FINN, HUGH JOSEPH (1847-1927) was born at Kilkenny, Ireland, educated to the age of 12 in his own home and then sent to the French College at Blackrock, Dublin, and finally to the Jesuit College at Amiens, France. He was for a few months a member of the Pontifical Zouaves in Rome.

Coming to Melbourne, he continued his education at the Church of England Grammar School, from which he passed on to the University. In 1869 he was articled to a barrister and solicitor in Melbourne, and in 1874 was admitted to practise. In that year he arrived in Dunedin and was admitted to the bar there. He started to practise in Queenstown. In 1877 he married Elizabeth, daughter of John McLean (q.v.). Two years later he successfully contested the Wakatipu seat in Parliament (defeating Mason and Manders). During the currency of that Parliament he visited Gisborne and, having decided to make his home there, he retired from Parliament in 1882. In politics he was a member of the Young New Zealand Party (1879) and he was partly responsible for bringing out J. Carroll. He was for a time interested in a shipping business in Gisborne but withdrew finally to devote his whole attention to law. He took no part in local politics.

Finn was a keen volunteer. In Victoria he was a lieutenant in the Sandridge volunteer artillery (1873); he was captain of the Queenstown Rifles (1876-78) and thereafter of the newly formed M battery of artillery (1879-82). Finn died on 18 Dec 1927.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Cycl. N.Z. ii (p); Poverty Bay Herald, 5 Jan 1924; N.Z.P.D., 3 Jul 1928. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 142

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