MAKERS OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3987, 12 August 1930, Page 7

MAKERS OF OTAGO.

PIONEERS OF THE PROVINCE.

BY

Condor.

XXXI.—Hon. JAMES FULTON, 18301891.

The Hon. James Fulton, a very honourable figure in the early days o’f Otago, was of an Anglo-Indian family, the son of Major Robert Bell Fulton, of the Bengal Artillery, and of Lisburn, County Antrim. Born at Futtyghur, India, on June 27, 1830, he was* taken back to the family home in Ireland for his education.

Fulton qualified as a civil engineer, and for a while held an appointment in connection with the Huddersfield and Manchester railway. He was only 18 years of age when he sailed for New Zealand in the ship Ajax in September, 1848, with the intention of being a farmer. Among his fellow passengers was Valpy, formerly of the Indian civil service. Shortly after his arrival in Otago, Fulton took charge of Valpy’s mill at the Leith. He then went on a farm at West Taieri, then far in the

backblocks.' Indeed, the Garrett stick-ing-up case actually occurred on his property. Fulton soon took a leading place amongst his fellow settlers owing to his sterling character. In 1852 he married Catherine Henrietta Valpy, who went cheerfully to share his hardships with him, and thereafter they made their occasional visits to Dunedin with the help of a sledge. For many years Fulton held the position of resident magistrate at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, and Outram, and won the respect of the whole community by the upright manner in which he administered justice. On retiring from the bench he took a more prominent part in the affairs of the community. He was a member and first chairman of the Taieri County Council.

In 1879 Fulton was elected for Parliament for the Taieri constituency, defeating Snow by 319 votes to 178. At the next election, in 1882, he was returned unopposed; in 1884 he defeated Carncross, and in 1887 won again over the same opponent. In Parliament he was a member of the very best type. He was for many years a member of the Waste Lands Committee, and was chairman of the Petitions Committee which unseated Grey for Christchurch. He was a strong supporter of the Atkinson Government. If he had desired ministerial rank he might easily have been Minister of Lands, but it did not appeal to him. In 1889 Fulton was chairman 'of the celebrated Sweating Commission, which investigated the conditions existing in Dunedin and led up to the reforms of the early days of the Liberal administration. All his life he took the keenest interest in the welfare of the workers. Sympathetic, Upright in the highest degree, always courteous and conscientious, he was the highest type of citizen, held in general respect. Retiring from the House at the end of 1890 he accepted a call to the Legislative Council in January, 1891, but died towards the end of that year.

Fulton took an active Interest in education in all its forms. He was a member of the Otago Education Board ror some years and a life governor of Boys’ High School; and from 1876 until his death he was a member of the council of Otago University. He was always a strong advocate of Biblereading in schools. In Parliament, too, he was a recognised leader of the movement for women’s franchise. He also strongly supported the temperance movement both in and out of Parliament. Fulton died on November 30, 1891 at his home at Ravenscliffe, leaving a widow and a family of three sons “and three daughters. Arthur R. W. Fulton C.E., rormorly of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, Janies Edward Fulton, C.E. (Wellington), who dled 111 1928 ’ and Dr Robert Valpy Fulton, who wrote the most interesting history of the medical profession in Otago, were his sons. One of his daughters married the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland, and another married Dr (now Sir Louis) Barnett. Robert Fulton, a brother of James Fulton, who was an artist of considerable note, was drowned while returning to the colony in the Lord Raglan, in 1863.