Early life
Allwright was born in 1837. He arrived in Lyttelton on the '' Cressy'' on 27 December 1850 with his parents, a brother, and some sisters. He was thus one of the Canterbury Pilgrims. He worked for his father, who was a painter and glazier. Upon his father Henry's death in 1859, he took over the business. When he was elected to parliament, his brother took over the business. Allwright was a prominent sportsman and the president of the yacht club. He was an accomplished singer and regularly performed as a soloist with the Lyttelton Choral Union. On 27 April 1866, Allwright married Matilda Lyons at the Wesleyan Chapel at Lyttelton. His wife, a widow, was also from Lyttelton and had also arrived in New Zealand on the ''Cressy''.Political career
He stood for the Lyttelton municipal council in January 1867 and was one of six candidates for four positions, but he came last. In January 1868, he was one of eleven or twelve (sources differ) candidates for seven available positions on the municipal council, and with the second highest number of votes he was declared elected. His term came to an end in September 1869 and of eight candidates for six positions, he came second. On 24/25 October 1870, the Lyttelton Fire destroyed two blocks along Norwich Quay, raising two-thirds of the town. The mayor, John S. Willcox, lost his building and company and thus did not have the time to remain mayor. At the 7 November council meeting, councillor Allwright was unanimously voted for as the new mayor and re-elected at the 21 December council meeting for the coming year. Allwright was Mayor of Lyttelton for seven years (1871, 1872, 1878–1882, 1887). He was a proponent for the Lyttelton Borough Council to build civic offices and the foundation stone for the Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers was laid in January 1887, just after Allwright's final election as mayor; his name was thus inscribed in the foundation stone: "H. Allwright, Mayor, 1887" In 1879, he successfully contested the Lyttelton electorate against the incumbent Hugh Murray-Aynsley. He represented Lyttelton untilDeath
He died on 18 July 1892 at 277 Armagh Street,References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allwright, Harry New Zealand MPs for Christchurch electorates Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives 1830s births 1892 deaths Canterbury Pilgrims Unsuccessful candidates in the 1887 New Zealand general election 19th-century New Zealand politicians Lyttelton Harbour Board members Mayors of places in Canterbury, New Zealand