Portal:New Zealand/Selected picture/Week 32, 2006
John Ballance (March 27, 1839 – 27 April 1893), served as Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century, and was the founder of the Liberal Party (the country's first organized political party). Ballance always seemed fonder of his books and his chessboard than of public bustle. He has been described as "unassuming and unpretentious" , and was known to be quiet, polite, and extremely patient.