ULRICH, GEORGE HENRY FREDERICK (1830-1900) was born at Clausthal-Zellerfeld in Prussia, and educated at the high school there, graduating later at the royal school of mines in Clausthal. After spending several years in the Prussian department of mines he accepted an appointment with a silver mining company in Bolivia, but finding the country in a state of revolution he proceeded to Victoria, where he spent three years goldmining at Forest Creek, Daisy Hill and Bendigo. In 1857 he was assistant secretary and draughtsman to the royal commission on mining and thereafter for 12 years assistant geologist in the geological department. In 1867 he visited the Paris Exhibition in charge of a mineral collection from the Melbourne Technical Museum. On his return he wrote a description of the method of gold extraction at Schemnitz, Hungary. In 1869 he became curator of the mineralogical section of the University of Melbourne, with the right of private practice. He made a report to the government of South Australia on its copper and gold mines. In 1875 he paid a visit to New Zealand and made a report on the Otago goldfields which was printed with Hutton's report on the geology of the province. In 1877 he was appointed as the first head of the Otago School of Mines and professor of mining and metallurgy, a position which he occupied until his death (on 26 May 1900). He gradually brought together a fine collection of models and appliances, and was largely responsible for the great success of the school, which has sent qualified mining engineers to all parts of the world. Ulrich married (1871) a daughter of Thomas Spencer (Belfast, Ireland).

Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 28 May, 5 Jun 1900; Thomson i

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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UPJOHN, JAMES THOMAS, was employed by a London firm of jewelers before coming to Taranaki by the Egmont in 1854. He farmed at Mangorei and was provincial councillor for Grey and Bell (1861-69 and 1873-75). He was defeated in 1869, but again returned a few weeks later and sat until the abolition. Upjohn was often in conflict with the forms of the Council and was once given into the charge of the Sergeant-at-arms. He asserted the privileges of a member of the Council by wearing his hat in the magistrate's court.

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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UPTON, JOHN HENRY (1863-1929), second son of Henry Upton, surveyor and farmer, was born in Lincolnshire, and educated at the Rev. Percy Strutt's academy in Spalding. Arriving in Auckland in 1866 by the Chili, he joined his brother as booksellers and stationers in the business later known as Upton and Co. He was a member of the education board (1884-89) and chairman for a year, a member of the City Council in 1884, mayor of Auckland (1889-91) and chairman of the Auckland sinking fund commissioners from 1884. He was also a director of the South British Insurance Co. (1895-1929), of the Auckland Gas Co. (1897-1920), the Northern Steam Ship Co., the Hikurangi Coal Co., New Zealand Newspapers and for some years of the Bank of New Zealand. He took part in founding the Riverhead paper mills, and was a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank (1883-1929), of the Melanesian mission trust from 1874, and of St John's College. For many years he was a member of the Auckland Museum and Institute and in 1902 he was president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Upton married in 1870 a daughter of William Gorrie. He died on 28 May 1929.

Cycl. NZ., ii; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; N.Z. Herald, 29 Jan 1890, 29 May 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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URITI, or KING GEORGE (? 1760-1828) was a chief of considerable influence at Kororareka. He was a cousin of Pomare. Intelligent and humane, he protected the missions. In 1827 he constituted himself the protector and guide of Earle and Shand. He adopted European customs, lived in a pakeha house and abstained from drink. He was, however, implicated in the murder of Marion's people and witnessed the burning of the Boyd, for which he held the pakeha responsible. He took part in the expedition against the Ngati-Paoa (1827). He visited Port Jackson (1827-28), favoured the establishment of British authority in New Zealand and encouraged trade. He was killed in March 1828 in avenging the death of Pomare's son.

S.P. Smith, Wars; Marsden, L. and J.; Earle; Carleton.

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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URU, HENARE WHAKATAU (1872-1928), son of Hoani Uru, of the Ngati-tu-Ahuriri tribe, was born at Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi, and educated at Tuahiwi and at the Rangiora High School. In his youth he was well known as a cyclist, wrestler, and footballer, and a member of the Rangiora infantry and the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He visited Australia as an official delegate to the opening of the Federal Parliament (1900) and to the Commonwealth celebrations (1901). For 25 years he practised as an agent, and in 1922 was elected M.P. for the Southern Maori District. Re-elected in 1925, he was defeated by T. Makitanara in 1928. Uru was a member of the board of Maori ethnological research, and of the Maahunui Maori council. He married Gladys, daughter of T. R. Rogers, of Albury, New South Wales. Uru died in Wellington on 7 Mar 1928.

N.Z.P.D., 2 Jul 1929; Who's Who N.Z., 1924.

Reference: Volume 2, page 209

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URU, JOHN HOPERE WHAREWITI (1868-1921) was born at Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi, and educated at Tuahiwi school and Te Aute College. Uru represented Canterbury at football and cricket, and was a captain in the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles, and a member of the Maori contingent at Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897. In 1901 he was an official delegate to the Australian Commonwealth celebrations. For some years Uru engaged in farming near Kaiapoi, and he was chairman of the Tuahiwi school committee. In 1910 he went into business in Wellington as a native land agent. On the death of Parata (q.v.) in 1918, Uru was elected member of the House of Representatives for the Southern Maori, and he sat till his death on 29 Nov 1921.

N.Z.P.D., 7 Dec 1921; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; N.Z. Times, 30 Nov 1921. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 210

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