South Kensington Hick was presented with a bronze medal, he was a member of the Permanent Committee for the Representation for British Pictures for the 1874 International Exhibition with fellow MPs Henry Bolckow, Alexander Brown, Henry Eaton, Joshua Fielden, William Graham, John Snowdon Henry, John Pender and others. Hick became an executor for the estate of John Hargreaves in March 1875, following Hargreaves' death at Silwood Park, Sunninghill in December 1874. On 15 March 1879, towards the end of his time as an MP, John Hick along with C.D. Abel, Colonel Frederick Beaumont (1833–1899) Liberal MP for South Durham 1868–1880, F. Bolton, Alexander Brogden JP (1825–1892) of John Brogden and Sons, Liberal MP 1868–1885 for Wednesbury, J.T. Jones and J. Turay registered the Aqueous Works and Diamond Rock-boring Company (Limited), Crown Works, Guildford Street, York Road, Lambeth. The company "...bought out and patented the system of using diamonds for boring", Hick was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute the same year. The Aqueous Works and Diamond Rock-boring Company liquidated about 1892. Pollution trial After leaving parliament Hick and Lt-Col. Ralph John Aspinall JP, DL, campaigned against the pollution and poisoning of salmon and trout in the River Ribble and its tributaries by local industry; Hick raised the issue of pollution in the Ribble during the third reading of the Rivers Pollution Prevention Act 1876. Aspinall and Hick fought a publicised and successful legal battle in the Court of Chancery against the cotton mills of Mitchell and Carlisle during July 1880 leading to a landmark judgement that set a precedent for controlling environmental pollution. The river ran close to Mytton Hall where landlord Aspinall held the fishing rights and John Hick was lessee from 1874. The trial was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor of England, Sir James Bacon. In December 1880 Hick and Aspinall received presentations at Mytton Hall from the local angling community in recognition of "...their services in preventing pollution to the River Ribble and its tributaries". Science Museum During 1887 Hick was a member of the mechanical collections committee chaired by John Slagg, MP with other experts and politicians; Sir William Armstrong, Sir Joseph Bazelgette, James Brunlees, Edward Cowper, Professor T. M. Goodeve, Sir Charles Gregory, James Howard, MP, Charles Manby, John Hinde Palmer, Sir Edward Reed, MP and Sir Bernhard Samuelson, MP established with several committees for the purpose of advising a central committee