William Lee Rees
Encyclopedia
William Lee Rees was an English
-born New Zealand
cricketer
, politician and lawyer.
in 1836, the son of James Rees, a surgeon, and Elizabeth Pocock. Rees' father died when he was young, and he was brought up by his mother and uncle. Rees was a member of the famous cricketing Grace family
, with his mother's sister, Martha Pocock, the mother of WG Grace.
He emigrated to Melbourne
, Australia
, with his mother, in 1851, at the start of the Victorian gold rush
. He began studying law at the University of Melbourne
, but was also interested in religion, training as a Congregationalist minister. He was ordained in 1861, and served as minister to the parish
of Beechworth from 1861–65, which included a lecture on "scepticism, credulity & faith" delivered at the Beechworth Town Hall in June 1863. He married Hannah Elizabeth "Annie" Staite in Melbourne on 8 July 1863, whom he had seven children with, including Annie Lee "Lily" Rees (1864–1949), a writer, teacher and lawyer; and Rosemary Frances Rees (1875–1963), an author, actress, theatre producer and playwright
, who founded one of the first theatre companies in New Zealand.
and New Zealand
. He made his first-class debut for Victoria
against New South Wales
in January 1857 at The Domain
, Sydney
, scoring two runs batting at
number three. He was run out for a duck
in the second innings. His cousin, William Gilbert Rees, playing in the same match, made 28 in the first innings before being dismissed leg before wicket
by Tom Wills
. Inter-colonial matches were sporadic at the time due to traveling distances, and Rees did not play again until October 1857, when he appeared for Gentlemen of Victoria against Players of Victoria, although the match was not awarded first-class status. Rees was dismissed for a duck in each innings. Rees' next match was against New South Wales in January 1858, where he made one and three in either innings. The New South Wales team was captained by George Gilbert, a distant cousin, who took 11 wickets for the match, including Rees in the first innings.
, and a lawyer.
He was elected to the electorate in , defeating James Clark
300 votes to 266. At the next general election in , he was defeated for . He supported Sir George Grey
, and with Wi Pere
set up a Trust for dealing with Maori land.
He was elected to the multi-member electorate in and resigned shortly before the end of the term of the 11th Parliament
in July 1893. He supported the First Liberal Government
and was Chairman of Committees
.
, the Member for Thames
, of using his position as Minister for Native Affairs
for personal gain. Cadman inconclusively sued Rees for libel, and challenged him to a by-election
contest for Rees' seat, City of Auckland, which Rees lost. Rees then retired from parliamentary politics, returning to Gisborne
, where most of his family lived and where he business interests. He lived at Te Hapara
for most of the rest of his life, participating in several philanthropic gestures, including the installation of the first cricket pitch
and tennis courts in Gisborne. He died at Gisborne on 18 May 1912.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
-born New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, politician and lawyer.
Early years
Rees was born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in 1836, the son of James Rees, a surgeon, and Elizabeth Pocock. Rees' father died when he was young, and he was brought up by his mother and uncle. Rees was a member of the famous cricketing Grace family
Grace family
The Grace family was an English cricketing family. Fourteen members of the family played first-class cricket, with brothers WG, EM and Fred Grace all going on to play Test cricket for England-Grace family:...
, with his mother's sister, Martha Pocock, the mother of WG Grace.
He emigrated to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, with his mother, in 1851, at the start 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...
. He began studying law at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, but was also interested in religion, training as a Congregationalist minister. He was ordained in 1861, and served as minister to the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Beechworth from 1861–65, which included a lecture on "scepticism, credulity & faith" delivered at the Beechworth Town Hall in June 1863. He married Hannah Elizabeth "Annie" Staite in Melbourne on 8 July 1863, whom he had seven children with, including Annie Lee "Lily" Rees (1864–1949), a writer, teacher and lawyer; and Rosemary Frances Rees (1875–1963), an author, actress, theatre producer and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, who founded one of the first theatre companies in New Zealand.
