Hugh Gourley (1825 – 16 December 1906) was a New Zealand politician born in Ireland. He was

Mayor of Dunedin The mayor of Dunedin is the head of the local government, the city council of Dunedin, New Zealand. The mayor's role is "to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform c ...

on two occasions and then appointed to the

New Zealand Legislative Council The New Zealand Legislative Council () was the upper house of the General Assembly of New Zealand between 1853 and 1951. An earlier arrangement of New Zealand Legislative Council (1841–1853), legislative councils for the colony and provinces ...

for one seven-year term.

Early life

Gourley was born in Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland in 1825. He married Ellen (née Johnson), a daughter of J. Johnston of County Down in 1850. They had four daughters and four sons. He emigrated to

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

, Australia, aged 27, where he worked in the gold fields and then in his trade as a saddler.

Professional life

Gourley came to

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 ...

in the early 1860s, initially working in the gold fields before setting up in

Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...

as a saddler. He subsequently engaged in various businesses, including the trades of

livery A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol, or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery often includes elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...

, the operation of coaches to

Port Chalmers Port Chalmers () is a town serving as the main port of the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. Port Chalmers lies ten kilometres inside Otago Harbour, some 15 kilometres northeast of Dunedin's city centre. History Early Māori settlement The or ...

and as an undertaker.

Political career

Gourley was first elected to the St Kilda Borough Council in 1881, subsequently serving as the borough's mayor for 13 years. He was first elected to the

Dunedin City Council The Dunedin City Council () is the Local government in New Zealand, local government authority for Dunedin in New Zealand. It is a Territorial authorities of New Zealand, territorial authority elected to represent the people of Dunedin. Since O ...

in 1885 and became

the first time in 1888 for one year and again in 1896 for another year. Gourley was chairman of the Harbour Board for some time, represented on the Domain Board, and as a member of a range of charitable institutions. Gourley contested the City of Dunedin electorate in the 1893 election being one of eight candidates who contested three available positions. William Hutchison and

David Pinkerton David Pinkerton (26 September 1836 – 23 June 1906) was a New Zealand Member of Parliament for Dunedin City, in the South Island. Early life Born in Kirknewton, West Lothian, Scotland. He married Margaret Fairley on 1 December 1857 with whom ...

were incumbents who were successful.

William Earnshaw William Earnshaw may refer to: * William Earnshaw (politician) William Earnshaw (1852 – 29 December 1931) was a New Zealand Member of parliament, Member of Parliament for two Dunedin electorates representing the New Zealand Liberal Party, Libe ...

was the third successful candidate (he had represented the Peninsula electorate in the previous Parliament). The previous representative,

Henry Fish Henry Smith Fish (15 July 1838 – 23 September 1897) was a 19th-century New Zealand politician. For a time, he was a member of the Liberal Party. He was Mayor of Dunedin for a total of six years. Smith is remembered as one of the staunch oppo ...

, came fourth, Hugh Gourley was fifth, with other unsuccessful candidates being James Gore, C. Haynes and D. Nicol. Gourley was appointed to the

on 22 June 1899. He ceased to be a member on 21 June 1906 at the end of his seven-year term.

Other interests and death

He was active in racing and trotting circles and held many official positions, including that of the Dunedin delegate to the New Zealand Trotting Association. Ellen Gourley died on 7 August 1874, aged 46. She was buried at

Dunedin Southern Cemetery The Southern Cemetery in Dunedin, New Zealand was the first major cemetery to be opened in the city. The cemetery was opened in 1858, ten years after the founding of the city in an area known as Little Paisley. This area lies at the southern e ...

three days later. Gourley died on 16 December 1906 in Dunedin. He was buried at Dunedin Southern Cemetery two days later in the same plot as his wife. One of his sons had died in the

Second Boer War The Second Boer War (, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, Transvaal War, Anglo–Boer War, or South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer republics (the South African Republic and ...

. Gourley's undertaking business was incorporated into Gillions Funeral Services, which is still in operation.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gourley, Hugh 1825 births 1906 deaths Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council Mayors of Dunedin 19th-century New Zealand politicians People from Ballynahinch, County Down Politicians from County Down Irish emigrants to New Zealand