BINNS, Frederick Charles

Frederick Charles Binns

1843-1915

 Frederick Charles Binns

by Wrigglesworth and Binns
Cyclopedia of New Zealand, Canterbury, page 209

Frederick Charles Binns was born on 24 October 1843 in London the son of William Binns, engineer and Mary Ann Bates. He was brought up as a civil engineer, but devoted much of his leisure time to amateur photography. He arrived in  Wellington on 1 July 1864 on the "West Australian" from London as a cabin passenger [1]. Shortly after his arrival in Wellington in 1864 he became associated with James Wrigglesworth and established the partnership of Wrigglesworth and Binns. He became one of the most prominent Freemasons in New Zealand. 

He married Harriet Mills, their children included Reginald William Binns also a photographer, who married in 1911 to Elizabeth Arrow and Stanley Walter Binns, a clerk, who married in 1909 to Grace Elizabeth Heney. While walking to work on 13 August 1915 with a friend Mr. W. I. Bolam he was struck by a motor vehicle in Victoria Street and received serious head and body injuries. He was taken to hospital unconscious and died early in the afternoon. 

At the time of his death he lived at 73 Winchester Street, Merivale, Christchurch. He was buried in the Papanui Churchyard on 16 August, his wife Harriet died in 1921 aged 72.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2960, 26 February 1870 

St Peter's choir met last night for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. F. C. Binns, who leaves by the Ionic next Saturday to take a holiday in the Old Country. Mr. Hautrie West, the choirmaster expressed the good wishes of the choir for Mr. Binns and wished him a pleasant voyage and speedy return.

Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 73, 29 March 1886

Mr F. C. Binns of the firm of Wrigglesworth and Binns, will arrive by the Coptic this morning, on his return from his voyage to England. We are glad to  hear that his health has been much benefited by the trip.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 7873, 7 September 1886

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1892

 

 Evening Post, Volume XLV, Issue 103, 3 May 1893

... Other sales to be held by the firm this month will be — On Wednesday next Mr. F. C. Binns's property in Claremont Grove, off Austin street, 66ft by 264ft, with eleven-roomed house ...

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1898

Messrs J. H. Bethune and Co. publish in another column particulars of a residential property in Claremont Grove, off Austin street, to be sold by them at public auction to-morrow at 2:30 p.m., by instructions from Mr F. C. Binns, This freehold has a frontage of 66ft to Claremont Grove by a depth of 264ft, there being erected thereon the residence known as “Waringa,” containing 11 extra large rooms, formerly occupied by Mr B. M. Molineaux, and adjoining the residence of Mr D. T. Stuart. This property is situated immediately opposite the Victoria bowling green, having a sunny aspect and commanding a good view of the harbour.
New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3589, 15 November 1898


While Mrs. Binns, wife of Mr. F. C. Binns, of the firm of Wrigglesworth & Binns, was getting into her trap at Springfield-road, Christchurch, the horse shied at some cement casks and backed the trap, causing Mrs. Binns to fall and fracture her ankle.
Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 133, 2 December 1898


Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co, land and estate agents, report that they have negotiated the sale by private contract of Mr. F. C. Binns's fine residential property in Claremont-grove, off Austin-street, situated opposite the Victoria Bowling Green.
Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 146, 17 December 1898



Mr. Frederick Charles Binns. Right Worshipful Grand Superintendent of Canterbury, was initiated into Freemasonry in 1873, in the Pacific Lodge, No. 517, E.C., Wellington. He passed through the chairs of this lodge, and for the years 1878 and 1880 was Worshipful Master. Subsequently he became the Z. in the Royal Arch Chapter, was twice Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Wellington, E.C., and for a time Treasurer. With the Pacific Lodge he came over to the New Zealand Constitution. Later on he affiliated with the St. Augustine Lodge, Christchurch, but did not accept office. He was installed as Grand Superintendent of Canterbury on the 30th of April, 1902. 

Mr. Binns was born in London, where he was brought up as a civil engineer. He devoted much of his leisure time to amateur photography, and shortly after his arrival in Wellington, in 1864, he became associated with Mr. Wriggles worth, now senior partner in the firm of Wrigglesworth and Binns, photographers. This partnership was formed in 1870, and since then branches have been established in Christchurch and Dunedin, where the firm maintains its reputation for high-class artistic work.
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District], 1903

The grave and headstone of Frederick Charles Binns.
9 Nov. 2008

Well-Known Mason Killed
Mr. F. C. Binns.
(by Telegraph - Press Association
Christchurch 13th August.)

