THE NEW MEMBERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8065, 28 September 1887, Page 6

THE NEW MEMBERS.

MB. FRiNK LAWBY (TRANKLIN NORTH). Ms, Frank Lawky, the newly - eleoted member for Franklin North, was born in the County of Somerset, England, near the famous Cheddar Valley, ani in his early life was engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuits, principally in dairy farming operations. In ISGi he resolved to leave home and try his fortune in this new country, and a Sew years after arrival, commenced in the dairy business in Auokland, and has been either directly or indirectly associated with this branch of farming up to the present time. Mr. Lawry resided at Epsom for a number of years, and for eleven oons ectitlve years he was a member of the local Road Board, was for many years Its chairman, and he rather prides himeelf on the fact that during ten years of his membership he was never absent from a single meeting of the Board, except on one oooasion, when he was away from Auckland, and during the last ten years there never was a cross vote or a discordant word at the meetings of the Board, or a formal complaint from a ratepayer, or a contested election! Mr. Lawry h~. also aoted as a member of the Executive Committee of the Auokland Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the last eight years, and in a member of the North Auokland Cattle Board. He wa« chairman of the 6rat Epeom Sahool Committee, and is ere dited with having secured the Epsom Sohool site for the dutriot, and also with having been instrumental in inducing the Auokland Board of Education to form Epsom into a separate Bchool district. In 1885-6, on the retirement of Professor Aidis, Mr. Lawry was eleoted unopposed, as a member of the Board of Education, but retired owing to pressure of business, and upon doing so obtained a cordial vote of thanks from the Board for the services he had rendered, principally in representing the requirements of localities which his personal practical knowledge of the country enabled him to do efficiently. At the election before the last he opposed Mr. Hamlia for Franklin South, but was defeated by a comparatively small majority. At the last general eleotion he opposed the Speaker, Sir O. M. O'Rorke, when he was again defeated, though in Epsom, where be lived, he polled 117 votes out of a total of 134. Mr. Lawry has been a large contributor to the press, chiefly confining his writing to agricultural and pastoral matters, and his articles have been generally very acceptable to the public. Mr. Lawry is proprietor of the Auckland Dairy, and feeds and milks 300 cows. At the present election he defeated his opponent, the sitting membor, Mr. W. F. Buckland, by 41 votes, notwithstanding that he was heavily handicapped, the general esteem in whioh he was held by his fellow-settlers carrying him triumphantly through the contest.

