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Click Below: John Prosser's
Family
 John Prosser & Jane
Hughes
John Prosser, was Samuel and Caroline Prosser's first child. He was b: 27 Apr 1839 in Fulham, Middlesex, London - an entrepreneur who during his lifetime was a goldminer, owner of Livery stables, hotelier, farmer and showman. He died aged 86 yrs on 06 Nov 1925 in 96 Daniell Street, Newtown, Wellington and was buried 07 Nov 1925 at Karori Cemetery Plot No: 143 H Census 1841: Kensington district: Fulham, London:
Household Members: (Name and Age) Samuel Prosser 24; Caroline Prosser 20;
John Prosser 2 b: Middlesex) Census 1851: District St Luke; Whitecross Street; Household Members: (Name and Age) Samuel Proper (Prosser) 34; Caroline Proper 30; Name: John Proper 11 Errand Boy born: Tutlam, Parsens Green; Civil parish: St Luke Old Street County; Middlesex; James Proper 9; Samuel Proper 7; William Proper 2; Thomas Proper 4 John left as an assisted British immigrant with his family, his grandfather Robert, uncle Edward, Aunt Charlotte and her 2 children on the ship "Hornet" in 1857. The family lived at 23 Little Bourke Street, in Prahran, Melbourne where Samuel, was a cab driver. They started running mail coaches to Malvern Hills and here Samuel's sons learnt their skill at horsemanship. Despite his son's doing most of the work, the family experienced years of financial hardship with an alcoholic father and the business failed. John left Melbourne in 1861 one of 193 passengers for Otago with his uncle Edward Chambers to try their luck at the Dunstan Gold Rush. - for Otago.
He returned to Melbourne and with brothers James, Samuel and William aged 11 yrs left again on 15/9/62 on the ship "Result" in a fore cabin.(Ages not as stated - Chas is James)
Early
in 1864, four prospectors discovered a rich deposit of alluvial gold in
the Whakamarina River near Havelock. (It is in the Marlborough County 16
miles south west from Havelock at the top of the South Island near
Blenheim on the route to Nelson)
The gold rush could not be sustained long and many
miners were next attracted to the new fields on the West Coast. The
Prosser brothers were said to have been successful, but it is unknown
whether their success could be attributed to luck at the diggings or
because they ran packhorses
carrying supplies to the miners.
1865 21 Dec: HANNAH, PROSSER, and PEARCE'S
Livery and Letting Stables, (Late Billman's), Opposite the Crown and
Anchor Hotel (this was opposite Wellington's Queen's Wharf).
"Saddle Horses, Cabs, and Carriages, always o 22 Feb. 1866: "We observe that the stables adjoining the New Zealander Hotel, Manners St., have changed hands, mine host of the New Zealander, Mr. P. A. Chavannes, having entered into arrangements with Messrs. Hannah, Prosser and Pierce, the proprietors of stables adjoining the offices of the Mutual Investment Society and Town Board. Now at the New Zealander, livery stables, carriages and saddle horses are procurable at five minutes notice, and an omnibus will meet every steamer upon arrival. Under the care of Messrs. Hannah, Prosser, and Pierce already so favorably known for their punctuality civility, and attention, we are sure that our country cousins will patronise those stables, even without the knowledge that they possess the best loose boxes in the Colony for thorough-bred and entire horses."