While proceeding to business this morning Mr. F. C. Binns, of the firm of Wrigglesworth and Binns, was the victim of a collision which occurred between a motor-car and a motor-cycle with side-chair attached, in Victoria street. Mr. Binns, who is 71 years of age, was by some means knocked over by one of the vehicles and sustained severe injuries which necessitated his immediate removal to the Christchurch Hospital, where he expired as the result of the injuries he had sustained.

The late Mr. Binns was born in 1844 in London, where he was brought up as a civil engineer, but devoted much of his leisure time to amateur photography, and shortly after his arrival in Wellington in 1864 he became associated with Mr. Wrigglesworth, and established the partnership which had continued ever since. Mr. Binns was one of the most prominent Freemasons in New Zealand; he was initiated in 1873 in the Pacific Lodge, Wellington, and was Master of the Lodge in 1870 and 1880. Subsequently he became the Z.V. in the Royal Arch Chapter, was twice Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Wellington (English Constitution), and for a time was also treasurer. With the Pacific Lodge he came over to the New Zealand Constitution, and later on, on coming to Christchurch, he affiliated with St. Augustine Lodge. He was installed as Grand Superintendent of Canterbury in 1902, and on the inauguration of the Provincial Grand Lodge, as Grand Master, an office which he held till his death. He was a foundation member of the Civic Lodge. Mr. Binns was also Grand Master (honoris causa) of Grand Lodge of New Zealand in 1911, and he was also Pro-Grand Master in 1906-08.

The funeral will take place on Monday, at 2.30 p.m.

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 39, 14 August 1915, Page 9 

 

1. Edgar Percy Binns [farmer] born 23 January 1871 Wellington, reg. 1871/11903, died 30 August 1952 New Plymouth aged 81 years, reg. 1952/24574, buried Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth, married 7 April 1896, reg. 1896/673 Jessie Ross Munro Isabel MacKenzie
    1a. Leonard Fredrick Binns born 7 February 1897 Mangahoe, reg. 1897/2416
    1b. Donald Urquhart Binns born 29 May 1899 Feilding, reg. 1899/1389, died 8 April 1963 Palmerston North [headstone incorrectly gives year of birth as 1900]

2. Reginald William Binns [photographer] born 18 November 1872 Wellington, reg.  1872/21932, died 17 August 1953 Christchurch, reg. 1953/24193, married 8 December 1896, reg. 1896/3688 Lucy Snell, she died 26 February 1907, married secondly 5 October 1911, reg. 1911/8540 Elizabeth Arrow

    2a. William Reginald Binns born 10 July 1912, 60 Hills Road, Richmond, Christchurch, reg. 1912/10375
    2b. Frederick Colin Binns born 30 September 1915, reg. 1915/27411       

    2c. Henry Arrow Binns born 12 January 1919, reg. 1919/5781   

3. Nina Emily Maude Binns born 7 February 1875, Willis Street, Wellington [2] reg. 1875/1500, died 6 January 1958, reg. 1958/20288, married 29 April 1908, reg. 1908/4229 Thomas Urquhart Alan McKenzie 

    3a.  Yevily Lucie Lilian McKenzie born 26 December 1908, reg. 1909/4086, married 16 April 1936, St John's Church, Feilding, Harold Churton Wild, second son of Mr and Mrs L. J. Wild

4. Amy Florence Binns born 19 August 1877, reg. 1877/12412, died 10 October 1877 aged 7 weeks, reg. 1877/2237, buried Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington 

5. Minnie Ada Binns born 7 September 1879, reg. 1879/16923, died 1979 Australia, married 26 March 1903 St Mary's Church, Merivale, Christchurch by the Rev. Canon Averill, reg. 1903/1714 Fred Hill eldest son of J. T. Hill, Bradford, England

6.  Charles Frederick Binns [Tannery Manager, Woolston, later grazier, Victoria, Australia] born 28 November 1882, reg. 1883/2638, died 16 January 1955, at his home, Victoria, Australia, married 21 August 1912, reg. 1912/6288 Emily May Pole

     6a. Clifford Raymond Binns born 8 April 1913, reg. 1913/16279
     6b. Derek Reginald Binns born 29 October 1915, reg. 1915/27447

7. Stanley Walter Binns [clerk, land agent] born 14 September 1884 [this birth does not appear to have been registered], died 11 March 1961 Christchurch, reg. 1961/21716, married 14 September 1909 at St Mary's Church, Merivale, Christchurch by Archdeacon C. H. Gossett, reg. 1909/3870, Grace Elizabeth Heney third daughter of James Heney, she died 1969

8. Ilma Eileen Binns born 9 December 1894, reg. 1895/3976, died 22 January 1981, reg. 1981/43797

[1] Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2082, 2 July 1864

[2] New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4336, 11 February 1875