The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Conolly, His Honour Edward Tennyson
Conolly, His Honour Edward Tennyson, Puisne Judge, New Zealand, the son of Dr. John Conolly, of Hanwell, Middlesex, the eminent authority on insanity, who divided with William Tuke and one or two more the credit of introducing the non-restraint system into England, was born on August 31st, 1822. He entered as a student of the Inner Temple on Jan. 18th, 1849, was called to the bar on Jan. 30th, 1852, and for thirteen years practised in England on the Home Circuit. In 1865 he went out to New Zealand, and took up his residence at Picton, in the south island. He represented Picton in the Marlborough Provincial Council from Jan. 1867 to 1876, when the provinces were abolished. In Dec. 1881 he was elected to the House of Representatives for Picton, and again in July 1884. In 1882 he accepted the office of Minister of Justice under Sir Frederick Whitaker. Under Major Atkinson, in Sept. 1883, he retained his portfolio, becoming also Attorney-General, but retired when the Government went out of office in August 1884. He was appointed a Supreme Court Judge in August 1889.