MR, ROBERT THOMPSON (MAB3DBS). Mr. .Robert Thompson, the new member for Maraden, is a native of Belfast, and came out to New Zealand in 1872, residing at Whangarei, where he has successfully carried Oα business as an estate and land agent and auctioneer, and where he also married a daughter of Mr. Aubrey, Whangarei Heads. Mr. Thompson haa taken an active part in all local matters, being chairman of the Whangarei Harbour Board and also of the County Council, He is thoroughly acquainted with the wants of an agricultural district such as Marsden, and will make an excellent representative. Mr. Thompson is widely known in the district, and generally respected, and it therefore occasioned no surprise that he should have polled so heavily over his opponent, Mr. J. M. Dargaville. He is in the prime of life, is said to be • good speaker, and a man of considerable Ability. Through hie energy and industry he has acquired a competence, and is therefore in a position to devote his time to the new duties he has undertaken as representative of Marsden in the General Assembly. Mli, W. B. PKRGtYAL (OHBISTOHURCH SOOTH). Mr. Percival is a New Zaalander* born. Having studied for the law, he passed his txamination and took up the practice oil his profession, He has not until lately taken much part in public affaire, his debut being made in connection with the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway. He became a member of the committee of the League, and worked very zealously in the direction of helping on the work. He has ■poken on several public occasions, but until he came forward as a candidate for Christchurch South was never prominently before the public. MR. A. LOOGHBEY (UNWOOJD). The new member for Linwood, like Mr. Peroival, also developed somewhat suddenly into » pablio man. Born in Australia, he comes from a clever family. One of hie brothers is a M.D. in Melbourne of. high repute, though young in years, and another brother held for some time the position of assistant engineer to the city of Melbourne. Had he not left to throw bis future in New Zealand, he would have no doubt succeeded to the engineership,, which shortly after became vacant. He had, however, then accepted the position of city engineer in Wellington. Mr. Loughrey prior to his arrival in New Zealand held the position of inspeotor of schools in Victoria, and travelled over the greater part of that colony. On arrivng in Chrietchurch, he turned his attention to tduoatiorul work, and was appointed head flutter of East Christohuroh School, where he "•on golden opinions both from the parents ', the children under hie charge and the Board of Education. An offer to resume his inspectorship in Victoria, however, tempted him once more to Victoria, and mooa to the regret of a large circle of friends be resigned his mastership of the Ease Ohristohuroh School. After a short time in Australia be once more returned to Canterbury, and having taken his degree in Melbourne, passed bis examination in New Zealand law, and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. He first joined Mr. McConell, and subsequently entered into partnership with William John Holmes, a connection ■which still exists. When the Irish Rifle Volunteer Co. was formed Mr. Loughrey was offered and accepted the captaincy of the company, and he still holds that position. As an athlete Mr. Loughrey at one time was facile princspts, and his geniality baa made him troops of friends, MB. W. P. REEVES (ST. ALBANS). - The new member for St. Albans will add yet another to the list of New Zealanders who have achieved the distinction of entering the Parliament of the country. He was educated at Christ's College, and studied for the law, pasting his examination as a barrister and solicitor, though he did not practice to any extent. Shortly after his admission, he relinquished the law tor the srofeesioa of journalism, «ad has for some

time been connected with the literary staff of (he Canterbury Times and Lyttelton Time*. In the cricket field Mr. Beeves, like many other college boys, haa made a name for himself. He has played in several interprovincial matches, and in playing for his club has been successful in compiling large scores.

MR. A. A. STUABT MBNTEATH (TB ABO). Mr. Menteatn is a comparatively young man, and has resided in Wellington , a little over a year, tie was originally in the National Bank as manager, at Kumars, Lyell, Qreymonth, and other plaoea. He went home in 1880, and was called to the Bar, and pame out in 1884, and praotised as a lawyer at Reef ton, and after seven months there, beat Mr. Beeves by 19 for Inangahoa. Subsequently he was elected chairman of the Inangahua County Council. He was asked to oontest the lnangabua seat this time, bat preferred to contest a Wellington seat.

MR, IZARD (WELLINGTON SOUTH). Mr. Izard is a lawyer of lone; standing. He was called to the Bar in 1857, and came oat to New Zealand in 1860. He practised first in Auckland, and then Wellington, and retired from business two years ago. He has twice contested the Foxton seat, and last time was beaten by only one vcte. MB. TANNER (WAIPAWA.) Mr. Tanne. - , the successful candidate for Waipawa, was defeated by Mr. W. C. Smith at the last eleotion. He is an old resident, and proprietor of the well-known Rlverslea estate, and owns a great part of the present township of Hastings. He was formerly a member of the Provincial Council, and has served on many local bodies. MB. JAMES ALLEN (DUNEDIN BAST.) Mr. Allen is a young man with a large stake in the oountry. He is the son of an old settler, who acquired a great deal of property in the early days wben land was cheap. Mr. Allen is a member of the Young New Zealand party, and is a stalwart man. He has in the past been better knows ae a footballer than a politician, having on save* ral oocaaiona captained the Otago interprovinoirl team* He served for a short time in the City Connoil, was very studious, and is altogether a young man of high promise. He owes his eleotion more than anything, perhaps, to the strong feeling that it was necessary to give Sir R. Stoat a lesson, and break up the Stout-Vogel combination. Mr, Allen was born in South Australia in 1555. He was educated in England, and at Clifton College gained a natural science scholarship. At Cambridge, where he took his 8.A., he represented his college in the football in-ter-University matches, and rowed twice in the trial eights. He took great interest in mining and mineralogy on returning to the colony, and went to England again in 1870, when at the Royal Sohool of Mines he passed with honours, receiving the Murohison medal,

