FOLEY, EDMUND (1811-84) was a native of Tipperary, Ireland. He married a sister of Sir John O'Shanassy (premier of Victoria). Foley came to New Zealand from Australia about 1839, and in the early forties brought his family over and settled at Cornwallis (Manukau harbour). In 1843 he moved to Auckland and commenced business as a butcher. Some years later he opened the first licensed hotel at Otahuhu, where he had extensive farming lands on both sides of the bridge. From 1859-61 he represented the Southern division in the Provincial Council. Though deeply interested in provincial politics he did not again take an active part. During the Waikato war Foley took up large commissariat contracts for the troops in the Waikato and East Coast and he was a witness of the fighting at Gate Pa. His son, JAMES FOLEY (1836-78) was M.P.C. for Pensioner Settlements (1861-66).

Auckland P.C. Proc., 1859-66; N.Z. Herald, 26 Jun 1878, 25 Aug 1884.

Reference: Volume 1, page 151

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