Death of Hon. W. Kelly.
The death of the Hon. W. Kelly, which was briefly announced in Friday's issue, was due to heart disease. The deceased gentleman passed away at his residence, Clarcuiont Street, KLyoer Pass Road, Auckland, after an illness of several weeks. He was born in County Louth, Ireland, in 1840, and was thus 67 years of uge at the time of his demise. Mr Kelly came out to New Zealand in J£63, and started business in Auclfland, ami in the following year -became contractor for the troops stationed in " Auckland. In 1865 Mr Kelly went to Opotiki, where he set up in business and bad several vessels running between there and Auckland. He also contracted for the troops stationed at Opotiki and Tauranga. In 1868 he was elected captain of the Bay of Plenty (Opotiki) Cavalry, with whom he saw active service in t-he Maori, war. Mr Kelly represented Ho wick and Opotiki in the Provincial Council until its abolition. After that fee was returned to Parliament as representative of the East Coast, which included ilishorne and Poverty Bay. He sat for a number of years in the Lower House, ami in 1897 was called to the Legislative Council. Having served seven years he was again appoint* ed, aaid retained his seat there until his death. Of recent years the deceased gentleman had been farming at Te Puna, near Tauranga, but sold that property a short time ago. He retained-, however, another farm at Maketu (Silver Park)-, Bay of Plenty. Mr Kelly was widely known j-n all the East Coast districts, as well as in other portions of the North Island. He was taken ill early in July last, whilst hi Wellington, and came frame. to Auckland, death ensuing at two o'clock on Thursday afternoon. Deceased leaves a family of grown-up sons and daughters, his wife having pre-«leceased him some years ago. Qne of the daughters is Mrs R. King 1 , of Te Puke, and another is Miss Kelly, head teacher cf the Maketu school. Two of the sons, Messrs William and Ricby ard Kelly, are engaged in farming pursuits in- an extensive way at Ma-' ket.u. The deceased gentleman was possessed of a most genial disposition, and many residents in the Bay of Plenty owe a. debt of gratitude to him who has just passed away. He never turned a deaf ear to any person in need of, his assistance, and there are to be found in New.-Zea-land at the present time very few indeed possessed of such a generous and kind-hearted disposition! as that of the late Hon. W. Kelly. Young or old, rich or poor, /were /never airakl to 'approach him ami ask his advice or assistance. He linked the past with the present -as no one does today, and his death is a distinct loss to the Tauranga and Tc Puke districts and the whole colony. The large number of telegrams and mes-sages-of condolence received: by the family, including messages from the Premier, Members of the Ministry, the Legislative Council and House of Representatives, testily to the universal esteem in which the deceased was held. We extend "to the family our sincerest sympathy in the great bereavement which has befallen them.
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Bibliographic details
Bay of Plenty Times, Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5109, 23 September 1907
Word Count
538Death of Hon. W. Kelly. Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5109, 23 September 1907
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