Cricket career
Rees played four during the early part of cricket in AustraliaHistory of Australian cricket to 1876
This is an article that describes the history of Australian cricket from its known beginnings until the eve of the first-ever Test matches between Australia and England, which took place in the 1876-77 season.-Origins:...
and New Zealand
History of cricket in New Zealand to 1890
This article describes the history of New Zealand cricket to 1890.-Historical background:European colonisation of New Zealand, particularly by British settlers, began in earnest after 1800...
. He made his first-class debut for Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
against New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
in January 1857 at The Domain
The Domain, Sydney
The Domain is 34 hectares of open space in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the eastern edge of the Sydney central business district, near Woolloomooloo. The Domain adjoins the Royal Botanic Gardens and is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, a division of the New South...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, scoring two runs batting at
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
number three. He was run out for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
in the second innings. His cousin, William Gilbert Rees, playing in the same match, made 28 in the first innings before being dismissed leg before wicket
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
by Tom Wills
Tom Wills
Thomas Wentworth "Tom" Wills was an Australian all-round sportsman, umpire, coach and administrator who is credited with being a catalyst towards the invention of Australian rules football....
. Inter-colonial matches were sporadic at the time due to traveling distances, and Rees did not play again until October 1857, when he appeared for Gentlemen of Victoria against Players of Victoria, although the match was not awarded first-class status. Rees was dismissed for a duck in each innings. Rees' next match was against New South Wales in January 1858, where he made one and three in either innings. The New South Wales team was captained by George Gilbert, a distant cousin, who took 11 wickets for the match, including Rees in the first innings.
Politics
Rees was a 19th century Member of Parliament in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and a lawyer.
He was elected to the electorate in , defeating James Clark
James Clark (New Zealand)
James McCosh Clark was Mayor of Auckland in the 1880s. He was a successful businessman until many of his ventures failed during the depression of the 1880s, which caused him to return to England for the last decade of his life...
300 votes to 266. At the next general election in , he was defeated for . He supported Sir George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
, and with Wi Pere
Wi Pere
Wi Pere , born Wiremu Pere, was a Māori Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Pere himself was an outstanding figure amongst the Poverty Bay and East Cape Māori, and one of Poverty Bay's most illustrious sons....
set up a Trust for dealing with Maori land.
He was elected to the multi-member electorate in and resigned shortly before the end of the term of the 11th Parliament
11th New Zealand Parliament
The 11th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand.Elections for this term were held in 4 Māori electorates and 62 European electorates on 27 November and 5 December 1890, respectively...
in July 1893. He supported the First Liberal Government
First Liberal Government of New Zealand
The First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...
and was Chairman of Committees
Chairman of Committees (New Zealand)
The Chairman of Committees was an elected position of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The role existed between 1854 and 1992. The roles of the Chairman of Committees were to deputise for the Speaker, and to chair the House when it was in committee...
.
Retirement and death
In 1893, Rees accused Alfred CadmanAlfred Cadman
Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party. He was the Minister of Railways from 1895 to 1899 in the First Liberal Government.-Early life:Cadman was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1847...
, the Member for Thames
Thames (New Zealand electorate)
Thames is a former New Zealand electorate, in the Thames-Coromandel District. It existed from 1871 to 1946.-Geographic coverage:The electorate is based on the town of Thames. At times, it covered the Coromandel Peninsula.-History:...
, of using his position as Minister for Native Affairs
Minister of Maori Affairs
The Minister of Māori Affairs is the minister of the New Zealand government with broad responsibility for government policy towards Māori, the first inhabitants of New Zealand. The current Minister of Māori Affairs is Dr. Pita Sharples.-Role:...
for personal gain. Cadman inconclusively sued Rees for libel, and challenged him to a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
contest for Rees' seat, City of Auckland, which Rees lost. Rees then retired from parliamentary politics, returning to Gisborne
Gisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, where most of his family lived and where he business interests. He lived at Te Hapara
Te Hapara
Te Hapara is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Gisborne. It is located in the northwest of the city. It contains one primary school, Te Hapara School, which is located in Mill Road....
for most of the rest of his life, participating in several philanthropic gestures, including the installation of the first cricket pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
and tennis courts in Gisborne. He died at Gisborne on 18 May 1912.