{{Short description|Australian and New Zealand politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Eden George | honorific_suffix = | image = Eden George 01.jpg | image_size = | caption = Eden George (year unknown) | constituency_MP = Sydney-Belmore | parliament = New South Wales | term_start = 1901 | term_end = 1904 | predecessor = James Graham | successor = Constituency abolished | constituency_MP2 = Ashburnham | parliament2 = New South Wales | term_start2 = 1904 | term_end2 = 1907 | predecessor2 = Joseph Reymond | successor2 = John Lynch | order4 = 19th | office4 = Mayor of Christchurch | term_start4 = 21 December 1892 | term_end4 = 20 December 1893 | predecessor4 = William Prudhoe | successor4 = Thomas Gapes | birth_date = 18 September 1863 | birth_place = Forbes, New South Wales | death_date = {{Death date and age|1927|05|02|1863|09|18|df=yes}} | death_place = Manly, New South Wales | spouse = Ada Jane Butler | party = Progressive Party<br />Liberal Reform Party | profession = Photographer }} '''Ernest Eden George''' (18 September 1863 – 2 May 1927), known as '''Eden George''', was born in New South Wales and came to New Zealand as a young man. He made his career in photography and was active in Auckland and Dunedin, but mainly in Christchurch. Entrepreneurial, combative and confrontational, he entered the political scene. In his early life, he stood at five elections to the New Zealand Parliament, but he came last at every occasion. Surprisingly, he was elected Mayor of Christchurch in 1892 without, unlike all his predecessors, having ever served as a councillor on Christchurch City Council before. He had a most difficult year, was soundly beaten at the next election and told councillors that they "should forget him, as he would forget them". Indeed, in 1906, his was the only photo of all the city's ex mayors that was not on display in the mayor's office.
After a short period in Auckland, George moved to Australia, where he continued his career as a photographer. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for six years. After his defeat, he travelled extensively.
==Early life== [[File:George and Walton, Carte de visite.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Carte de visite produced by George & Walton]] [[File:Eden George Co Ltd carte de visite.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Carte de visite produced by Eden George Co Ltd]] George was born in Forbes, New South Wales to photographer and well-known cyclist William Rufus George and Bettina Holme.<ref name="NSW bio">{{cite NSW Parliament |title=Mr Eden George (1863–1927) |id=1113 |former=Yes |access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> He attended Sydney Grammar School before becoming a photographer in c.1883 in Christchurch, New Zealand.<ref name="NSW bio"/> The name of his business was George and Walton and they operated at 214 Colombo Street,<ref>{{cite news|title=Page 2 Advertisements Column 5|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18840912.2.13.5|access-date=12 May 2012|work=The Star|date=12 September 1884|issue=5105|page=2}}</ref> which was located in the central city opposite Victoria Square.<ref>See the postcard photo on the [http://canterburyphotography.blogspot.co.nz/2008/09/wrigglesworth-binns.html Wrigglesworth & Binns] page, which probably shows the studio's skylight, and it is located to the north of the former Armstrong's Building on the corner with Armagh Street</ref> The photography studio was purpose-built and they first advertised their services as 'American Photographers' in ''The Press'' on 30 November 1883,<ref>{{cite news|title=George & Walton|url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18831130.2.2.5 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=The Press|volume=XXXIX |issue=5679 |date=30 November 1883|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=News of the Day |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18831201.2.11 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=The Press|volume=XXXIX |issue=5680 |date=1 December 1883|page=2}}</ref> and on occasions flew the American flag at their office.<ref>{{cite news|title=Photography |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18861218.2.28 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=The Star|date=18 December 1886|issue=5804|page=3}}</ref> A branch studio was opened in Dunedin.<ref name="NZETC">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District)|publisher=Cyclopedia Company Limited |location=Christchurch |year=1903 |chapter=Ex Mayors |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d9-d19.html#name-420460-mention |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref>
He moved to Auckland<ref name="Observer Akld intro">{{cite news |title=Mr. George. |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TO18850801.2.28 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=Observer |date=1 August 1885 |volume=7 |issue=347|page=11}}</ref> and set up a branch of the Melbourne photography business Tuttle & Co in Upper Queen Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tuttle and Co's Photographic Studio |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TO18850711.2.83 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=Observer|date=11 July 1885 |volume=7 |issue=344}}</ref>
