St Pauls Papanui Cemetery - Christchurch City Libraries

Queensland sugar plantation before visiting his brother, the much-loved Lyttelton
doctor, Charles Hazlitt Upham. John stayed in Canterbury, graduated in law from
Canterbury University College in 1902 and became partner to J. J. Dougall.
At Lyttelton John met the vicar, Canon Charles Coates, his wife, Harriette Louisa,
daughter of W. G. Brittan, and their family. One daughter, Agatha Mary, was ‘a
woman of especial grace and charm, by nature gentle and shy, but possessed of a
determination that was implacable’. On 23 November 1904, at Holy Trinity, Lyttelton,
the Rev. A. W. Averill (later Archbishop of New Zealand) officiated at the wedding
of Agatha, 20, and John Hazlitt Upham, 37.
Four children, three daughters and a son, were born to the couple in a comfortable two
storey house in Gloucester Street. They were reared in the English manner with a
nurse, housemaid and a gardener. Upham’s main interest outside his work was
walking and he was often seen striding across the hills to Lyttelton. A staunch
Anglican, he was a long-time churchwarden at St. Michael’s.
John Upham has been described as ‘one of the best versed men on case law in
Christchurch …. An eminent company solicitor …. [and] engaged in many cases at
the bar involving legal argument’.
His son’s biographer has a more interesting description, picturing a
…slight, rather pedantic figure …. mild of voice, his air of erudite
respectability gave one a feeling that this was a lawyer of the old school,
precise, unbending but not a very dangerous adversary. Woe betide anyone
who felt that way for, behind his kindly blue eyes was a courageous and
fighting brain. In court the harder the going, the more resolute he became. He
feared no one.
After 20 years with J. J. Dougall, Upham joined the firm which became Harper,
Pascoe, Buchanan and Upham and is now Anthony, Harper and Co. He retired in
1949 and, after a short illness, died on 12 June 1951.
Agatha, who was born on 5 June 1884, died on 10 June 1975. The Upham tombstone
contains reference to Lucy Mackenzie, infant daughter of Forbes and Virginia, and
great granddaughter of John and Agatha, who died on 8 December 1977.
Also buried here are John and Agatha’s son and daughter-in-law, Charles Hazlitt and
Mollie Upham. Born on 21 September 1908, Charles was educated at the Waihi
Preparatory School at Winchester, Christ’s College and Lincoln College (now
University), A high country musterer and shepherd, he later joined the Valuation
Department.
World War II broke out in September 1939. On 18 September Upham enlisted
in the 2 nd NZEF, sailing with the First Echelon. Upham first gained the
Victoria Cross
… for sustained gallantry, skill and leadership on Crete between 22 and 30
May 1941. At Maleme he was responsible for the destruction of four enemy
St. Paul’s Papanui Cemetery
2007
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