Eugene O'Conor
Eugene Joseph O'Conor (23 February 1835 – 5 July 1912) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for the Buller electorate, in the South Island.
Private life
Born in Ireland in 1835, O'Conor went to Victoria, Australia in 1854, and came to New Zealand in the early 1860s.[1] He was a cattle dealer and storekeeper. O'Conor had 'several useful inventions patented' and lectured on his opinion that Francis Bacon (Baconian theory) was the author of Shakespeare's plays.[2]
Member of Parliament
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1871–1875 | 5th | Buller | Independent | |
| 1884–1887 | 9th | Buller | Independent | |
| 1887–1890 | 10th | Buller | Independent | |
| 1890–1893 | 11th | Buller | Independent | |
Eugene O'Conor represented the Buller electorate in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1871 to 1875 and again between 1884 and 1893.[3] He was known as the 'Buller Lion'[4] for his strong advocacy of local interests and was opposed to 'party government'.[5] O'Conor had advanced ideas and promoted democratic measures, including removing the property qualification for the franchise and having the Legislative Council directly elected by the people.[6]
Death
O'Conor died on 5 July 1912 in Nelson. His wife had pre-deceased him in 1890. They had no children, and he left the majority of his estate to destitute children and old people in Westport.[7]
Notes
- ↑ Hamer 1988, p. 365.
- ↑ Matthews 1999, p. 205.
- ↑ Wilson 1985, p. 224.
- ↑ Davis 1974, p. 148.
- ↑ Hamer 1988, p. 10.
- ↑ Matthews 1999, p. 204.
- ↑ Langbein, Margaret (22 June 2007). "O'Conor, Eugene Joseph 1835 - 1912". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
References
- Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
- The New Zealand Liberals: the Years of Power, 1891-1912 by David Hamer (1988, University of Auckland, Auckland)
- Irish Issues in New Zealand Politics: 1868-1922 by Richard P. Davis (1974, University of Otago, Dunedin)
- Yesterdays in Golden Buller by Ella Matthews (1999, Cadsonbury Publications, Christchurch)
- Karamea: A Story of Success. The Karamea District Centennial 1874-1974 by Dulcie Harmon (2007 Reprint, Buller Printing, Westport)
See also
The Karamea Special Settlement 1874
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Buller 1871–1875 1884–1893 |
Succeeded by Joseph Henry |
| Preceded by John Munro |
Succeeded by Roderick McKenzie | |