Harry Ell

Ell was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and grew up on his father's farm in Halswell.{{cite web |title=The Harry Ell Legacy |url=https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/explore-parks/port-hills/harry-ell-legacy |publisher=Christchurch City Council |access-date=20 May 2022}} As a teenager he worked at the Canterbury Museum, then as a farm hand. Between 1881 and 1884 he was a member of the Armed Constabulary in Taranaki, where he participated in the destruction of Parihaka. This experience turned him into a stern critic of the race-relations policies of the time.

Ell was a Christchurch City councillor in 1903 and then again between 1917 and 1919. He was a member of the Knights of Labour and the Canterbury Liberal Association. He married Adelaide Eleanor Gee in Christchurch on 10 January 1892,{{Cite web |last=Pawson |first=Eric |date=1996 |title=Ell, Henry George |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3e4/ell-henry-george |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography / Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand}} and in 1912 named a hill above Governor's Bay Mount Ada after her.{{Cite book |last=Ogilvie |first=Gordon |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125954864 |title=Place Names of Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills |publisher=Canterbury University Press |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-927145-93-7 |pages=15}}

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{{NZ parlbox

|electorate=City of Christchurch

|party=Independent Liberal

|start={{NZ election link year|1899}}

|end=1902

|term=14th

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{{NZ parlbox

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|party=New Zealand Liberal Party

|start={{NZ election link year|1902}}

|end=1905

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{{NZ parlbox

|electorate=Christchurch South

|party=New Zealand Liberal Party

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|party=Independent Liberal

|start={{NZ election link year|1908}}

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{{NZ parlbox

|electorate=Christchurch South

|party=New Zealand Liberal Party

|start={{NZ election link year|1911}}

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{{NZ parlbox

|electorate=Christchurch South

|party=New Zealand Liberal Party

|start={{NZ election link year|1914}}

|end=1919

|term=19th

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Ell stood as a prohibitionist for a seat in the City of Christchurch electorate in 1896. He was unsuccessful, coming fifth in the three-member electorate,{{Cite news| url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=MEX18961205.2.19.2 | title=Other Electorates | volume=XXXI |issue=284 |date=5 December 1896 | publisher=Marlborough Express | page=3 | access-date=25 March 2010}} but was elected as an Independent Liberal in the 1899 general election. He held the seat, and the subsequent seat of Christchurch South as an Independent, until the 1919 general election.{{sfn|Scholefield|1950|p=104}} Ell stood for the Lyttelton electorate, which contained the Port Hills. He was defeated and did not win a seat in Parliament again.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|pp=312–313}}

Ell was associated with the New Liberal Party in 1905.

From 1910 until 1912 he was the Liberal Party's junior whip.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pp=279}}

As a Member of the House of Representatives, Ell spoke against the relaxation of liquor laws, the jailing of alcoholics and against gambling. He also successfully pushed for reform of New Zealand's mental health laws. He served briefly as Postmaster General in the Cabinet of Thomas Mackenzie.

Ell is most remembered for his strong interest in recreation and conservation. From 1900 onwards, Ell pushed for the creation of a network of scenic reserves along Christchurch's Port Hills, linked by the Summit Road and with a network of rest-houses to allow travellers and walkers to refresh themselves. Three of these rest-houses, designed by architect Samuel Hurst Seager, were completed during Ell's lifetime: the Sign of the Bellbird, Sign of the Kiwi, and Sign of the Packhorse. The last, and grandest, the Sign of the Takahe, was not completed until long after Ell's death, in 1949. All four houses were built of local stone, and designed to blend in with the landscape. The Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe still function as commercial rest stops serving refreshments while the Sign of the Bellbird survives only as a shelter, but is still a useful stopping place for a picnic and the starting point for some short walks. The Sign of the Packhorse is managed by the Department of Conservation and used as a hut by trampers.

• Ell's political philosophy was simple: "Our aim in life is to effect such social and economic reforms as will improve the lot of our fellow men and women".From a letter to George Fowlds dated 20 February 1900.
• As a parliamentarian, Ell was proud of his independent status. During his 1899 election campaign he maintained the view that: "a member should pledge himself to the people, not to party or to Prime Minister.".{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18991102.2.13 |title=THE GENERAL ELECTION. |work=Christchurch Press |page=2 |date=2 November 1899 |access-date=28 November 2021 |via=Papers Past}}

{{gallery

|title=Harry Ell picture gallery

|width=300

|height=300

|File:SignOfTheTakahe02 gobeirne.jpg|The Sign of the Takahe, one of Ell's achievements

|File:HGEllMemorialGates01 gobeirne.jpg|Plaque commemorating Harry Ell at the Sign of the Takahe

|File:PortHillsFromCavendish.jpg|View of part of the Summit Road

|File:Kiwi Plinth.jpg|Plinth of the Sign of the Kiwi, Dyers Pass, Port Hills, Christchurch

|File:SignOfTheBellbird01 gobeirne.jpg|The partially restored ruins of the Sign of the Bellbird

gallery}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last= Ogilvie

|first= Gordon

|author-link = Gordon Ogilvie

|title= The Port Hills of Christchurch

|edition= 2nd

|orig-year= First ed. published 1978

|year= 2009

|publisher=Phillips&King Publishers

|location= Christchurch

|isbn= 978-0-9583315-6-2

}}

• {{cite book

|last= Scholefield

|first= Guy

|title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949

|author-link=Guy Scholefield

|edition=3rd

|orig-year= First ed. published 1913

|year= 1950

|publisher=Govt. Printer

|location= Wellington

}}

• {{cite book |last= Wilson |first= James Oakley |title= New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition= 4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year= 1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location= Wellington |oclc= 154283103}}
• Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960

