Biography

Charles Stephen Reeves was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1835. He emigrated to Victoria about 1855 and lived there for some eight years. In June, 1863, he left Victoria to settle in Dunedin. In Dunedin he married Charlotte Glendinnen. He set up as an accountant and commissions agent which later became known as Reeves and Company. His son joined him in the Vogel Street business.

In 1873 he was elected to the City Council for Leith Ward, which he represented until May, 1876. He was Mayor of the City of Dunedin in 1876 – 1877. During the term of his mayoralty, which followed closely on the abolition of the provinces, Mr. Reeves was called on to discharge many of the duties which had previously devolved upon the superintendent.

Charles Reeves was a member of the first Harbour Board and was chairman of the board when the first contract for dredging the Victoria Channel was let to Mr. D. Proudfoot. In 1874 he was elected to the Provincial Council for Dunedin. He then served for eight years as a member of the Land Board, and was also one of the first Hospital Trustees.

Mr. Reeves joined the Dunedin Artillery in 1863; he was captain of the North Dunedin Rifles for nine years, and was promoted in 1885 to the rank of major in command of the first battalion of Otago Volunteers, from which he retired in January, 1890, as lieutenant-colonel on the unattached list.

Charles Reeves was a Freemason, and a member of the Order of Oddfellows, being a member from his earliest days in Dunedin.

Sources:

Friends of the Hocken Collections: BULLETIN NUMBER 51 : September 2005

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] 1905.