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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Mr. Arthur Winton Brown
Mr. Arthur Winton Brown, who occupied the Mayoral Chair from November, 1885, to November, 1886; and again from November, 1890, to November, 1891, was for many years a prominent civic politician at the capital. That he did a good deal for Wellington cannot be denied; but within three months of his vacating his high office, he brought a sad disgrace upon his name and memory by absconding from his creditors. That he went to Sydney, via Auckland, primarily, is well-known; but so far as can be learned, absolutely nothing is known of his subsequent migrations. Mr. Brown was born at Port Chalmers in 1856, but came to Wellington with his parents when a lad. He learned the grocery business with Mr. T. J. Mountain, and began on his own account before arriving at the age of twenty. He was very successful for one so young, his untiring energy, fervent ambition and extraordinary capacity for business overcoming all other obstacles. His first public office was the very modest one of school-committee man. He was barely five-and-twenty when he was elected on the committee of the Mount Cook Schools, where his popularity was sufficient to gain his election to the chairmanship. His next step was to the table of the City Council, to which he was elected as a representative of Cook Ward by a majority of two votes over the sitting councillor, Mr. Robert Miller. Mr. Brown was most attentive to the business of the city, and easily secured re-election on completion of his three years term. In 1885 he contested for the mayoral chair with no lesser lights than Mr. Samuel Brown, who had represented Cook Ward for six years, and Mr. Thomas McKenzie, another well-known and popular councillor The majority in favour of Mr. A. W. Brown, though not very large, was still most flattering. So thoroughly well did he fill the office that at the end of his term his popularity was at its highest. He, however, declined re-election, though many of the most influential ratepayers who were opposed to his election the year before were now prepared to support him. He was popular with the councillors, the officers and the ratepayers; but he declined to stand for a second term. Two years later, however, when a general election of councillors took place owing to alterations in all the ward boundaries, Mr. Brown stood for the representation of Te Aro Ward, and of the three men elected for that ward, Mr. Brown was placed at the head of the poll—high above his fellows. This was in 1888, and his popularity then began to decline. He was able, however, to beat Mr. North very easily in 1890 for the office of mayor, which he again filled with credit to himself. It is worthy of remark that Mr. Brown never lost an election. Prior to this he had sold out of the grocery business and established himself as an auctioneer, land and commission agent, etc. He was generally supposed to be doing fairly well, and his credit had always been practically unlimited, both with his bankers and the wholesale houses. In February, 1892, Wellington was shocked by the announcement that Mr. Brown had levanted, and speculation was rife as to the probable cause. He was, of course, declared a bankrupt, and his estate paid about three shillings in the pound; but it was the general opinion that he might have stayed and weathered the storm. The public feeling was one of sorrow that a man so gifted with the qualities that make for success, should have deliberately thrown away all the honours that had been so freely showered upon him. He was Grand-Master of the American Order of Oddfellows at the time of his flight. In all his public offices he had won credit for himself; but there can be no doubt that in his flight and the manner of it, he was guilty of much that was highly discreditable. Any information concerning him of more recent date than February, 1892, would be received with interest by the Wellington public.