George returned to Christchurch; by April 1886, his name appeared in the newspaper again as a Christchurch photographer.<ref>{{cite news |title=The New Zealand Steam Collier Company, Limited |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18860430.2.13.2 |access-date=22 April 2012 |work=Star| date=30 April 1886 |issue=5606 |page=2}}</ref> His business partner, Walton, retired and the firm was from then known as 'Eden George'.<ref>{{cite news|title=Late Advertisements |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18860309.2.14.6 |access-date=22 April 2012|work=The Star |date=9 March 1886 |issue=5562 |page=2}}</ref> George became embroiled in a series of legal cases between 1888 and 1890, starting with a wages dispute with Karl Gerstenkorn, whom he had met in Sydney in 1888 and hired as a plate maker for his business. Their legal battle escalated when George claimed his studio had been ransacked by an intruder; speculation attributed this either to Gerstenkorn, or rival photographers, or Eden himself seeking insurance compensation.<ref>Rice G.W. 2013. Christchurch Crimes and Scandals 1876-1899. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch.</ref> George unwisely alleged Gerstenkorn's involvement in public and was successfully charged with slander.<ref>Rice 2013 op.cit.</ref> George sold his photography business to Wrigglesworth and Binns at the end of 1893.<ref name="NZETC" /><ref name="business sale">{{cite news|title=News of the Day |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18931229.2.23 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=The Press|date=29 December 1893 |volume=L |issue=8677 |page=4}}</ref> He went to Australia and established new businesses in Sydney and Melbourne.<ref name=NZETC />
==Family== George married Ada Jane Butler on 31 May 1885 at St Matthew's Church in Auckland. His wife was born in Christchurch in 1864; she was the daughter of Gilbert Butler (d. 1885) and Maria Page (1837–1906; died in Sydney<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS19060608.2.46 |access-date=8 May 2012 |work=The Star |date=8 June 1906 |issue=8644 |page=3}}</ref>)<ref>{{cite web|title=Ada Jane Butler (1864 - 1937) |url= http://records.ancestry.com/Ada_Jane_Butler_records.ashx?pid=96929094 |publisher=Ancestry.com|access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>
Their first daughter was Morea Eden George, who was born on 17 March 1886 at their home in 27 Gloucester Street, Christchurch.<ref>{{cite news |title=Births |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18860322.2.10 |access-date=8 May 2012 |work=The Star |date=22 March 1886 |issue=5573|page=2}}</ref> The girl died just short of its first birthday on 5 March 1887 and was buried at Linwood Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database |url=http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?id=17474 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710083847/http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?id=17474 |url-status=dead|archive-date=10 July 2012 |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |access-date=9 May 2012 }}</ref>
Their second daughter, Irene Eden George, was born on 11 August 1888 at their home in 27 Gloucester Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Births |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18880813.2.7 |access-date=8 May 2012|work=The Star|date=13 August 1888|issue=6315|page=2}}</ref> She died in 1970 in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite web |title= Irene Eden George (1888 - 1970)|url= http://records.ancestry.com/Irene_Eden_George_records.ashx?pid=58493048 |publisher=Ancestry.com |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>
Their first son, Stanley E George, was born on 18 November 1890 at their home in Worcester Street in Christchurch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Births |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18901122.2.15 |access-date=8 May 2012 |work=The Press|date=22 November 1890 |volume=XLVIL |issue=7716 |page=4}}</ref> He died in 1980 in Sydney.<ref>{{cite web |title= Stanley E George (1890 - 1980) |url= http://records.ancestry.com/Stanley_E_George_records.ashx?pid=151680164 |publisher=Ancestry.com |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>
Their last child was Leslie George, who was born in 1893 in Christchurch. He died in an aeroplane accident on 12 May 1918 at RAF Worthy Down, England.<ref>{{cite web |title= Leslie George (93 - 1918) |url= http://records.ancestry.com/Leslie_George_records.ashx?pid=182919178 |publisher=Ancestry.com |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=GEORGE Leslie|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=4028709 |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=8 May 2012 |page=6}}</ref>
==Political career== ===New Zealand Parliament=== George contested the Christchurch South electorate in the {{NZ election link|1887}}. In one of his election meetings, George addressed a large crowd at the Oddfellow's Hall in Lichfield Street, where he was well received by an orderly crowd.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mr Eden George at the Oddfellows' Hall |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18870910.2.37 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=The Press|date=10 September 1887 |volume=XLIV |issue=6853 |page=5}}</ref> The nomination meeting on 17 September 1887 at the same venue was often disorderly, though. Westby Perceval, Aaron Ayers, Henry Thomson and George were put forward as candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Nominations |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18870917.2.36.4 |access-date=23 April 2012 |work=The Press |date=17 September 1887 |volume=XLIV |issue=6859 |page=6}}</ref> Thomson had been Mayor of Christchurch in 1877–1878, and Ayers was the current mayor.<ref name="CCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/howthecouncilworks/ourhistory/chairmenmayors.aspx |title=Chairmen and mayors |publisher=Christchurch City Council |access-date=10 February 2010 |location=Christchurch |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522063807/http://www.ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/howthecouncilworks/ourhistory/chairmenmayors.aspx |archive-date=22 May 2010 }}</ref> Of the four candidates, George came last, having received 113 votes of 1,572 votes in total (7.2%).<ref name="Christchurch South nomination, 1887">{{cite news|title=Christchurch South |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18870916.2.10.2 |access-date=21 April 2012|work=The Star|date=16 September 1887|issue=6034|page=2}}</ref><ref name="General Election, 1887">{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1887 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1887-II.2.1.9.13 |publisher=National Library |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=2 |year=1887}}</ref>
