KENRICK, HARRY (1832-86) was born in Denbighshire, Wales, and educated privately in England. As a young man he tried his fortune on the Australian gold fields, where he was present at the Eureka stockade affair. He returned to England, and in 1861 came to New Zealand and settled on new country in Canterbury, where he started a sawmill. He was at Waimea, Nelson, when he was appointed clerk of court at Greymouth (1865). He was clerk of the warden's court on the West Coast, and was afterwards resident magistrate there (1877), and at Gisborne, and native land trust commissioner.

In 1879 he was appointed to succeed Fraser as warden and resident magistrate on the Thames goldfield. There he adopted a new policy as regards pegging out and registration of claims. The Te Aroha goldfield, reported on 11 Sep 1880, was declared open by Kenrick on 25 Nov, when 20 natives and 850 Europeans took out licenses. It was regarded as a model goldfield. His administration was marked by high integrity and a remarkable knowledge of the law and regulations affecting goldmining. He was frequently consulted in the drafting of new laws. When he died (31 Jul 1886) a fine memorial was erected over his grave by the business men and miners of the field.

W. G. K. Kenrick (information); Weston; Te Aroha, the Fortunate Valley (p) (1930); Thames Advertiser, 2 Aug 1886.

Reference: Volume 1, page 248

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