William Kelly (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
William Kelly was an Irish migrant to New Zealand
, and became a businessman, soldier and politician.
, Ireland
and emigrated to New Zealand as a young man in 1863. In 1864 he became contractor for the troops stationed in Auckland
, then in the following year went to Opotiki
and set up a shipping business between Opotiki and Auckland. In 1868 he became captain of the Bay of Plenty
cavalry corps and fought in the land war
.
, representing Howick
and Opotiki. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Representatives
for the East Coast electorate
. He held that seat until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875. The "most sensational electoral contest ever held in the East Coast" electorate was held in January 1876, when mysterious pieces of cardboard were distributed by supporters of George Read
in Gisborne
, which hotel bars accepted as legal tender. Read, George Morris
and Kelly received 215, 206 and 185 votes, with another candidate coming a distant fourth. Morris petitioned against Read's election. A parliamentary committee of enquiry determined that Read had not broken any laws by approving the initiative, but the House of Representatives resolved that Read was to be unseated in favour of Morris, which happened later in 1876. This was the last election enquiry held by a parliamentary committee. Subsequently, these enquiries were held by the courts.
After a break from politics, he was returned as an MP in 1887
for the Tauranga electorate
. In the following election in 1890
, he was again returned in the East Coast electorate. In 1893
, he was successful in the Bay of Plenty electorate
, but he was defeated there in 1896
by William Herries
. In 1897 he was called to the New Zealand Legislative Council
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and became a businessman, soldier and politician.
Early life
He was born in 1840 in County LouthCounty Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and emigrated to New Zealand as a young man in 1863. In 1864 he became contractor for the troops stationed in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, then in the following year went to Opotiki
Opotiki
Opotiki is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Opotiki District Council and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.-Population:* of the town: 4176 - Male 1,989, Female 2,187...
and set up a shipping business between Opotiki and Auckland. In 1868 he became captain of the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
cavalry corps and fought in the land war
New Zealand land wars
The New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of armed conflicts that took place in New Zealand between 1845 and 1872...
.
Political career
He was a member of Auckland Provincial CouncilAuckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
, representing Howick
Howick, New Zealand
Howick is an eastern suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, forming part of what is sometimes called East Auckland. Due to the relatively numerous remaining heritage buildings and other historical remnants from its early European settlement past, it has been called "perhaps Auckland's most historically...
and Opotiki. In 1871, he was elected to the House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
for the East Coast electorate
East Coast (New Zealand electorate)
East Coast is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate first existed from 1871 to 1893. From 1996 to 2002, the electorate was called Mahia...
. He held that seat until the end of the parliamentary term in 1875. The "most sensational electoral contest ever held in the East Coast" electorate was held in January 1876, when mysterious pieces of cardboard were distributed by supporters of George Read
George Read (New Zealand politician)
George Edward Read was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Gisborne Region of New Zealand.Read was born in Mendlesham, Suffolk, England, in either 1814 or 1815. Little is known of his early life. He came to the Pacific in the 1830s on a whaling ship, and worked on trading ships. By 1852,...
in Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, which hotel bars accepted as legal tender. Read, George Morris
George Morris (New Zealand politician)
George Betham Morris was a 19th century Member of Parliament from the Gisborne and Bay of Plenty regions of New Zealand.He represented the East Coast electorate from 1876 to 1879, when he was defeated...
and Kelly received 215, 206 and 185 votes, with another candidate coming a distant fourth. Morris petitioned against Read's election. A parliamentary committee of enquiry determined that Read had not broken any laws by approving the initiative, but the House of Representatives resolved that Read was to be unseated in favour of Morris, which happened later in 1876. This was the last election enquiry held by a parliamentary committee. Subsequently, these enquiries were held by the courts.
After a break from politics, he was returned as an MP in 1887
New Zealand general election, 1887
The New Zealand general election of 1887 was held on 26 September to elect 95 MPs to the tenth session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Māori vote was held on 7 September. 175,410 votes were cast....
for the Tauranga electorate
Tauranga (New Zealand electorate)
Tauranga is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Tauranga is Simon Bridges of the National Party, who won the seat in the 2008 New Zealand general election, after the previous MP, Bob Clarkson of...
. In the following election in 1890
New Zealand general election, 1890
The New Zealand general election of 1890 was one of New Zealand's most significant. It marked the beginning of party politics in New Zealand with the formation of the First Liberal government, which was to enact major welfare, labour and electoral reforms, including giving the vote to women.It was...
, he was again returned in the East Coast electorate. In 1893
New Zealand general election, 1893
The New Zealand general election of 1893 was held on Tuesday, 28 November in the general electorates, and on Wednesday, 20 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 12th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
, he was successful in the Bay of Plenty electorate
Bay of Plenty (New Zealand electorate)
Bay of Plenty is a New Zealand electoral division returning one member to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current representative Tony Ryall, a member of the National Party, has represented the seat since 1996.- Geography :...
, but he was defeated there in 1896
New Zealand general election, 1896
The New Zealand general election of 1896 was held on Wednesday, 4 December in the general electorates, and on Thursday, 19 December in the Māori electorates to elect a total of 74 MPs to the 13th session of the New Zealand Parliament...
by William Herries
William Herries
Sir William Herbert Herries KCMG was an English-born New Zealand politician.Herries was born in London, the son of a barrister, and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. At the age of 22 he emigrated to New Zealand and became a farmer near Te Aroha...
. In 1897 he was called to the New Zealand Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
.