The resignation of Sir Julius Vogel caused the 19 June {{By-election link|Christchurch North|1889}} in the Christchurch North electorate, contested by three candidates. Edward Humphreys beat John Ollivier by a small margin, with George coming a distant third.<ref name="1889 by-election">{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18890620.2.22 |title=Christchurch North Election |date=20 June 1889 |issue=6577 |work=The Star |page=3 |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref> George received 184 out of 965 votes (19.1%).<ref>{{cite news|title=Christchurch North Election |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18890621.2.14 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=The Press |volume=XLVI |issue=7342 |date=21 June 1889|page=3}}</ref>
George was one of six candidates who stood for election in three-member {{NZ electorate link|City of Christchurch}} electorate in the {{NZ election link|1890}}; the others were William Pember Reeves, Westby Perceval, Richard Molesworth Taylor, John Tippett Smith<!-- known as J. Tippett Smith --><ref name="NZETC Smith">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District) |publisher=Cyclopedia Company Limited|location=Christchurch|year=1903|chapter=City Council|url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d8-d7.html#name-420442-mention |access-date=16 March 2010}}</ref> and Edward Wingfield Humphreys. George came a distant last, receiving 119 votes out of a total of 11,715 (1.02%).<ref name="1890 election results">{{cite news |title=The Results |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP18901206.2.43.11 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=The Press |date=6 December 1890 |volume=XLVIL |issue=7728 |page=6}}</ref> Reeves, Perceval and Taylor were thus declared elected.<ref name="Wilson">{{cite book |last= Wilson |first= Jim | author-link=Jim Wilson (librarian) |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 |page=260}}</ref>
George contested the {{By-election link|Christchurch|1891}} for the City of Christchurch electorate against John Tippett Smith<ref name="NZETC Smith" /> and Ebenezer Sandford. Sandford came first with 1851 votes, representing a majority of 742 votes. Smith and George received 1109 and 637 votes, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18911010.2.64 |title=The Christchurch Election|date=10 October 1891|issue=7291|work=The Star |page=4|access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref> George petitioned against the election, arguing that the nominations for Sandford and Smith were received too late by the returning officer, and he was thus the only person who could have been declared elected.<ref name="petition">{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18911024.2.38 |title=The Christchurch Election. |date=24 October 1891|issue=7303|work=The Star |page=3|access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref> The elections petitions court found that whilst the returning officer had made an error, the subsequent election was valid and the petition had to be dismissed.<ref name="petition dismissed">{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18920206.2.32 |title=The Christchurch Election |date=6 February 1892|issue=7199|work=The Star |page=3|access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref>
Towards the end of his term as Mayor of Christchurch, the {{NZ election link|1893}} was held. Eleven candidates, including George, stood in the {{NZ electorate link|City of Christchurch}} electorate and with 1,647 of 32,715 votes (5.0%), he came last.<ref name="General Election, 1893">{{cite web |title=The General Election, 1893 |url= https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&cl=search&d=AJHR1894-I.2.3.2.21 |publisher=National Library |access-date=25 February 2012 |page=2 |year=1894}}</ref> Together with Mortimer Davie and Joseph Evison, he represented the conservative opposition to the ruling Liberal Government.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18931122.2.9 |title=The Conservative Candidates for Christchurch |date=22 November 1893|issue=4807|work=The Star |page=2|access-date=24 April 2012}}</ref>
===Mayor of Christchurch=== Aaron Ayers retired from two terms as Mayor of Christchurch towards the end of 1887. Charles Louisson, who had contested the most fiercely fought mayoral election in Christchurch thus far and had only been narrowly beaten by Ayers in 1886, decided to stand again.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayoral Elections|url= http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18861125.2.22 |access-date=5 November 2011|work=The Star|date=25 November 1886|issue=5785|page=3}}</ref> George, who had just contested the Christchurch South electorate in the September 1887 general election,<ref>{{cite news|title=Christchurch South|url= http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18870927.2.33.2 |access-date=5 November 2011|work=The Star|date=27 September 1887|issue=6043}}</ref> was requested by 227 ratepayers to contest the mayoralty. He declined by basically stating that Louisson was the stronger candidate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Late Advertisements|url= http://www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18871013.2.46.1 |access-date=5 November 2011| work=The Star| date=13 October 1887|issue=6057| page=3}}</ref>
