The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Arney, Sir George Alfred
Arney, Sir George Alfred, seventh son of William Arney, of The Close, Salisbury, by Maria Charlotte, daughter of Thomas Greene White, of Kew Green, Middlesex, was born in 1806, and educated at Winchester and Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1829 and M.A. in 1830. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1834, and was engaged upon the Western Circuit. In 1833 he married Harriett, daughter of Captain Thomas Parr, R.N., who died without issue in 1844. In 1858 Mr. Arney went out to New Zealand, and was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in which position he remained until 1875. From March 21st to June 14th, 1873, Sir George Arney, who was knighted in 1862, administered the government of the colony between the departure of Sir George Bowen and the arrival of Sir James Fergusson. He was also a member of the Legislative Council for some years, and member of the Executive Council. He returned to England on his resignation in 1875, and died April 7th, 1883.