The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Oliver, Hon. Richard
Oliver, Hon. Richard, M.L.C., son of Robert Oliver, of Penzance, Cornwall, England, and Elizabeth (Fox) his wife, was born on Feb. 21st, 1830. Having emigrated to New Zealand, he entered the Parliament of that colony, and was Minister of Public Works in the Hall Ministry from Oct. 1879 to May 1881, being in the Cabinet without portfolio till April 1882, when, a reconstruction taking place, he was included in the Whitaker Government as a member of the Executive Council till Sept. 1883, when on a second reconstruction he became Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Electric Telegraphs under Major (now Sir H. A.) Atkinson, retiring, with the rest of his colleagues, in August 1884. Mr. Oliver married first at Penzance,on June 18th, 1858, Ellen, daughter of William Purchase; and secondly, at Penzance, on August 19th, 1885, Louise d'Este, daughter of J. S. Courtney, of Alverton House, Penzance, and sister of Right Hon. Leonard H. Courtney, M.P., Chairman of Committees, House of Commons. He was nominated to the Legislative Council in Nov. 1881.