Aaron Ayers

Aaron Ayers
Aaron Ayers wearing the mayoral chain
14th Mayor of Christchurch
In office 1885–1887
Preceded by	Charles Hulbert
Succeeded by	Charles Louisson
Personal details
Born	1836 Gloucester, England
Died	16 September 1900 Avonside, Christchurch, New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Isabella Eliza Ayers (née Williams)
Profession	hairdresser and tobacconist auctioneer

Aaron Ayers (1836 – 16 September 1900) arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand from England as a newly married man in his mid 20s. He was a hairdresser and tobacconist for two decades before entering the auctioneering business. He was elected Mayor of Christchurch in 1885 unopposed, and was re-elected a year later in the most keenly contested mayoral election thus far, narrowly beating Charles Louisson. He retired after his second term as mayor. He contested two by-elections to Parliament in 1887, but came second on both occasions. After his mayoralty, he lived mostly a private life and was known as an avid gardener.

Ayers was born in Gloucester, England, in 1836. He married Isabella Eliza Ayers (née Williams) in Newington, Surrey in 1859. She was a daughter of F. F. Williams of London. They came to Canterbury on the Gananoque, which arrived in Lyttelton on 9 May 1860.

Upon his arrival, he built a house at 290 Riverlaw Terrace in Opawa (these days a suburb of Christchurch). The building is these days registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as Category II, with registration number 3730.

For his first 20 years in Christchurch, Ayers was a hairdresser and tobacconist. In 1880, he changed profession and became an auctioneer. His firm, Ayers, Beauchamp & Company, was based at 190 Cashel Street (just east of Manchester Street) and auctioned land, livestock, fruit and general goods.

Ayers was elected as a councillor at Christchurch City Council in 1878, 1879 and 1882.

Ayers and James Gapes contested the Christchurch mayoral election on 24 November 1880, which was won by Gapes.Charles Hulbert and Ayers were nominated for the mayoralty in Christchurch November 1883, and since both were well-known personalities, the election campaign period was interesting and lively. Hulbert won the election, which was held on 28 November, and received 671 votes to 496, a majority of 175 votes.