MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AND JUSTICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9325, 30 March 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AND JUSTICE.

The Hon, Thomas Fergus, whose portrait wo now give, is now on a visit to Auckland, af|;er a lapse of nine years. * He "comes to inspect the harbour defences, and also to inspect the route of the proposed- extension of the North Auckland Trunk RailwayThe following biographical particulars concerning Mr. Fergus will be of interest." He was born at Ayr, Scotland, in 1851, and received his education partly at a school in that town and partly at the Academy, in which pne of the teachers was Mr. Shand, now Professor Shand, of the Otago University. Subsequently Mr. Fergus' father emigrated to Melbourne, and when 14 years of age young Fergus went out to Victoria to join his father. In that colony he elected to become a civil engineer, and pursued a scholastic course with that object in view. After a time ho came

to New Zealand, casting in his lob in Obago, and settled at Dunedin. Thero he finished his professional education at the Otago University, becoming again a pupil of Professor Shand. In 1871 he was appointed District Engineer to the Otago goldfields, but in 1873 he resigned his post to go into partnership with Mr. Henderson, ho was then laying the railway from Mosgiel to Outram. When this was completed, he undertook other lines, also the New Plymouth waterworks and some harbour works. Subsequently he went into partnership with Mr. Blair, and assisted to construct the line between Deloraine and the Mersey in Tasmania and the lieidelberg-Alphington line in Victoria. He has represented the Wakatipu electorate for many years. When Major Atkinson formed the present Administration in 18S7, Mr. Fergus accepted the portfolios of Defence and Justice. Ho is the youngest member in the Ministry. Mr. Fergus has fulfilled the duties of his office effectively, having effected considerable retrenchment in the Defence estimates without sacrificing efficiency. Ho was instrumental in forming the Dunedin Hussars. For live years he held a seat in the Otago Education Board, and was treasurer of tho Athenaium and Mechanics'lnstitute, Dunedin, for many years. He was the prime mover in the .'raising of funds for the Burns' statue, himself collecting over £600. At tho present time he is President of the Dunedin Bowling Club, and is an enthusiastic bowler. Mr. Fergus is very popular in tho House ; he is an excellent debater, and his professional acquirements and strong common sense, coupled with a practical grasp of any subject which ho handles, makes him a very useful member of the House. He is always listened to with respect and attention in the Legislature, as a man who has something to say, and says it.