Career
He was a cabinet minister from 1883 to 1884 and 1887 to 1880 as Minister of Public Works. 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. 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).