George contested the Christchurch mayoralty at the end of 1892. Three candidates were nominated: William Thomson,<ref name="NZETC Thomson">{{cite book |title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Canterbury Provincial District |year=1903 |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d10-d81.html#name-420519-mention |publisher=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand |author=Cyclopedia Company Limited |access-date= 24 April 2012 |location=Christchurch |chapter=Mr. William Thomson}}</ref> John Tippett Smith<ref name="NZETC Smith" /> and George.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayoral |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921123.2.40 |access-date=23 April 2012 |work=Star |date=23 November 1892|issue=7427|page=3}}</ref> According to Christchurch City Council records, Thomson and Smith had previously both been city councillors; Thomson served in 1890–1891 and Smith in 1891, 1893, 1896, 1899 and 1901–1903.<ref name="Councillors">{{cite web |url= http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/handbook/councillorsofthecityofchristchurch.asp |title=Councillors of the City of Christchurch |publisher=Christchurch City Council |access-date=12 May 2010 |location=Christchurch | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720010657/http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/handbook/councillorsofthecityofchristchurch.asp | archive-date = 20 July 2011}}</ref> Contemporary newspaper reporting shows that Thomson and Smith were both councillors in November 1892.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hospital and Charitable Aid Elections |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921123.2.44 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Star|date=23 November 1892|issue=7427|page=3}}</ref>
At an election meeting, George argued that the mayor's honorarium should not be seen as a salary, as previous mayors had regarded it. He claimed that it was important to elect somebody of wealth, so that he could entertain visitors and citizens beyond what the honorarium provided for.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayoral |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921122.2.25 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Star |date=22 November 1892|issue=7426|page=3}}</ref>
A meeting where the three candidates all addressed electors was held the evening before election day and chaired by the current mayor, William Prudhoe. George got into an argument with the mayor over speaking arrangements, but eventually obliged with the chairman's ruling. In his speech, George was critical of the use of council funds, called for streets to be properly constructed and the Avon River to be beautified.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayoral Election |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921129.2.3 |access-date=23 April 2012 |work=Star |date=29 November 1892|issue=7432|page=1}}</ref>
The election was held on 30 November 1892 at the council chambers. Unlike some other elections, polling day was an orderly affair.<ref>{{cite news |title=The City |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921130.2.28.1 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Star|date=30 November 1892|issue=7433|page=3}}</ref> George received 403 votes and was elected by a narrow margin, with Thomson and Smith having received 390 and 329 votes, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayoral Elections |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18921201.2.41.2 |access-date=21 April 2012|work=The Star|date=1 December 1892|issue=7434|page=4}}</ref> George was installed as mayor on 21 December of that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christchurch |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18921221.2.35.1 |access-date=14 April 2013 |work=The Star |date=21 December 1892|issue=7450 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=City Council |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18921222.2.7.1 |access-date=14 April 2013 |work= The Press |volume=XLIX |issue=8362 |date=22 December 1892 |page=3}}</ref> He was 29 years old at the time, and was the youngest mayor up to that time in Christchurch. He advocated for improvements like asphalting the streets, which at the time he was ridiculed for, but many of these measures were carried out over the next decade.<ref name="NZETC" />
