In 1882, the Arkwright family emigrated to New Zealand, where he commissioned a large country house on the Rangitikei River.
Arkwright was born on 17 March 1846 and baptised on 13 April of that year in Mayfield, Staffordshire, England.
Previously owned by Joseph Banks, Overton Hall became a Grade II* listed building in 1967.
[3][6] Arkwright purchased Coton House in Churchover, Warwickshire, in 1874 including the manorial rights and patronage.
[18] Arkwright bought land near Marton and commissioned the architects Frederick de Jersey Clere and Alfred Atkins to design a large country house near the Rangitikei River which he called Overton.
[19] Arkwright was initiated into the Scarsdale Lodge No.681 EC on 21 June 1876, passed to the Fellow Craft Degree on 17 November and made a Master Mason on 6 December.
At that meeting it was proposed that The Honorable Francis Arkwright take the chair as Worshipful Master if and when the Lodge was formed.
In October a committee consisting of the following members was to draw up the by-laws to be submitted to the Brethren at a later date, they were Bro.
2137 EC was carried out on 15 January 1885, at the Forester's Hall, Marton:[21] The 15th of January was a day of considerable interest to most of the good folks of this smart little township, but most especially of course to those residents who were members of the Fraternity, that being a day appointed for the opening of the Marton Ruapehu Lodge English Constitution.
For the information of our readers we may mention that the town of Marton is situated in the Rangitikei District and is in the center of an excellent farming country distant from Wanganui by rail 32 miles.
On the morning in question it was easy to see that some special event was expected as one after another of the business places sent up bunting to flutter in the breeze, and when the train from Wanganui arrived, the Masonic contingent from there made the streets look quite lively in appearance.
In December 1893, Arkwright was installed as District Grand Master took place at the Masonic Hall in Wanganui.
Together with John Stevens and Robert Bruce, Arkwright was one of the three initial candidates in the 1884 election for the Rangitikei electorate.
[23] An editorial in the Feilding Star argued in early July that the liberal politician Stevens, the incumbent, would certainly win against the two others, as they were both conservatives and the vote would be split between them.
[35][36][37] The Feilding Star in an editorial suggested that there are more policy agreements between the candidates than differences, but endorsed Macarthur.
[43] Apparently, he missed the hunting and shooting opportunities that were available to him in the 'Old Country', and he undertook yearly expeditions into the Scottish sporting districts.