SUDDEN DEATH OF THE HON. COLONEL KENNY, M.L.C.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 6048, 18 August 1880, Page 2

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE HON. COLONEL KENNY, M.L.C.

The oldest member of the Legislative Council, the Honorable Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Kenny, died suddenly yesterday at his residence, Ponaonby, a suburb of Auckland City. The deceased gentleman, who had till then been a Major in an Imperial infantry regiment, came to Auckland in 1547 in charge of one of the four parties of military pensioner settlers sent out by the English Government as a consequence of the war of 1345. Major Kenny’s party was located at Ouebunga, and , there he remained some years in supervision and command of his corps, and was himself engaged as a practical settler on the piece of land granted him by the Government. He was, at a subsequent period, given the supreme charge of the four parties, and received also a promotion in rank. The pensioners however, were never called upon for active service further than, some garrison and town protection duty for a short period during the war of 1863. On the institution of Constitutional Government, in 1853, Colonel Kenny was appointed a member of the Legislative Council, his warrant being dated March 26 of that year ; his appointment was one of the earliest made, and he was therefore, at the time of his death, the oldest member of the Upper House, Major Richmond coming next. Colonel Kenny was most assiduous in his. attendance at the Council and to its iegi-lative work, and from his appointment till the end of the session of 1878 did not,miss a sitting, unless through illness. For part of the session of 1878 he acted as Chairman of Committees in place of Major Richmond, temporarily Speaker in place of Sir John Bichardson, who was taken ill in the middle of the session, and died shortly after its close. During the sessions of 1875 and this year Colonel Kenny was given leave of absence by the Governor, his ■ ago and infirmities preventing him from bearing the journey to Wellington. It was not, however, supposed that his condition was such as to render his sudden demise probable, and therefore its announcement caused considerable surprise. The intelligence arrived too late yesterday to be communicated officially to the Council, and this will be done to-day on meeting, when an immediate adjournment is likely to be made, as a mark of respect to the deceased. Colonel Kenny, was over 70 years of age, and leaves two sons—one the District Judge at Napier—and two daughters, one of whom is unmarried. He was not a man of large property, but had an ample competence, besides an Imperial pension and his honorarium -as a Councillor, By his death the Council roll is'reduced to 44 names, three’being removed within , the last mouth—Edwards and Kenny by death, and Taiaroa by disqualification.