John Tinline was a Scottish-born New Zealandsheep farmer, politician, and philanthropist. He emigrated briefly to Australia before moving on to New Zealand. He learned Māori and was made a magistrate. He was successful at sheep farming and owned huge farms. After he sold these he visited his home town and gave his Scottish hometown Jedburgh a new park.
Life
Tinline was born in Jedburgh in 1821. His parents Esther and John were poor. He was taught at Jedburgh Grammar School. His elder brother, George Tinline, emigrated to Australia in 1838. On 3 September 1839 Tinline followed his brother and joined a ship, the Bengal Merchant, bound for Sydney. He arrived in January of the following year. He was expecting to find his brother in Sydney but George had moved to Adelaide to become the Bank of South Australia's accountant at £400 a year. He soon found his brother and stayed with him whilst he took work doing some surveying. He decided to set sail again; this time for Wellington in New Zealand where he arrived in September 1940. Within weeks he had been introduced to others by his cousin, Robert Waitt, and he was a partner in a storekeeping business in Wellington. In 1842 he went to establish a new store for the company in Nelson but while he was away the company warehouse caught fire and he was penniless. Tinline had employed an assistant who had taught him to speak Maori. In 1844 the governor, Robert FitzRoy, visited Nelson and appreciating Tinline's talents he made him a magistrate and an interpreter for the natives. He served in this role until 1852. Rai Valley was one of the last areas explored by Europeans in northern Marlborough. Tinline discovered it while looking for a route to Nelson in January 1850. Tinline River's name commemorates his discovery of a route from Nelson to the Wairau. Tinline was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council during the second council. From 9 October 1857 to 26 January 1858, he represented the Wairau electorate. From 14 June 1859 to 12 March1860, he represented the Amuri electorate. In 1891 he visited Jedburgh and whilst we was there he agreed to purchase a park for the town. As of 2020, the park still exists. A sign at the entrance records both the opening in 1891 and Tinline's generosity. The town gave him the Freedom of the Town. His brother George died in 1895. Tinline died in Nelson on 26 February 1907. Warwick House had been his residence.
