Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Kt. (Speaker),

Manukau.

Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Kt. (Speaker),

Sir G. Maurice O'Rorke, Kt., was born at Moylough, County Galway, Ireland in 1830, and is therefore 65 years of age. He arrived in Victoria in 1852 and came to New Zealand in 1854. Was appointed clerk of the Auckland Provincial Council in 1857; elected to the House of Representatives for Onehunga in 1861, and sat for that constituency until 1882, when it was merged in the electoral district of Manukau; sat for Manukau until defeated in 1890; was again elected for Manukau in 1893, which seat he now holds. Was Speaker of the Auckland Provincial Council 1865-1876, and for sometime Deputy-Superintendent; Chairman of Committees, House of Representatives, 1871, re-elected 1875 and 1876; Secretary for Crown Lands and Minister for Immigration in the Waterhouse, Fox and Vogel Cabinets 1872-74; elected Speaker of House of Representatives, 1879, 1882. 1884 1887, and 1894; has been member of Auckland Board of Education; elected first Chairman of Auckland University Board in 1883, and is still Chairman; is Chairman of Board of Governors of Auckland College and Grammar Schools; member of New Zealand University Senate; made Knight Bachelor in 1880. Was an ardent supporter of Provincialism, and being unable to agree with Sir J. Vogel on the question of the abolition of the Provinces, resigned his position in the Ministry in 1874. Sir Maurice is a most popular Speaker.

Votes recorded, 2803; number on roll, 4038. Women on roll 1679, of whom 1377 voted.