At the end of his one-year term, George contested the mayoralty again on 29 November 1893. He was opposed by Thomas Gapes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christchurch |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18931122.2.24.1 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Star|date=22 November 1893|issue=4807|page=3}}</ref> Gapes and George received 820 and 365 votes, respectively, which represented the largest majority in a Christchurch mayoral election at that time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayoral Elections |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18931130.2.9 |access-date=23 April 2012 |work=Star |date=30 November 1893|issue=4814|page=2}}</ref> Gapes was installed as the new mayor at a council meeting on 20 December.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayoral Installations. |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18931220.2.40 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Star|date=20 December 1893|issue=4830|page=3}}</ref> He was in conflict with councillors during his mayoralty and at Gapes' installation remarked that councillors should forget him, as he would forget them.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brief Mention |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX18931227.2.14 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=Marlborough Express|volume=XXIX |issue=311 |date=27 December 1893|page=2}}</ref> Against tradition, he did not add a link to the mayoral chain at the end of his term.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pars about People |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TO18940113.2.14 |access-date=23 April 2012 |work=Observer |volume=XIV |issue=784 |date=13 January 1894|page=7}}</ref> He sold his photography business<ref name="business sale" /> and left for Sydney on 30 December 1893.<ref>{{cite news|title=Port of Lyttelton |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18931230.2.41.1 |access-date=23 April 2012|work=The Press |volume=L |issue=8678 |date=30 December 1893|page=8}}</ref>
The mayoralty was his only elected office for Christchurch City Council. Unlike most other mayors, he did not also serve as a city councillor at some other time.<ref name="Councillors" />
In 1906, the following report appeared in the media:<ref>{{cite news |title=Brief Mention |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=MEX19060717.2.36 |access-date=8 May 2012 |work=Marlborough Express |volume=XXXIX |issue=164 |date=17 July 1906|page=4}}</ref>
<blockquote>The weight of the Christchurch Mayoral chain has now reached 3lbs. It is composed entirely of solid gold shields presented by each of the Mayors on leaving office with the exception of Mr. Eden George. The portrait of that gentleman is also missing from the collection of pictures of the Mayors hung in the Mayor's room.</blockquote>
===Auckland=== His time in Sydney was brief, and by 19 March 1894, he arrived in Auckland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shipping Telegrams |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18940319.2.33.2 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=The Star |date=19 March 1894|issue=4903|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Table Talk |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18940320.2.2 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=Auckland Star|volume=XXV |issue=68 |date=20 March 1894|page=1}}</ref> He apparently tried to establish an agency for incandescent lamps.<ref>{{cite news|title=Untitled |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18940320.2.32 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=Auckland Star|volume=XXV |issue=68 |date=20 March 1894 |page=4}}</ref> He also started canvassing for support for a by-election in the Waitemata electorate,<ref name="Waitemata canvassing">{{cite news|title=Table Talk |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18940322.2.2 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=Auckland Star|volume=XXV |issue=70 |date=22 March 1894|page=1}}</ref> which arose from the election of Richard Monk having been declared invalid.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=220}} Jackson Palmer and William Massey were also campaigning, and William Joseph Napier received a requisition from electors.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Waitemata Election |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18940324.2.67.11 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=The Star|date=24 March 1894|issue=4907|page=6}}</ref> George retired from the contest, as the writ was issued too early for him being able to visit the whole electorate; only Massey and Palmer were nominated.<ref>{{cite news|title=Untitled |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS18940402.2.11 |access-date=11 May 2012|work=Auckland Star|volume=XXV |issue=78 |date=2 April 1894|page=2}}</ref> Massey won the contest and began his parliamentary career; he was to become Prime Ministers in 1912.<ref name="DNZB Massey">{{DNZB|Gustafson|Barry|2m39|Massey, William Ferguson - Biography|12 May 2012||Barry Gustafson}}</ref>
===New South Wales=== He returned to Sydney in 1895, where he set up a photography business named 'Eden Photo Studios' at 727 George Street, opposite Central railway station. In 1898, George encountered one of several legal entanglements in which he would become involved over the remainder of his life, when he was sued for libel after advertising that a competitor's photographic development process (the "Rococo" process by Mark Blow of Crown Studios) was one of the "cheapest and easiest" in the photographic trade.<ref name=rococo>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14162742 |title=LAW REPORT. |work=The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) |location=NSW |date=15 September 1898 |access-date=24 April 2012 |page=7 |via=Trove}}</ref> After six days of hearing and an hour's deliberation, a jury returned a verdict in George's favour.<ref name=rococo2>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54391130 |title=NEW SOUTH WALES. |work=South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839–1900) |location=Adelaide, SA |date=17 September 1898 |access-date=24 April 2012 |page=8 |via=Trove}}</ref> In 1901, he was sued by two of his staff for not paying them wages. One of the cases was dismissed, whilst he was fined in the other case.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prosecution Under The Shops Act |url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4835819 |access-date=17 May 2012|work=The Advertiser|date=1 May 1901 |location=Adelaide|page=5}}</ref>
