Orton Stevens

Orton Stevens was a New Zealand businessman and politician. A large man with an imposing frame he was Mayor of Lower Hutt from 1900 to 1905.

Biography

Stevens was born in 1865 at Forbes in New South Wales. Upon leaving school he gained employment in the insurance industry at the office of the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria, that later amalgamated with the National Mutual Life Assurance Society in 1896. At the time of amalgamation Stevens was appointed as the company's assistant secretary in its Queensland office. In 1898 he was appointed New Zealand manager for National Mutual.
In 1901 he was elected Mayor of Lower Hutt, defeating the incumbent Edmund Percy Bunny. He served until 1905 when he retired. His mayoralty was dominated by the need to build a new bridge over the Hutt River. He lobbied the government hard for funding and logistical assistance. Prime Minister Richard Seddon was loath to commit support, but was eventually convinced by Stevens to help.
He died in 1914 at a Whangamarino in a train accident which killed two other people. He was survived by his wife and two children. At the time of his death he was expected to stand in the in the electorate for the Reform Party.