KELLY, THOMAS (1830-1921) was born in Isle of Man and educated there. In 1855 he came to New Zealand by the Cresswell with his parents. They acquired land at Bell Block, Taranaki, where Kelly afterwards farmed for many years. He served in the Maori wars, becoming an ensign in the Taranaki militia in 1865.

Kelly was first a member of the Provincial Council in 1863, representing New Plymouth until 1869. For the last three years of that period he was provincial secretary under H. R. Richmond (q.v.). Thus early he strenuously advocated the construction of railways and roads to open up the country as the best means of combating the Maori. He was responsible for much road and bridge construction, and was active in initiating the section of railway between New Plymouth and Waitara (1873).

Elected to the House of Representatives for New Plymouth Town in 1869, he sat continuously until 1884. During this period he promoted with great energy legislation for the development of communications in Taranaki. The harbour ordinances of the province were re-enacted as required after the abolition, and Kelly was for many years a member and some time chairman of the board. He was also on the land board, the education board and the Taranaki county council. When the abolition of the provinces was imminent he was persuaded to return to the Provincial Council to assist in the winding up of provincial affairs. In Oct 1874, he was elected for Grey and Bell, and he succeeded Atkinson as provincial secretary for the balance of the provincial term, being afterwards one of the general Government agents.

In Parliament Kelly was for eight years chairman of the public petitions committee. After his defeat by O. Samuel (1884) he remained in private life for some years until being called to the Legislative Council by the Ballance government (1892). His term was twice renewed, and he finally retired in 1913. He was a consistent Liberal in politics, a staunch supporter of the Ballance and Seddon governments and an advocate of a state bank. For many years he was a leader writer for the Taranaki Herald. Kelly died on 21 Sep 1921.

N.Z.P.D., 23 Sep 1921; Taranaki P.C. Proc. and Gaz; Taranaki Herald, 7 Jul 1884, 21 Sep 1921

Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 245

🌳 Further sources