Inherited Solsborough on death of General Solomon R in 1905 Major NZ local forces High Sherriff 1912. From the Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Christchurch) page 145 MAJOR URBAN VIGORS RICHARDS, formerly Officer Instructor of Christ's College and Boys' High School, and other schools, was born at Forthside House, County Wexford, Ireland, and was educated at the Royal Naval School, New Cross, London. He is the youngest son of the late Captain E. Richards, R.N., and brother of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Frederick Richards, G.C.B., First Naval Lord of the Admiralty, and belongs to the family of Richards of Solsborough (vide Burke's Landed Gentry}. He entered the Army in 1862 as ensign in the 72nd Highlanders, receiving his commission without purchase in recognition of his eldest brother, Captain Edwin Richards, 41st Regiment, being killed at Inkerman. After serving in India and the United Kingdom with the 72nd, he volunteered in 1867 for service in Abyssinia, and gained his lieutenancy in the 33rd, Duke of Wellington Regiment, then under orders for service in that country; went through the campaign, was present at the action of Arogee, on the 10th of April, 1867, and was with the storming party at the capture of Magdala three days later, being one of those who entered the fortress by escalade. (Abyssinian war medal}. Returning from Abyssinia with his regiment, Major Richards exchanged into the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers-quartered at Malta--in which he served for two years. On retiring from the Army in 1870, he visited Sicily and Egypt, and came to Auckland, per ship "Wild Duck," in 1872, when he joined the Armed Constabulary in the Waikato for a few months. He then came to Canterbury, and after roughing it for some time on several stations and at survey work, he entered the Public Works Office of the General Government as a clerk in 1874, at Timaru. In 1877 he was appointed chief clerk in Christchurch, and in 1879 was transferred to Taranaki in a similar capacity. He was "retired" in 1881, when the post was abolished, and was appointed in the same year to the position he afterwards held in connection with Christ's College. During his residence in Timaru, Major Richards was lieutenant of the Timaru Artillery Volunteers, and in 1881 became captain of Christ's College Cadets, with substantive rank. He was captain of the Christchurch Rifles at the time of the Russian "scare" in 1885, and was promoted to the rank of major of the New Zealand Volunteers on the 8th of July, 1887, the anniversary of his entrance into the Army, twenty-five years previously. Major Richards commanded the Queen's Cadet Battalion, which comprised the College, High School, Kaiapoi, and four companies of Queen's Cadets. After the abolition of all battalions in New Zealand he served on the district staff in Christchurch, and was placed on the retired list at his own request in 1893. In March, 1902, Major Richards resigned his positions at Christ's College and at the schools under the Canterbury Board of Governors. He was initiated as a Masson in 1870 at Malta in Lodge 387,1.C., and afterwards became a member of the Rose Croix, under the Grand Orient of Naples. He is a member of Lodge St. Albans, 2597, E.C., and of the Beckett Chapter of the Rose Croix, 135, E.C., Christchurch. Major Richards was married at Avonside, Christchurch, in 1893, to Katharine Faith, eldest daughter of the Rev. William Michell, Prebendary and Rector of Dinder, Wells, Somersetshire, and Diocesan Inspector of Schools, Bath and Wells.

She had kept a preparatory school in Worcester Street, Christchurch NZ see www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz for full obituary of Urban Vigors Richards