KELLY, WILLIAM (1840-1907) was born in County Louth, Ireland, and educated in Ardee. He then went into mercantile life. Having married, he came to New Zealand in 1863 and almost immediately undertook commissariat contracts for the troops operating in Waikato and the East Coast. In 1865 he established himself in business at Opotiki, where he had several vessels trading with Auckland and other ports.

Kelly represented Pensioner Settlements in the Auckland Provincial Council (1872-73) and Opotiki (1873-75). In 1870 he contested the East Coast seat in Parliament against Mackay and Skeet and won. He was defeated by Morris at the election of 1875, and contested the seat five times before regaining it by defeating Judge Gill and Kerr (1887). He then represented the constituency, which was called alternately East Coast, Tauranga and Bay of Plenty, until 1896. In 1897 Kelly was called to the Legislative Council. He died on 19 Sep 1907.

N.Z.P.D., 19 Sep 1907; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 20 Sep 1907. Portrait: Parliament House.

KEMP, HENRY TACY (1818-1901) was born in Norfolk, England, and came to New Zealand with his father, James Kemp (q.v.) in 1819. He was educated at the mission school at Waimate and afterwards at a grammar school in Norwich, England. Returning to the colony just before the Treaty of Waitangi, he entered the public service on 6 Feb 1840, and as a cadet on Hobson's staff assisted to indite the documents relating to the inauguration of British rule. He was subsequently engaged on land purchases and in 1843 was appointed secretary and interpreter to the land claims commissioners (Godfrey and Richmond). He escorted Dieffenbach overland from Bay of Islands to Kaipara and Manukau, and was present at the apprehension of the murderer of the Roberton family and the capture of Pomare's pa (1845).

In 1846 Kemp relieved Dr Shortland at Wellington, and as Native Secretary was present at the capture of Te Rauparaha, prevented the seizure of Major Last at the Hutt as a hostage, and assisted to organise the friendlies under Wi Tako (q.v.). He was with Sir William Fox when he fixed the site of Picton, and in 1847 traversed Wellington province collecting statistics for the blue book. In 1848 he carried through the Ngai-Tahu purchase in the South Island.

About this time Kemp translated into Maori Robinson Crusoe, The Pilgrim's Progress and Whately's Organisation of Labour. The first two were popular and were soon sold out. He also published on his own account First Step to Maori Conversation (which ran to three editions).

In 1849, having been appointed a justice of the peace, he accompanied Bell in the fruitless effort to purchase the Wairarapa block. Next year he negotiated the purchase of the Remuera block at Auckland for £5,000 (with an eventual profit to the treasury of £27,000). In 1851 Kemp was district commissioner for the purchase of native lands in the north, and later civil commissioner and resident magistrate in Auckland, district land officer and inspector of native schools. After serving in that capacity for 10 years he resigned. In association with Paora Tuhaere and Te Wheoro, Kemp succeeded in opening up communication with the King tribes and obtaining the appointment of Mair as magistrate at Alexandra. After his retirement he was employed for five years by the Auckland provincial government on native duties. He died on 24 Oct 1901.

Kemp married Maria Williams, daughter of J. A. Wilson (q.v.). She died on 21 Jan 1889.

N.Z. Gaz. 1841, p. 129; App. H.R., 1891, ii G7; Hocken; Kemp, in N.Z. Herald, 1901 (9, 16, 23, 30 Mar, 6 Apr); N.Z. Herald, 28 Oct 1901.

Reference: Volume 1, page 245

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