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TOLE, JOSEPH AUGUSTUS (1847-1920) was born in Yorkshire, the son of an Irishman, John Tole (1807-79). He came to Auckland with his parents as a boy and was educated in the Catholic school (under R. J. O'Sullivan) and at St John's College, Sydney University, where he graduated B.A. 1868 and LL.B. 1869. He read law in the chambers of Edward Butler, Q.C., and was admitted to the bar in 1871. In 1872 he was admitted in Auckland and commenced to practise. He was a member of the Ponsonby road board (and for some years chairman) and a member of the Auckland harbour board. In 1876, standing as a supporter of Grey, he won the Eden seat in Parliament, which he held till 1887, defeating Whitaker in 1879 and Reader Wood in 1881. Tole held the portfolio of Minister of Justice in the Stout-Vogel Government of 1884-87 and was defeated at the general election of 1887. While in Parliament he took a keen interest in law amendment, especially in social directions. The adoption of children and the first offenders probation acts were introduced by him. In 1888 Tole resumed his practice at the bar, and in 1892 was appointed crown solicitor in Auckland. He was on the University Senate and was for some years a member of the Auckland University council and the Grammar School governors, a member of the council of technical education, a trustee of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind; speaker (for three sessions) of the Auckland parliamentary union; president of the Auckland branch of the Irish National federation and a patron of the Catholic literary society. A tenor soloist, he was a member of the Choral society and the Liedertafel, sang in many oratorios and took a leading part in the French play produced before the Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney (1868). Tole married (1882) a daughter of Edward Lewis (of Wanganui). He died on 13 Dec 1920.

N.Z.P.D., 1 Mar 1921; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Auckland Star, 13 Dec and N.Z. Herald, 14 Dec 1920. Portrait: Parliament House.