Background
Hughes was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1847, but the family moved to New Plymouth when he was a young child.
Hughes was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1847, but the family moved to New Plymouth when he was a young child.
He was a lawyer by trade and had his own practice from 1870 when he was admitted to the Barometer From July 1874 until the abolition of the provincial government system in 1876, he represented the Town of New Plymouth electorate on the Taranaki Provincial Council. Subsequently, he served on the New Plymouth borough council.
He was one of three candidates in the 1890 election contesting the New Plymouth electorate, and he came last.
On 1 December 1898, Hughes married Amy Grace Burton at Dunedin.