In 1902, George sold all his racehorses, and they did not get a single win in 90 races.<ref>{{cite news|title=An Unlucky Owner |url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35478521 |access-date=17 May 2012|work=Examiner|date=13 March 1902 |location=Launceston|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Unprofitable Racehorses |url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32609328 |access-date=17 May 2012|work=Kalgoorlie Western Argus|date=18 March 1902 |location=WA|page=37}}</ref>
In 1901, George nominated as a candidate for New South Wales in for the Australian Senate in the inaugural federal election. He addressed a number of public meetings in Sydney's northern districts in support of his candidature,<ref name=senatecand>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14344919 |title=SENATE. Mr. Eden George's Candidature |work=The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842–1954) |location=NSW |date=28 March 1901 |access-date=24 April 2012 |page=7 |via=Trove}}</ref> but was not elected.<ref name=1901results>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64453035 |title=The Commonwealth. |work=Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal (NSW : 1851–1904) |location=NSW |date=2 April 1901 |access-date=24 April 2012 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref>
From 1901 to 1907 he was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Sydney-Belmore from 1901 to 1904 and Ashburnham from 1904 to 1907. Initially a Progressive, he withdrew his support from Premier Sir John See in 1902 and was endorsed by the Liberal Reform Party in 1904.<ref name="NSW bio" /> Following the 1901 election, he was sued by one of his election canvassers for libel, but the complainant was nonsuited.
==World War I== In 1914, George travelled to Germany to attend his daughter Irene's wedding to a German doctor. He deposited the amount of £800 (for the couple's wedding present) in a German bank, then accompanied his daughter to London for a holiday. Just before the outbreak of hostilities between Britain and Germany, the German government seized all British funds deposited in German banks, ordering their value in gold to be sent to the Treasury to fund the war effort.<ref name=bankseizure>{{cite news |url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72908996 |title=Britons' Bank Balances. |work=The Horsham Times |location=Victoria |date=23 October 1914 |access-date=17 May 2012 |page=8 |via=Trove}}</ref>
With the war under way, George was determined to fight on the front line. He approached British military authorities to volunteer, but they rebuffed his offer due to his age. Instead, George purchased a motor car, which he converted into an ambulance and donated to the French authorities, also volunteering to drive the vehicle. His offer was accepted, and after a month's training at Versailles, he was stationed at Compiègne. He served as an ambulance driver for several months until early 1916, when he contracted pleurisy from exposure to bad weather and was repatriated to Australia to recover.<ref name=ambulance>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80178299 |title=FRANCE'S FIGHTING SPIRIT. |work=The Singleton Argus |location=NSW |date=26 February 1916 |access-date=17 May 2012 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref>
In 1918, George and his wife were ''en route'' to England to visit their son Leslie, who was serving as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, however Leslie was killed while flying shortly after his parents' departure from Australia, and there was concern that they would not be informed of his death until their arrival.<ref name=leslie>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15763905 |title=Australians Killed |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=NSW |date=20 May 1918 |access-date=17 May 2012 |page=7 |via=Trove}}</ref>
==Later life and death== Following his 1907 defeat, George travelled around Europe and the United States. He died on 2 May 1927 at a private hospital in Manly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Deaths |url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16379933 |access-date=8 May 2012|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 May 1927|page=14}}</ref>
==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist}} {{s-start}} {{s-par | au-nsw-la}} {{s-bef | before= James Graham}} {{s-ttl | title=Member for Sydney-Belmore|years=1901–1904}} {{s-non | reason=Constituency abolished}} |- {{s-bef | before= Joseph Reymond}} {{s-ttl | title= Member for Ashburnham|years=1904–1907}} {{s-aft | after= John Lynch}} |- {{s-civ}} {{s-bef | before= William Prudhoe}} {{s-ttl | title= Mayor of Christchurch| years=1892–1893}} {{s-aft | after= Thomas Gapes}} {{end}}
{{Mayors of Christchurch}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Eden}} Category:1863 births Category:1927 deaths Category:19th-century mayors of places in New Zealand Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Category:Artists from Sydney Category:Mayors of Christchurch Category:Australian photographers Category:Politicians from Auckland Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1887 New Zealand general election Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1890 New Zealand general election Category:Unsuccessful candidates in the 1893 New Zealand general election Category:19th-century New Zealand politicians Category:Photographers from Auckland Category:Australian emigrants to New Zealand Category:People educated at Sydney Grammar School