Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. George Friend, Clerk of the House of Representatives, has for thirty-three years been a prominent officer in the Parliamentary Buildings. He was born in London, being the eldest son of George Friend, Esq., for many years Accountant-General for India, first in the East India Company's service, and afterwards in the Imperial service. His earlier education was received at a private school at Leatherhead, near Dorking, in Surrey, and afterwards at King's College in the University of London, where he remained for three years and took high honours. Although entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, he did not long continue his university career, but left England in August, 1853, taking passage to New Zealand by the “Hamilla Mitchell,” and arriving in New Zealand shortly before the termination of the first governorship of Sir George Grey, to whom he brought letters of introduction. In the following year Mr. Friend joined the Government service in the department of Dr. Knight, the Auditor-General. After four years he was promoted to a position under the Commissioner for Land Purchase, Sir Donald McLean, in whose department he worked till 1863. In this year Mr. Friend was appointed Clerk-Assistant to the House of Representatives, which position he retained till 1889, when he was promoted to that of Clerk of the House. Mr. Friend is the principal executive officer of the House, having full charge till the Speaker is elected. It is his duty to keep all the records and publish the journals of this branch of the Legislature. Mr. Friend lives at Karori. He married Miss Hynes, of Auckland, in 1865, and has one daughter.