J. E. FITZGERALD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 12

J. E. FITZGERALD.

m AMES EDWARD FITZGERALD was born at Bath in J§M 181 S. He took his degree at Cambridge in 1842, and qJjJL afterwards entered the British Museum as an assistant in •^ the department of antiquities. He took an active interest in the scheme for founding the Canterbury Settlement, writing and lecturing on its behalf. He left England in one of the " first four ships," arriving at Lyttelton in December, 1850. Under his editorship the Lytteltoti Times made its first appearance on January 1 1 following, and he continued to edit it for two years. In 1853 he was elected under the newly granted constitution to be the first superintendent of the province of Canterbury, a position which he held for four years. He also represented Lyttelton in the first Parliament of New Zealand, taking office as Premier. In 1857 he returned to the Home Country, and acted for three years as agent for the Province. On his return lie re-entered Parliament, representing Akaroa, and in 1565 he succeeded Mr. Mantell as Native Minister. Soon afterwards he retired from active public life, and then received the post of Comptroller-General and Auditor-Genei'al, which he has held since to the a;reat advantage of the country. In 1870 he was created a C.M.G. Mr. FitzGerald is of varied and extensive acquirements, an eloquent speaker, and a man of high honour — one of the fast disappearing race of old colonists, of whom New Zealand may well be proud.