MS. FISH (DUNEDIN SOUTH). Mr. Henry Smith Fish has been in Parliament before. In eome respects he is one of the most prominent men in Danedin. Thrice he has been mayor of Dunedin, and for the fourth time was elected, bat only to be ousted for holding a aub-coutrcot. He has served in the Provincial Council, City Council, and Harbour Boards, and yet is under 40 years of age. At the last general eleotion Mr. Walker, who had ousted him from the mayoralty, distinctly and speoifioally oharged Mr. Fish with reoeiving a bribe for voting in a certain wey on the Harbour Board, and though a writ for libel was taken out, it was never proceeded with, and the elect for Dunedin South still lies under the charge. Mr. Fish is a very influential man, with good abilities and great command of language, whioh savours too strongly of Billingsgate. He has changed his views considerably, and from being a freetrader, has become a strong protectionist. DR. riTCHBTT (DUNKDIN CENTRAL.) Dr. Frederick Fitohett is another of the Young New Zealand party. Be oomes of a very clever family, and his own career has been a peculiar one. While serving before the mast he determined to better himself, and going to Christ's College, Canterbury, he became a distinguished student, holding the Bowen prize. He then selected law for a profession, and while getting together a business kept np his studies and succeeded in passing the doctor's examination, and becoming the first LiL.D. of the New Zealand University. He was taken up by the protectionist party, and followed their views so speedily that he lost ground in general estimation. Dr. Fitohett, who was born at Grantham, is 35 years of age. He left England for Geelong with his parents when three years of age. Besides gaining the Bowen prize at the Canterbury College, he held a senior scholarship in Latin in 1879. MR. ANDERSON (BRUOE). Mr. J. Crawford Anderson, who has been elected for Bruce, is a farmer, but far from being a typical one. He is an ex Otago High School pupil, well informed, fairly young, and likely to become a useful member. He has had some experence in the County Council, but beyond this he is noknown to public life. MB. T. M'KBNZIK (WAIEAIA). Captain T. W. McKenzie (Otago is sending up the whole Clan McKenzie this session) represented Mataara in the Parliament before last, when he waa defeated by Mr. Richardson. He is a large landowner. He takes rather a gloomy view of public affaire. MB. WARD (AWABCTA). Mr. J. G. Ward, elected for Awarua, is another of the Young New Zealand party— having been settled about Inveroargill since infancy. He is a grain merchant—having a good business knowledge for one so young. He has been Mayor of Campbelltown (Bluff) on several occasions, is chairman of the Har« bour Board, so that he has a fair knowledge of publio life. He is a rapid, fluent speaker, and, though far from being logical, is very popular, and is in many respeots an improvement on the late member. MR. JBLDWICK (INVERGABGILL). Mr. Feldwiok has reprouented Invercarglll before, and is well known. He formed one of the Grey party, and stood very closely to the old knight; but, lib) many others, he has been disinclined >f late years, and is now an Oppositionist member. He is very popular, though in public mat tera considered wanting in backbone. He owns.with his brother, the Southland News. DR. HODGKIKSON (WALLACE). Dr. Hodgkiuson, one of the very early settlers, is an old veteran in provincial politics. He will probably be regarded as somewhat of a fossil., but in likely to prove a useful member, as h a is a m»n of large experience and well r<ud. He looks at everything in a rather pessimist way, aod is greatly given to Jeremiads. It has to be said of him that for years he has preached to unheeding ears that the path of polities and the pace of the colony would lead to the present crisis. MB, M'KENZIB (OLUTHA), Mr. Thomas MoKeuzie, eleoted for Glutba, is a young man, about thirtytwo, who until recently was engaged as storekeeper at Balolutha. He is a shrewd business man, with a fair knowledge of the requirements of th: farming community, and as bis savings are invented in the colony, he is expected to make a good member. At present he is rather raw, and as he has had no experience of publie life, he has a great deal to learn. Hβ in a typical young colonial Scotchman, combining tmergy with prudence.