Henry George Ell (probably 24 September 1862 – 27 June 1934), commonly known as Harry Ell, was a Christchurch City councillor and a New Zealand Member of Parliament. He is famous for his conservation work around Christchurch's Port Hills, his advocacy for the Summit Road, and his construction of the Sign of the Takahe and other road houses along the Summit Road.
Early years
Ell was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and grew up on his father's farm in Halswell.[1] 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,[2] and in 1912 named a hill above Governor's Bay Mount Ada after her.[3]
From 1910 until 1912 he was the Liberal Party's junior whip.[7]
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.
The Summit Road rest houses
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.[1]
Quotes
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".[8]
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.".[9]
Harry Ell picture gallery
The Sign of the Takahe, one of Ell's achievements
Plaque commemorating Harry Ell at the Sign of the Takahe
View of part of the Summit Road
Plinth of the Sign of the Kiwi, Dyers Pass, Port Hills, Christchurch
The partially restored ruins of the Sign of the Bellbird gallery
^"THE GENERAL ELECTION". Christchurch Press. 2 November 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via Papers Past.
References
Ogilvie, Gordon (2009) [First ed. published 1978]. The Port Hills of Christchurch (2nd ed.). Christchurch: Phillips&King Publishers. ISBN978-0-9583315-6-2.
Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC154283103.
Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960
Further reading
Works by Harry Ell
Ell, Henry George (1902), Mr. H. G. Ell's views on some of the political questions of the day, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell ; Willis & Aiken
Ell, Henry George (1902), The will of the people through the initiative and referendum: the great need for legislative reform and how it can be met, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
Ell, Henry George (1905), A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
Ell, Henry George (1906), A state bank for New Zealand with sole right of note issue (2nd ed.), Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Willis & Aiken
Ell, Henry George (1903), "Direct legislation in New Zealand", The Arena, Boston, [MA.]: 268–272
Ell, Henry George (27 April 1912), "Old Porirua taniwhas and whales", The Evening Post (Wellington, [N.Z.]) n.p.
Ell, Henry George (1923), The Summit Road (the Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road): progress report, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell
Ell, Henry George (1924), Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Trust, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: H. G. Ell
Ell, Henry George (1925), "[Letters and newspaper items critical of the New Zealand Labour Party and Russia]", Lyttelton Times, Christchurch, [N.Z.]
Ell, Henry George (1929), The Port Hills – Akaroa Summit Road: and history of the Summit Road Trust, how and why it was formed, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Newspapers, Printers
Ell, Henry George; et al. (1934), Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road: some early history and guide, Christchurch, [N.Z.]: Port Hills-Akaroa Summit Road Public Trust
Works about Harry Ell
Brown, Rob (2002), "A heart for the hills", New Zealand Geographic (60): 76–95
Dingwall, P. R. (1981), "Harry Ell's vision in nature conservation", Landscape, 10: 23–27
Johns, Geraldine (2006), 'Ell of a job, Heritage New Zealand, pp. 8–12
Pawson, Eric, Ell, Henry George 1862-1934, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007, retrieved 10 May 2008
Roche, M. M. (1981), "Securing representative areas of New Zealand's environment: some historical and design perspectives", New Zealand Geographer, 37 (2): 73–77, doi:10.1111/j.1745-7939.1981.tb00955.x
Whitcher, G. F. (1966), The New Liberal Party 1905 [M.A.(Hons.) – University of Canterbury]
Wood, G. Antony, ed. (1996), Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament, Dunedin, [N.Z.]: Otago University Press, ISBN1-877133-00-0
Harry Ell and His Summit Road : a Biography of Henry George Ell by Lenore Oakley, published by Caxton Press 1960
