Edward Cephas John Stevens (18 October 1837 – 6 June 1915) was a New Zealand politician in provincial government in Canterbury, and a member of both the lower and upper houses of parliament.

He was instrumental in introducing cricket to Canterbury and one of his dealings as a land and estate agent resulted in the creation of Lancaster Park.

He was the youngest son of Reverend William Everest Stevens (the local rector), and his wife, Mary James.

In 1862, Stevens bought Brittan's second home 'Englefield', a 50-acre (200,000 m2) tract on Rural Section 26 situated where FitzGerald Avenue meets the Avon River.

Stevens was put in charge of the fund which allowed the Whitcombe boys to attend Christ's College.

[14] Stevens contested Selwyn at the following 1871 general election, advocating free trade and opposing a grain duty.

[14][17] At the end of the 7th session of the House of Representatives, he was offered a seat in the Legislative Council, being appointed on 7 March 1882, and remained on it until he died.

[1] Stevens was a minister without portfolio in Harry Atkinson's fourth term as premier, called the Scarecrow Ministry.

The decisions were deferred to the 5th Parliament, and while Stevens was not a member during that term, William Fox and Julius Vogel advanced many of his causes.

Premier Seddon had expected to stop the bill in the upper house, but found that one more vote was needed.

Thomas Kelly, a new Liberal Party councillor had left himself paired in favour of the measure, but Seddon obtained his consent by wire to change his vote.

His business acumen may be gauged by the £280,000 that he left, which was distributed to his wife, his son Charles, and members of the Whitcombe family.

[1][3][11] Sir Charles Bowen, Speaker of the Legislative Council, said about Stevens:[23] Although he never took the prominent part in the politics of the country that his undoubted talents warranted, he was a man whose opinion was always valued, and to whose statements the House always listened with attention.

Mr. Stevens was too busy to give his whole time to politics, but his carefully considered opinion was sought very frequently.George Whitcombe, Maria's son from her first marriage, died in 1919.