Kelly Street (Inglewood)

Thomas Kelly was a Taranaki politician. In January 1875 Mr Kelly celebrated with the crowd at the naming ceremony for a new township in the Moa block. Previously known as Milton, the township of Inglewood took its new name from the Saxon meaning "a meadow in a wood".

The Kelly family arrived in New Zealand on the ship Cresswell in 1855.  Thomas was born in 1830 on the Isle of Man, and educated there. His parents Thomas and Lenora brought their four children; the others were Margaret, William and John.

Following the visit to New Plymouth by the photographer Hartley Webster during 1859, T. Kelly constructed rooms in Devon Street, advertising his intention to provide services as a portrait photographer. The business apparently did not prosper: by November, auctioneer Gledhill was offering the newly constructed cottage for sale.

With the outbreak of hostilities in 1860, Kelly advocated, with other Bell Block farmers, that the militia pursue Māori seen from the Hua blockhouse.

By 1866, he was Provincial Secretary, organising tenders for printing, and for rations for New Plymouth gaol.  Later he was to take a lasting interest in construction of roads, railways and the harbour at New Plymouth.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 1869, he sat continuously until 1884. He held seats on the Land Board, the Education Board, the Harbour Board and the Taranaki County Council. 

His role on the Waste Lands Board led him to travel overland from White Cliffs through the Waitara Valley and across Tangarākau to the Whanganui. His narrative on the journey was published in 1892. 

He died on 20 September 1921 at the age of 91 years, and is buried in Te Hēnui cemetery.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.