MAKERS OF OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21045, 6 June 1930, Page 12

MAKERS OF OTAGO.

PIONEERS OF THE PROVINCE.

Written for the Otago Daily Times,

By Condor,

XXII.—J 1807-1886,

James Paterson, for many years a leading figure in the public life of Otago, was born at Edinburgh in 1807. He served his time with a saddler in his native city, and in 1838 went out to British Guiana, where he remained for some years in business in Georgetown. In 1851 Paterson returned to Scotland. About this time George Ross, one of the early settlers of Otago, was in Scotland overseeing the construction of a brigantine for use in the New Zealand coastal trade. Paterson came into touch with him, and this association aroused his interest in New Zealand, with the result that he decided to emigrate to Otago. Ross’s brigantine, which was called the Clutha, 250 tons, was ready towards the end of 1853. A number of Ross's friends were going out in her. as passengers—his brother-in-law, James Kilgour, John Sibbald, Calder, and Alexander —and Paterson joined them. The Clutha lay at Leith for some weeks loading a variety of merchandise on account of Ross and Ms passengers, and finally started on her voyage. Striking bad weather in the North Sea, she put into Yarmouth for a new bowsprit and then made a good passage, arriving in Otago on February 12, 1854.

Paterson lost no time in starting in business in Rattray street as a general merchant. Shortly afterwards he was joined by hia brother-in-law, George Hepburn. Later the firm established itself in Princes street, and purchased the local business of Macandrew and Co They . afterwards removed to Manse street, where they carried on as saddlers, general merchants, and commission agents until 1862, when public life beckoned to Paterson so insistently that he listened to the call. It was something of a surprise to the public when he did eventually come out into the limelight, for he had not shown any bent that way. In October, 1861, Paterson was elected for one of the Dunedin seats in the Provincial Council, defeating H. F. Hardy by a narrow margin. A few months later he took office in the provincial executive, and moreover announced his intention of standing for Parliament. In June, 1862, he contested the Dunedin and Suburbs scat against Major Richardson, but was defeated by eight votes. When a few months later the major resigned Paterson was returned unopposed. Feeling that he had done well enough in business for a while Paterson took up land and devoted more of his time to public affairs. He was in the Provincial Council from IS&L to 1867 and was a member of three* executives, part of the time as provincial secretary under the superintendency of Harris. While holding this office he carried through the council an ordinance dissolving' the Dunediri Town Board and appointing ( commissioners to manage the affairs of city and to bring order into its finances. Id June, 1868, after the dissolution of the council and .redistribution of seats, he stood again and was returned at the foot of the poll for Dunedin, Vogel being one of the defeated candidates. In the same month he defeated Vogel in a straightout fight for the Dunedin and Suburbs seat in Parliament. In 1865 he stood for the mayoralty of the city, but was defeated by Mason, In October, 1865, Paterson joined the Stafford Government as a member of the executive. He was re-elected for the city in 1866 with Reynolds as colleague (Paterson 610 votes, Reynolds 609) ; and a few. months later took office in the Government as Postmaster-general. This term was destined to be a stormy one for him and other Otago metnbers. Feeling ran high in Otago over the refusal of the general Government to delegate to Mncandrew, the new superintendent, the powers usually given to superintendents to administer goldfields, and also over proposals which threatened to take away some of the revenues of the city of Dunedin. Richardson, who was a member of the Stafford Government, stood firmly against Macandrew. Public opinion in Otago was strongly on the side of the superintendent, and Paterson and Reynolds both fell into bad odour owing to the belief that they had not taken a strong enough stand in the interests of the province. , When the members returned to Dunedin they were called to account and there was a great demonstration against them in tho Princess Theatre, from which they had to make their escape with police assistance. When they came back from Wellington again, in November, 1868, they were invited to attend a public meeting to . explain their conduct, Reynolds attended, but Paterson, remembering his previous experience, wrote to the chairman declining to attend. By this act he terminated his political life as an elective member. Reynolds braved the storm and was again returned, but Paterson resigned his seat in June, 1869, and accepted a call to the Legislative Council. 111-health prevented him from taking much further active part even in this sphere, and in 1884 be forfeited his seat for non-attendance. Ho died on July 29, 1886, leaving a widow (who had previously been the widow of Thomas Bain), but nt family. Paterson was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church. On retiring from business in 1862 Paterson went in for farming on a large estate at Tokomairiro which he named Crichton. It was not a profitable venture and he sold out and returned to Dunedin to live.