Intention to Marry: 22 Dec. 1866: Wellington: John Prosser, bachelor, livery stable keeper, aged 27 years residing in Wellington, in residence there "abt 18 months" to Jane Hughes, spinster, no occupation, aged 17 years, residing in Wellington 17 years; with consent of Henry Hughes, father. To be married at St Peters Church, Te Aro, Rev. A Stock. (Photo: St. Peters Church )
17 Jul. 1867: PROSSER'S WHITE HORSE REPOSITORY LIVERY
AND LETTING-STABLES. John and James PROSSER beg to inform their
friends and the public that they have become sole proprietors of the White
Horse Repository, and will carry on the 10 Aug 1869: TO LET. THOSE commodious livery stables, lately occupied by Messrs Prosser Bros., Lambton Quay. For particulars apply to MR E. W. MILLS, Lambton Quay. 12 Mar. 1868. Prosser's Stables: Tuesday morning the floor of a loft above Prosser's livery stables fell in under the weight of the grain stored there. The superstructure falling into the stable seriously injured a horse that was standing in his stall, and to put him out of pain the poor animal was killed. The owner of the Crown and Anchor Hotel Wellington 1867 was Charles Merritt and the Prosser family added this to their enterprise. (Old Wellington Hotels) 1868 Advert: 12 Oct. NOTICE. A COACH will leave Prosser's stables for Porirua Ferry every Sunday morning at half past nine o'clock, leaving at half past three same day. Fares : Single Tickets- 3s; Return - 5s1871 Advert: 9 Feb. PROSSER'S CROWN AND ANCHOR HOTEL, Lambton Quay, Wellington. The Best Colonial Ale always on Draught. A Billiard Saloon attached, with First-class Table. J & J. PROSSER, in thanking the public for their past favors during the last six years, beg to notify that they STILL CONTINUE to carry on their Livery and Letting Business. Carriages for Weddings, Balls, Picnic Parties, &c, &c. Good Roadsters always on hire. J. & J. PROSSER, Proprietors. Wises Directory 1872 -
1873 Wellington Province During this period, all 5 Prosser brothers were involved with the day to day operation of a network of transport which expanded to cover the region and shrewdly coupled this activity with accommodation for travellers and some sale of horses - but, Jul. 27th 1874 came the death of their mother Caroline while brother Samuel was licensee at the Crown and Anchor. Then in 1876 renewal of it's license was opposed by the police "Because the building was rotten and the accommodation insufficient" despite the applicant stating a new house was about to be erected, the license was refused.  23 Apr 1874: LICENSING COURT, COUNTRY LICENCES Hutt
District; Granted: John Prosser, Whitewoods Hotel, Hutt.21 Jan 1875 Telegraph Hotel TO LET— The Telegraph Hotel, Otaki. Apply to John Prosser, on the premises, or to T, & W. Staples, Thorndon Brewery.
1879/80 Egmont County Roll - John purchased the Leasehold Hawera Part Block 12 Freehold; Residing Wellington; Occ. Settler Otakeho, 72 acres 1880 - Manaia -
Opunake Mr J Prosser, Hotelkeeper, Hawera paid £81.0.0 Harbour township of
Manaia |
Home
The Prosser brothers went
to Wellington mid-1865 and their widowed mother and younger
siblings joined them from Melbourne. A partnership was formed with
Messrs Hannah & Pearce stabling horses on Lambton Quay and
the White Horse hotel, Lambton-quay (next door to the Town Board office)
and their business soon expanded. 
n
Hire. "
John became married to Jane Hughes,
the daughter of Father: Henry Hughes, Mother: Winifred Clark.
She was born 15 Mar. 1850 at Porirua. (She d: Mar 1903 at
Southland Hospital, Invercargill and was Bur: 02 Mar 1903 Eastern
Cemetery, Invercargill)
business as usual.
Carriages, buggies, and every description of vehicles lent on hire. Saddle
and harness horses always ready. Carriages provided for Weddings.
J. & J. PROSSER, Lambton Quay (John and James Prosser)
Telegraph Hotel, Otaki: FIRE. Dec 5 1875: Between half- past two and
three this morning Prosser's stables were found to be on fire, and in
about two hours were burned to the ground. The groom who was sleeping on
the premises fortunately was soon awakened, and succeeded in removing tbe
coach horses and harness in safety, and part of tbe stock of the livery
stable was removed. One single buggy and a number of other articles were
destroyed. The principal sufferers are Mr. Ross, who had his tools, about
£20 worth, totally destroyed, the groom, who escaped only with his shirt,
and Mr. John Prosser as the building is stated to be insured in the
National for £250, which is considerably below the cost. so will be a
considerable looser. 
The origin of the fire is unknown, but when seen it
appeared to be issuing forth some straw in the building. "Unfortunately
the building was not insured; but, strangely enough, it was only yesterday
morning that Mr. Prosser interviewed Mr. Wanklyn, agent in this district
for the National Company, about insurance. They could not however, agree
as to the amount for which the building was to be insured, and no
transaction took place."