by	Alfred Kidd
Succeeded by	Arthur Myers
15th Minister of Native Affairs
In office 11 October 1887 – 24 January 1891
Prime Minister	Harry Atkinson
Preceded by	John Ballance
Succeeded by	John Ballance
Personal details
Born	(1846-04-07)7 April 1846 Auckland, New Zealand
Died	11 April 1934(1934-04-11) (aged 88) Auckland, New Zealand

Member of Parliament

New Zealand Parliament

Years	Term	Electorate		Party
1881–1884	8th	Marsden			Independent
1884–1887	9th	Marsden			Independent
1887–1890	10th	Eden			Independent
1890–1893	11th	Eden			Conservative
1893–1896	12th	Eden			Conservative

Mitchelson was born in Auckland in a cottage on Queen Street in the mid 1840s.^[1] He developed business interests in timber and kauri gum, shipbuilding, and horse racing and breeding.^[1] He was a cabinet minister from 1883 to 1884 and 1887 to 1880 as Minister of Public Works.^[2] From 1887 to 1891 he was Minister of Māori Affairs (called Native Affairs), and from 1889 to 1891 he was Minister of Telegraphs and Postmaster-General.^[3]

He represented the Marsden electorate from 1881 to 1887, then Eden from 1887 to 1896, when he was defeated (for the City of Auckland electorate).^[4]

Later years

Mitchelson was the Mayor of Auckland City from 1903 to 1905,^[5] chairman of the Remuera Road Board,^[1] and a member of the Legislative Council from 1920 until his death on 11 April 1934.^[6] He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1921 King's Birthday Honours.^[7] He was buried at Purewa Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.^[8]

Personal life

Mitchelson had a wooden mansion built at Muriwai around the year 1902, which he named Oaia, named after Oaia Island.^[9]