{{refbegin}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = Mr. H. G. Ell's views on some of the political questions of the day |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = H. G. Ell ; Willis & Aiken |year = 1902}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = The will of the people through the initiative and referendum: the great need for legislative reform and how it can be met |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = Willis & Aiken |year = 1902}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = Willis & Aiken |year = 1905}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue |edition = 2nd |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = Willis & Aiken |year = 1906}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = Direct legislation in New Zealand |journal = The Arena |place = Boston, [MA.] |year = 1903 |pages = 268–272}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = Old Porirua taniwhas and whales |work=The Evening Post (Wellington, [N.Z.]) |date = 27 April 1912 }} n.p.

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = The Summit Road (the Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road): progress report |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = H. G. Ell |year = 1923}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Trust |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = H. G. Ell |year = 1924}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = [Letters and newspaper items critical of the New Zealand Labour Party and Russia] |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |work =Lyttelton Times |year = 1925}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George |last = Ell |title = The Port Hills – Akaroa Summit Road: and history of the Summit Road Trust, how and why it was formed |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = New Zealand Newspapers, Printers |year = 1929}}

:*{{citation |first = Henry George|last = Ell |title = Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road: some early history and guide |place = Christchurch, [N.Z.] |publisher = Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust |year = 1934|display-authors=etal}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

:*{{citation |first = Rob |last = Brown |title = A heart for the hills |journal = New Zealand Geographic |issue = 60 |year = 2002 |pages = 76–95}}

:*{{citation |first = P. R. |last = Dingwall |title = Harry Ell's vision in nature conservation |journal = Landscape |volume = 10 |year = 1981 |pages = 23–27}}

:*{{citation |first = Geraldine |last = Johns |title ='Ell of a job |publisher =Heritage New Zealand |issue = 100 |year = 2006 |pages = 8–12}}

:* {{citation |first = Eric |last = Pawson |title = Ell, Henry George 1862-1934 |publisher=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007 |url = http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=3E4 |access-date = 2008-05-10}}

:*{{citation |first = M. M. |last = Roche |title = Securing representative areas of New Zealand's environment: some historical and design perspectives |journal = New Zealand Geographer |volume = 37

|issue = 2 |year = 1981 |pages = 73–77 |doi = 10.1111/j.1745-7939.1981.tb00955.x}}

:*{{citation |first = G. F. |last = Whitcher |title = The New Liberal Party 1905 [M.A.(Hons.) – University of Canterbury] |year = 1966}}

:*{{citation |editor-first = G. Antony |editor-last = Wood |title = Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament |place = Dunedin, [N.Z.] |publisher = Otago University Press |year = 1996 |isbn = 1-877133-00-0}}

{{refend}}

• Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=3E4 Ell's DNZB Biography]
• [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/NaturalAreas/port_hills.asp The Port Hills], Christchurch City Council
• [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=34199 Sign of the Packhorse], Department of Conservation
• [http://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/introduction.htm Summitroadsociety.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109163809/http://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/introduction.htm |date=9 January 2010 }}, Summit Road Society
• [http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Places/Buildings/Signs-Kiwi-Takahe/ Sign of the Kiwi and Sign of the Takahe], Christchurch City Libraries

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef | before = Joseph Ward}}

{{s-ttl | title = Postmaster-General
and Minister of Telegraphs | years=1912}}

{{s-aft | after = Heaton Rhodes}}

|-

{{s-par | nz}}

{{s-bef | before = George John Smith, Charles Lewis, Tommy Taylor}}

{{s-ttl | title= Member of Parliament for Christchurch | alongside = Charles Lewis (1899–1901), William Whitehouse Collins (1899–1902),
George John Smith (1901–1902), Thomas Davey and Tommy Taylor (1902–1905) | years = 1899–1905}}

{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished}}

|-

{{s-vac | abeyance | last = Westby Perceval}}

{{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for Christchurch South | years=1905–1919}}

{{s-aft | after = Ted Howard}}

{{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ell, Harry}}

Category:Independent MPs of New Zealand

Category:Christchurch City Councillors

Category:Members of the Cabinet of New Zealand

Category:New Zealand farmers

Category:New Zealand Liberal Party MPs

Category:New Zealand temperance activists

Category:1862 births

Category:1934 deaths

Category:New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates

Category:New Zealand conservationists

Category:Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1896 New Zealand general election

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1919 New Zealand general election

Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1925 New Zealand general election

Category:19th-century New Zealand politicians