O'CONOR, EUGENE JOSEPH (1835-1912) was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and educated at St Omer, France, and at Esker College, Ireland. In 1854 he emigrated to Victoria, and in the early sixties came to the goldfields of Otago. In 1867 he settled at Buller. He represented this district in the Nelson Provincial Council (1869-73), and Westport (1874-75). He was provincial secretary and treasurer. O'Conor was M.H.R. for Buller (1871-75 and 1884-93), and was responsible for passing the Westport Harbour Act in 1884. In 1886 he was chairman of the legislative expenditure committee. He was also honorary chairman of the Westport Harbour Board, chairman of the Buller County Council and a member of the Westport Borough Council. He died in July 1912.

N.Z.P.D., 31 Jul 1912; Cycl. N.Z., v; Who's Who N.Z., 1908.

Reference: Volume 2, page 69

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