Thomas Pettit

Background

Pettit was born in Nelson in 1858 and died in Wellington on 6 July 1934. Pettit was the son of Charles Pettit who arrived in Nelson in the 1850s.

Career

He was defeated by Thomas Field in the 1911 election. As Councillor he served on the Public Works, Reserves, and Cemetery Committees. Pettit owned two businesses in Nelson "The Brick Store", a grocer and provision merchants on Waimea Road that he had bought from F C Pettit in 1883 and a soap manufacturing business, Haddow and Pettit, also in Waimea Road.

William Philips had established the soap manufacturing business in 1876 with Haddow and Pettit taking over in 1896.

Their "Hydroline" soap was sold throughout New Zealand. lieutenant was invented by West McLeod from Dunedin.

Pettit also exported fruit and general produce. He was also a Director of the Jenkins Hill Coal Prospecting Company.

The association was renamed the Ennerglyn Coal Mining Company with Pettit remaining as a Director.

He was heavily involved in the Church from the 1870s, being superintendent of the Sunday school for 36 years, trustee, and treasurer of the church committee.

Membership

Pettit was elected a member of the city council in August 1902 and as Mayor in 1910. Pettit was a temperance advocate, a Rechabite and Committee member of the Young Men’s Christian Association.

Connections

Partner:

William Haddow