Edward Wingfield Humphreys
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Edward Wingfield Humphreys (1841 – April 1892) was a New Zealand member of parliament representing
Christchurch North Christchurch North is a former New Zealand parliamentary New Zealand electorates, electorate. The electorate comprised the northern half of what is now considered the Christchurch Central City. Population centres The previous electoral redistrib ...
from 1889 to 1890. He was also a farmer in
Otago Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...
, and his extended family included a number of political figures.


Early life

Humphreys was born in 1841 in
Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ( ) was Historic counties of Wales, one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolishment in 1974. It was named after its county town, Montgomery, Powys, Montgomery, which in turn was named after ...
,
Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. He was the second son of Erskine Humphrey, a barrister at law of
Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...
. He received his education at
Harrow School Harrow School () is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English boarding school for boys) in Harrow on the Hill, Greater London, England. The school was founded in 1572 by John Lyon (school founder), John Lyon, a local landowner an ...
, a boarding school in north-west
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
in the town of
Harrow Harrow may refer to: Places * Harrow, Victoria, Australia * Harrow, Ontario, Canada * The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland * London Borough of Harrow, England * Harrow, London, a town in London * Harrow (UK Parliament constituency) * ...
. He emigrated to New Zealand and settled in the
Strath Taieri The Strath Taieri (sometimes spelt Strath-Taieri) is a large glacial valley and river plateau in New Zealand's South Island. It is surrounded by the rugged hill ranges to the north and west of Otago Harbour. Since 1989 it has been part of the cit ...
district for farming. He purchased several areas of land (''Six Mile'', ''Garthmyl'' and ''Gladbrook''), which were part of runs 213 and 213A. He married Alice Humphreys (née Hawdon), the second daughter of Hon.
Joseph Hawdon Joseph Hawdon (14 November 1813 – 12 April 1871) was a pioneer settler and overlander of Australia, and pioneer and politician of New Zealand. Early life Hawdon was born at Wackerfield, Durham, England, the son of John Hawdon. At the sugges ...
MLC on 22 April 1869 at St John the Baptist Church in
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
. He thus became brother in law with Robert Campbell, who had married Hawdon's eldest daughter, Emma Josephine, on 2 December 1868 in Christchurch. Humphreys was also first cousin with Frederic Jones, who represented the Heathcote electorate from 1887 to 1890.


Political involvement

After having let his property, Humphreys retired to Christchurch in 1888. Although he was a
squatter Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building (usually residential) that the squatter does not Land ownership and tenure, own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estima ...
(''i.e.'', a significant pastoral land holder), he had ' decidedly liberal' beliefs, and one of his best friends used to jokingly taunt him with being a 'beastly radical'.


Member of Parliament

The resignation of Sir
Julius Vogel Sir Julius Vogel (24 February 1835 – 12 March 1899) was the eighth premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works. He was the first Jewish prime min ...
caused the 19 June 1889 by-election in the Christchurch North electorate, contested by three candidates. Humphreys,
John Ollivier John Ollivier (25 March 1812 – 31 July 1893) was a Member of Parliament in New Zealand, but was better known for his membership of the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was the second chairman of the Christchurch Town Council. Early ...
and
Eden George Ernest Eden George (18 September 1863 – 2 May 1927), known as Eden George, was born in New South Wales and came to New Zealand as a young man. He made his career in photography and was active in Auckland and Dunedin, but mainly in Christch ...
received 403, 378 and 184 votes, respectively. Ollivier had prior political experience, representing
Christchurch Country Christchurch Country was a parliamentary electorate in the Canterbury region of New Zealand from 1853 to 1860. It was thus one of the original 24 electorates used for the 1st New Zealand Parliament. Geography The area covered by the Christchurc ...
in the
2nd New Zealand Parliament The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 15 April 1856, following New Zealand's 1855 election. It was dissolved on 5 November 1860 in preparation for 1860–61 election. The 2nd Parliament was th ...
. Prior to that, he was the 2nd chairman of the Christchurch Town Council, a role that became that of
Mayor of Christchurch The mayor of Christchurch is the elected head of local government in Christchurch, New Zealand; one of 67 Mayors in New Zealand, mayors in the country. The mayor presides over the Christchurch City Council and is directly elected using the First ...
a few years later. For Humphreys, who was relatively new to Christchurch, to beat such a well known person with political experience showed how well regarded he had become in a short period of time. The electorates in Christchurch were reorganised for the 5 December 1890 general election. Christchurch North was abolished, and City of Christchurch was set up as a three-member electorate. Humphreys decided to contest this electorate, and the six contenders received the following votes: William Pember Reeves (2774 – elected), Westby Perceval (2721 – elected), Richard Molesworth Taylor (2613 – elected), J. Tippett Smith (1811), Humphreys (1668) and Eden George (119).


Member of Christchurch City Council

Charles Gray was elected as
Mayor of Christchurch The mayor of Christchurch is the elected head of local government in Christchurch, New Zealand; one of 67 Mayors in New Zealand, mayors in the country. The mayor presides over the Christchurch City Council and is directly elected using the First ...
a few days prior to the general election, and his seat in the North-West ward of the
Christchurch City Council The Christchurch City Council (CCC) is the local government authority for Christchurch in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Christchurch. Since October 2022, the Mayor of Christchurch is Phil Ma ...
became vacant. Humphreys declared his candidacy for the city council ward on 10 December. Whilst Humphreys and W. I. Ballinger were nominated on 15 December for the 30 December election, Ballinger withdrew and Humphreys took his seat at the 23 December 1890 council meeting. He retained his seat on the city council until he left for England in September 1891.


Return to England

Humphreys returned to England as he had cancer, and he was given the advice that better specialist medical knowledge was available in his old country. A leaving party was organised for him by the Cambrian Society on 1 September 1891, which had a large attendance. Humphreys died from cancer in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
in April 1892. The Humphreys had no children. He was survived by his wife, who married again in England in 1896.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Humphreys, Edward Wingfield 1841 births 1892 deaths People educated at Harrow School Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives 19th-century New Zealand farmers People from Montgomeryshire Deaths from cancer in England New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates Unsuccessful candidates in the 1890 New Zealand general election