Bull, John, 1843-1924 (Person)

SummaryBorn in 1843, entered the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department in the 1860s. Served as Postmaster at Cambridge in the 1880s, later becoming Chief Postmaster at Hokitika around 1890. Held responsibility for the Thames telephone station before being appointed Postmaster at Tauranga in 1892.

His first wife, Anna, died in 1894. The following year, he married Mary Josephine Tunks of Tauranga. Transferred to Blenheim as Postmaster (1895), until his retirement in 1902.

Returning to Tauranga, he entered local politics and was elected to the Borough Council in 1903. Served as Deputy Mayor in 1906 and as Mayor of Tauranga from 1908 to 1909 and again from 1910 to 1911. His principal achievement was securing a reliable water supply and sanitation system for the town. Bull did not stand for re-election after 1911.

In 1920 he moved to Auckland, where he died on 5 November 1924.SourcesWaikato Times – “Postal Appointments,” 5 Jun 1886 (Postmaster, CambridgeWest Coast Times – reward notice signed “John Bull, Chief Postmaster, Hokitika,” 5 Mar 1890Grey River Argus – mail notice, 19 May 1891Bay of Plenty Times – report on Bull’s appointment as Tauranga Postmaster, 1892; Deputy Mayor appointment, 8 Aug 1906Auckland Star – Marriage notice, Bull–Tunks, 4 Nov 1895.Bay of Plenty Times – “Mr John Bull leaving Tauranga,” 19 Apr 1920.A.C. Bellamy, Tauranga 1882 to 1982 (Tauranga City Council, 1982), pp. 84–85 (biographical sketch of John Bull).

Photographs

Record of the Mayors of Tauranga

John Bull

Mayoral Portrait, photo 21-1864

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Personal Information

First Name(s)JohnSurnameBullDate of Birth1843Date of Death1924Place of DeathAucklandOccupationPostmasterCouncillorDeputy MayorMayor

Partner

PartnerAnna

Partner

PartnerMary Josephine TunksDate Married4 November 1895Place of MarriageChurch of the Holy Sepulchre (Auckland)

Relates To

Start here:Kiwi Guest House, c.1895-1975 (Place)Government Buildings, Tauranga, 1874-1902 (Place)

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AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authorityTaxonomyStories | People

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Bull, John, 1843-1924 (Person)