Maurice O'Rorke
Encyclopedia
Sir George Maurice O’Rorke (2 May 1830 – 25 August 1916) was a New Zealand politician, representing (as George O’Rorke) the Auckland seat of Onehunga
, and later Manukau
, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives
. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent
of the Auckland Province
. Upon receiving his knighthood, he became known as Sir Maurice.
, County Galway
, Ireland, the third son of the Rev John O’Rorke (an Anglican minister and large landowner) and his third wife Elizabeth (née Dennis). He went to Trinity College, Dublin
, getting a B.A. with high honours in classics in 1852. Immediately after finishing his university education, he sailed for Melbourne, Australia. Whilst this was the time of the Victorian gold rush
, this was not his motivation. Rather, he had had an uncle, Henry Dennis, who had settled as a squatter in the Darling Downs in the early 1840s, but who had perished in the sinking of the Sovereign near Moreton Bay
in 1847. After working in Victoria, Australia on a farm, he came to Auckland in 1854, farming in Papakura and Onehunga, Auckland.
, which became Manukau
, from 1861 to 1902, except for 1891–93 when he was out of parliament. He was Minister of Immigration and Crown Lands 1873–1874 in the Waterhouse, Fox and Vogel ministries, but was sacked by Vogel, dissatisfied with his performance. He supported the Provincial system in New Zealand, and spoke out against its abolition by Vogel. He also served as Chairman of Committees. He served on the Auckland Provincial Council
as councillor, and was elected Superintendent in 1875 for period of five weeks.
He was a notable Speaker of the House
, serving from 11 July 1879 to 5 November 1902, except for 1891–93. He supported education, and was in favour of Imperial Federation.
He was knighted
in 1880, when he became Sir Maurice, although he had previously used George as his Christian name. In 1904 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, where he served until his death.
The student residential hall, O'Rorke Hall at the University of Auckland
is named after him.
. They had one son, Edward (Eddie) Dennis O’Rorke. Cecilia died on 19 September 1910. Sir Maurice died in Auckland in 1916, survived by his son.
Onehunga (New Zealand electorate)
Onehunga is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the southern part of Auckland.* -History:...
, and later Manukau
Manukau (New Zealand electorate)
Manukau is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the south Auckland Region. It existed from 1881 to 1978, with a break from 1938 to 1957. It was represented by nine Members of Parliament...
, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
. He was a committed provincialist and was the eighth Superintendent
Superintendent (politics)
Superintendent was the elected head of each Provincial Council in New Zealand from 1853 to 1876.-Historical context:Provinces existed in New Zealand from 1841 until 1876 as a form of sub-national government. After the initial provinces pre-1853, new provinces were formed by the New Zealand...
of the Auckland Province
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
. Upon receiving his knighthood, he became known as Sir Maurice.
Early life
O’Rorke was born in MoyloughMoylough
Moylough is a small rural village located in County Galway in Ireland. It is located on the N63 national secondary road , and is served also by the R328 and R364 regional roads. It is 50 km from Galway, 30 km from Roscommon, and 5 km northwest of Mountbellew...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland, the third son of the Rev John O’Rorke (an Anglican minister and large landowner) and his third wife Elizabeth (née Dennis). He went to Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, getting a B.A. with high honours in classics in 1852. Immediately after finishing his university education, he sailed for Melbourne, Australia. Whilst this was the time of the Victorian gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
, this was not his motivation. Rather, he had had an uncle, Henry Dennis, who had settled as a squatter in the Darling Downs in the early 1840s, but who had perished in the sinking of the Sovereign near Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
in 1847. After working in Victoria, Australia on a farm, he came to Auckland in 1854, farming in Papakura and Onehunga, Auckland.
Career
He represented OnehungaOnehunga (New Zealand electorate)
Onehunga is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of suburbs in the southern part of Auckland.* -History:...
, which became Manukau
Manukau (New Zealand electorate)
Manukau is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the south Auckland Region. It existed from 1881 to 1978, with a break from 1938 to 1957. It was represented by nine Members of Parliament...
, from 1861 to 1902, except for 1891–93 when he was out of parliament. He was Minister of Immigration and Crown Lands 1873–1874 in the Waterhouse, Fox and Vogel ministries, but was sacked by Vogel, dissatisfied with his performance. He supported the Provincial system in New Zealand, and spoke out against its abolition by Vogel. He also served as Chairman of Committees. He served on the Auckland Provincial Council
Auckland Province
The Auckland Province was a province of New Zealand from 1853 until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Anniversary Day:...
as councillor, and was elected Superintendent in 1875 for period of five weeks.
He was a notable Speaker of the House
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
, serving from 11 July 1879 to 5 November 1902, except for 1891–93. He supported education, and was in favour of Imperial Federation.
He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1880, when he became Sir Maurice, although he had previously used George as his Christian name. In 1904 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, where he served until his death.
The student residential hall, O'Rorke Hall at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
is named after him.
Private life
In 1858 he married Cecilia Mary Shepherd, daughter of Alexander Shepherd, the second Colonial TreasurerMinister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
. They had one son, Edward (Eddie) Dennis O’Rorke. Cecilia died on 19 September 1910. Sir Maurice died in Auckland in 1916, survived by his son.