{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2014}} thumb|John Ryall in 1929 thumb|Ryall's mail coach and wagon on Barrytown beach in 1914 '''John Joseph Ryall''' (25 January 1875 – 26 May 1953) was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1940 until its abolition in 1950. He succeeded his father as councillor for the Cobden Riding of the Grey County Council in 1904 and remained a member until his death, always returned unopposed. He was chairman of the Grey County on eight occasions.
==Biography== Ryall was born in 1875, the son of Denis Ryall of Barrytown. His father was a storekeeper and a member of the Grey County Council, including its chairman. Ryall took over his father's business in 1897, and also ran the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand and was postmaster.<ref name="NZETC Ryall">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts |year=1906 |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc05Cycl-t1-body1-d1-d2-d73.html#name-432085-mention |publisher=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |access-date= 13 September 2015 |location=Christchurch |chapter=Barrytown}}</ref> On 19 July 1902, Ryall married Alice Prendergast at St Patrick's Church in Greymouth.<ref name="TC obit" />
Denis Ryall's death in September 1904<ref>{{cite news | title=Death of Dennis [sic] Ryall | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA19040916.2.10 | access-date=14 September 2015 | work=Grey River Argus | date=16 September 1904 | page=3}}</ref> caused a by-election in the Cobden of the Grey County Council. Joseph Taylor and John Ryall were nominated,<ref>{{cite news | title=Grey County Election | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA19040930.2.7 | access-date=14 September 2015 | work=Grey River Argus | date=30 September 1904 | page=2}}</ref> but Taylor withdrew and Ryall was declared elected unopposed.<ref>{{cite news | title=Grey County Council Election | url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA19041004.2.29.2 | access-date=14 September 2015 | work=Grey River Argus | date=4 October 1904 | page=3}}</ref> Until his death nearly 50 years later, Ryall stood at every subsequent election for the Cobden Riding and was returned unopposed every time.<ref name="TC obit" /> He was chairman of the Grey County Council in 1911, 1916, 1927, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1945, and 1953, when he died.<ref>{{cite web | title=Greymouth County chairmen | date=10 September 2015 | url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greymouth_County_chairmen_731.jpg | publisher=Wikimedia Commons | access-date=13 September 2015}}</ref> He was a member of the Greymouth Harbour Board for many years, including its chairman.<ref name="TC obit" /> He was a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 15 July 1940 to 14 July 1947, and from 15 July 1947 to 31 December 1950.<ref>{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= Jim | author-link=Jim Wilson (librarian) |title= New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984 |edition= 4 |orig-year= First ed. published 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher= V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103 |page=245}}</ref> He was appointed by the First Labour Government.
Ryall operated a coach service before the Greymouth-Westport Coastal Highway was built; he was a strong proponent of the construction of the road. Once the highway had been constructed, he operated a bus service to Greymouth.<ref name="TC obit" /> The road is now part of {{NZlSH|6}}. Ryall's hobby was horse racing, and betting on horses.<ref name="TC obit" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Barrytown's Ryall|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZTR19291205.2.25.9|access-date=14 September 2015|work=New Zealand Truth|issue=1253|date=5 December 1929|page=6}}</ref>
Ryall died on 26 May 1953 at Lewisham Hospital in Christchurch.<ref name="TC obit">{{cite news |last1=Ewen |first1=Peter |title=Long Serving John Ryall was truly 'Mr Barrytown' |url=http://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/417 |access-date=14 September 2015 |work=The Coaster |date=25 March 1998}}</ref> A 1998 portrait of John Ryall in ''The Coaster'' states that Mount Ryall ({{convert|1220|m|disp=or}}) inland from Barrytown is named for him,<ref name="TC obit" /> but Reed's ''Place Names of New Zealand'' attributes the name to his father.<ref>{{cite book |last = Reed |first = A. W. |author-link = Alexander Wyclif Reed |title = Place Names of New Zealand |year = 2010 |publisher = Raupo |location = Rosedale, North Shore |isbn = 9780143204107 |editor = Peter Dowling |page = 357}}</ref> The Croesus Track that starts in Barrytown traverses the peak.<ref>{{cite web|title=Croesus Track|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/southern-paparoa-range/things-to-do/tracks/croesus-track/|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=14 September 2015}}</ref>
==References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryall, John}} Category:1875 births Category:1953 deaths Category:Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council Category:New Zealand Labour Party MLCs Category:Mayors of Grey