GUINNESS, SIR ARTHUR ROBERT (1846-1913) was born at Calcutta, India, the son of Francis Guinness (q.v.), and came to New Zealand with his parents in the Tory (1852). He was educated at Christ's College (1854-59) and articled to Edward Harston. When Harston disposed of his practice Guinness completed his articles with Garrick and Cowlishaw. He was admitted in 1867, and started to practise in Greymouth (with J. E. Warner; later with E. G. B. Moss, and finally, from 1884 with H. W. Kitchingham). Guinness sprang into prominence at once by his brilliant and persistent advocacy on behalf of the Fenian prisoners, for whom he was junior counsel (1868). He practised on the West Coast for 46 years, being a notary public from 1888. He married (1875) a daughter of James Westbrook (Launceston, Tasmania). Guinness was a good cricketer and was captain of the Westland representative XI (1876-88) and of the team that played against Lillywhite's English team (1877).

In 1873 he contested the Grey seat in Parliament against M. Kennedy and Woolcock. In the following year he was elected to represent the Paroa riding in the Westland Provincial Council, of which he was a member to the abolition, and on the executive in 1874. (Seddon represented Arahura during the same period.) In 1876 Guinness was elected to the first Grey county council (of which he was chairman for nine years and a member 1876-90). He was on the Greymouth borough council for one year; on the harbour board 1874-86, 1890-1913 (several times chairman); the school committee; and the High School governors (from 1892). He formed the deepsea harbour league, and was president of the Greymouth Trotting Club.

In 1884 Guinness again contested a parliamentary election, defeating Joseph Petrie for Grey, which he represented continuously till his death (on 10 Jun 1913). On two occasions only (1890 against W. H. Jones, and 1911 against P. C. Webb) did he have a close contest. He was chairman of committees (1893-1903) and Speaker from 1903 till his death. Originally a supporter of Grey, he was a Liberal throughout and took a prominent part in enacting the old age pensions law and other social legislation. He was a keen advocate of compulsory military training. In 1911 he was knighted. Guinness was a member of the Oddfellows, Druids and Foresters.

Parlty Record; Westland P.C. Proc.; Harrop, Westland; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Christ's Coll. List; Evening Post, Lyttelton Times, Grey River Argus, 11 Jun 1913. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 185

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