George_Arney

George Arney

George Arney

New Zealand judge and politician (1810–1883)

For the BBC journalist, see George Arney (journalist).

Sir George Alfred Arney (1810 – 7 April 1883) was the second Chief Justice of New Zealand.

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Early life

Arney was born in 1810 in Salisbury, England. His parents were William Arney, a barrister, and Maria Charlotte Arney. He was educated at Winchester and Brasenose College, Oxford. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1832 and a Master of Arts in 1833. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1829, and received his call to the bar in 1837.[1]

He married Harriet Parr in 1835, but his wife died only seven years later.[1]

New Zealand

He was appointed by the Colonial Office on the advice of Justice Lord Coleridge on 2 September 1857,[1] and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, on the brig Gertrude on 19 February 1858.[2] He was Chief Justice from 1858 to 1875.[3] He was appointed Administrator of the Government under Governor Sir George Bowen on 1 October 1869 and assumed office on 21 March 1873.[4] Arney administered the country for three months between the departure of Sir George Bowen and the arrival of Sir James Fergusson.[5] Arney retired from that role on 14 June 1873 with the arrival of Fergusson.[4]

He was appointed to the Legislative Council on 20 February 1858 (the day after his arrival in the country) and remained a legislative councillor until his resignation on 13 June 1866.[6]

Arney was knighted in 1862 while Chief Justice.[7]

Governor George Grey resigned Arney's judgeship in 1875. Arney retired to Torquay in England.[1] His brother, Colonel Arney, who had previously served with the 58th Regiment in New Zealand, died on 6 April 1879 in Cheltenham.[8] Arney received a significant inheritance from his brother.[1]

Death and commemoration

The tomb of Sir George Arney in Salisbury cathedral

He died in Torquay on 7 April 1883.[1] Arney Street in Paeroa, which is part of State Highway 26, is named for him.[9] He is buried in the courtyard of Salisbury Cathedral.

Notes

  1. [1]
    McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [1966]. "Arney, Sir George Alfred". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. [2]
    "Shipping Intelligence". Daily Southern Cross. Vol. XV, no. 1112. 23 February 1858. p. 2. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  3. [3]
    "No. 22198". The London Gazette. 9 November 1858. p. 4745.
  4. [4]
    Wilson 1985, p. 43.
  5. [5]
    "Sir George Alfred Arney". Otago Witness. No. 2233. 17 December 1896. p. 7. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  6. [6]
    Wilson 1985, p. 149.
  7. [7]
    "No. 22645". The London Gazette. 18 July 1862. p. 8.
  8. [8]
    "Special Telegram". Otago Daily Times. No. 5400. 10 June 1879. p. 2. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  9. [9]
    Cassrels, Lewis. "Origin of Paeroa Street Names". Ohinemuri Regional History Journal. 4 (September 1965). Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

References

  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
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