New Zealand's first specialist professional "Law Draftsman" in New Zealand's Crown Law Office. He drafted Bills before being appointed to that office, effective 1 July 1877. Curnin's father worked in India for the East India Company. Curnin was sent to be England to be educated. In 1849 he graduated BA at University College, London. Called to the English Bar in 1853, to the New Zealand Bar in 1858, and to the New South Wales Bar in 1866, he served as Clerk of New Zealand's Legislative Council (Upper House) from 4 March 1861 to 12 September 1865, after having been Assistant Clerk to New Zealand's House of Representatives. Wrote to Donald McLean from Sydney, Wellington and Auckland, 1860-1876; and to Sir John Hall from Wellington in 1892. He died in Wellington on 7 Aug 1904 aged 73. Having retired as Law Draftsman in 1895.
Curnin, John, -1904
Legal documents
Date: [1867-1879]
From: Dominion Museum : Historical material
Reference: AI-73-017
Description: Comprises legal documents re release of land, Otago Harbour Board; articles of agreement; mortgages re Otago Dock Board; mortgage, Thomas Cawthron; bonds with government; and Wellington Building Society letter to George Allen on leaving the company Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Research notes
Date: [ca 1976-1990s?]
From: McBride, Patricia, active 1974-2016: Papers and photographs relating to research into Henry Lawson and Joshua Morgan
Reference: MS-Papers-12163-1
Description: Research notes about Henry Lawson and related matters. Includes notes for researchers into graves at Bolton Street cemetery, Wellington, with attached notes on graves unrelated to Henry Lawson, handwritten transcriptions of newspaper articles about Henry Lawson and others involved in his life and death, a transcript of the words on Lawson's headstone, and a chronology of McBride's research into Henry Lawson. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Handwritten, typescript, and photocopied papers.
Correspondence
Date: Aug 1892
From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1784-188
Description: Corrrespondents entered in the Name field; includes letter relating to baby farming; and letter from Broken Hearted Mother relating to the Marriage Bill Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Piece-level list available.
Correspondence
Date: Aug-Sep 1893
From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1784-199
Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; also includes letter from the Speaker of House of Representatives; an anonymous thank-you letter from a Broken Hearted Mother; and letter from H H [?] Secretaur, Rakaia, about the Rakaia railway crossing Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Correspondence
Date: Oct-Nov 1893
From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1784-200
Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Inward letters - Surnames, Cur
Date: 1858-1876
From: McLean, Donald (Sir), 1820-1877 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0032-0237
Description: Correspondents include: John Curling, Napier, Wanganui & Blenheim, 1858-1873 (6 letters); John Curnin, Sydney, Wellington & Auckland, 1860-1876 (5 letters & undated fragment). Quantity: 1 folder(s).