DEATH OF MR H. G. ELL

Kaikoura Star, Volume LIV, Issue 51, 2 July 1934, Page 2

DEATH OF MR H. G. ELL

USEFUL PUBLIC LIFE ENDED. Mr Henry George Ell, an outstanding figure in public life in Christchurch, died early on AVedncsday morning at St. George’s Hospital, after an operation. He was 72 years of age. For 20 years—from 1899 to 1919—he was a member of Parliament, for a few months holding the portfolio of Post-master-General; but he was more widely known, to the younger generation particularly, for his magnificent work in opening up the Port Hills loi tTampers and motorists. After his retirement from politics he gave his undivided attention to the development of the Summit road reserve, and to-day the results of his work, among them the Sign of the Takahe, the Sign of the Kiwi, the Sign of the Bellbird, and the Sign of the Packhorse, arc his memorial. Varied Experience.

He was the son of Mr George AValdock Ell, the well-known stock buyer in the Halswcll district, and was born in Christchurch in 1862. He was educated at the Riccarton, Halswcll, and West Christchurch schools. After leaving school he had varied experiences. After a time as a junior attendant at the Christchurch mfiseum ho was engaged on survey work on a sheep station and then was employed at a woolscouring works. He afterwards went to Taranaki to join the Armed Constabulary at Parihaka, a famous old Maori settlement and military post in the old days of the native war. He was in the constabulary for three years and a half.

For four years he was employed in the printing department of the Christchurch Press Company. Ltd., going from there into the employ ot Messrs Nind-AVard and Company. After five year.*? with this firm he joined the staff of Messrs Andrews and Company, manufacturing stationers, where he* remained until his election to Parliament in 1899 as a representative fcr Christchurch City. He was actively connected with Labour and other political organisations in the city from 1884, and remained a prominent public figure for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Knights of Labour and of the Canterbury Liberal Association, and for some time president of the Progressive Liberal Association. For thre f » years he was secretary to this organisation, resigning in 1896 to .become a candidate for Parliament as a representative for Christchurch. He was nominated by the Canterbury Women’s Institute and supported by the Canterbury Piogressive Liberal Association, and ,although he had never before addressed a political meeting, gained 4705 votes, coming fifth in the poll. Mr Ell was married, in 1891, to a daughter of Mr Alfred •Gee, of Linwood, a very old colonist. He is survived by Mrs Ell, three daughters: Mrs E. J. Bell, Mrs R. P. Jameson, and Miss M. E. Ell, and one son, Mr G. A. Ell. His eldest son, Mr A. H. WJJII, was killed in 1918, in the Great wr-