HUMPHRIES, EDWARD LARWILL (1816-69) was born in Finsbury Square, London; educated in London, and passed the examination of Apothecaries Hall in 1838 and that of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1839. He commenced to practise in the East End but, his health not being equal to the strain, he sailed for New Zealand as surgeon in the Mary, which touched at all ports in 1849.

Returning to England, his health again failed a year later and he came out to New Zealand with his family in the Sir Edward Paget (1851). Humphries settled in New Plymouth and was soon engrossed in an arduous, if not always lucrative, practice. Owing to native unrest the family had to move into the town while he acted as surgeon to the forces in the field.

In 1857 he was elected to the Provincial Council for New Plymouth, which he represented until 1861, being speaker of the Council the whole of that time. He was also on three occasions in 1860-61 deputy superintendent. Being a good business man, and finding medicine not profitable, he opened a business in the town, first as chemist and afterwards adding wine and spirits. Humphries and his wife (a daughter of William Dixon, lieutenant in the 44th Regiment) were active in all social movements, including the initiation of the recreation grounds, which afterwards developed into Pukekura park. Humphries died on 9 Jul 1869. His widow (Ellen Maria) died on 27 Apr 1889, aged 68. (See T. HUMPHRIES, C. W. HURSTHOUSE.)

Skinner (p); Cycl. N.Z., vi; Taranaki Herald, 14 Jul 1869.

Reference: Volume 1, page 227

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