JAMES MACANDREW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1493, 26 February 1887, Page 2

JAMES MACANDREW.

Obit February 24th, 1887. By the unfortunate accident which has resulted m the death of Mr James Macandrew, New Zealand loses one of her foremost statesmen, and her Parliament itsoldest member, Otago her most prominent citizen, her most loyal champion, the chief founder of her institutions, of her progress and of her prosperity, and hundreds, probably thousands m New Zealand a personal friend, lojal, generous, and faithful, and whose kindly words and deeds will not soon be forgotten. In all the history of colonisation there is not one among tho many stout-hearted, clear-minded, purposeful pioneers whom the Mother Country ha 3 sent forth into all lands to he the founders of nations who has more successfully fulfilled that high mission than has James Macandrew, and throughout Otago especially thero might be written of him over the portals of many a noble institution as was written of Sfr Christopher Wren around the dome of St Paul's Si monumentwn quart's circumspicc. Nay, not one of the splendid steamers which ply between the sister colonies and Now .Zealand, and botweon New Zealand and Homo, but flies the same signal, for Mr Macandrew was tho first to establish intercolonial steam traffic, as he was also the first to advocate direct steam to England. Foremost, too, m the advocacy and initiation of great public works, foremost m the cause of education, and of all liberal advancement, ho was always m the very front rank of the leaders of the people, and it is not to bo wendered at that until the provinces of Now Zealand were merged into ono united State he was m all but name the elected king of the most important and most populous of all those provinces. Well we remember the affectionate enthusiasm with which his name was always greeted m the days gone by when the loyalty of the people of Otago to James 1 Macandrew was only second to their loyalty to the Queen, and it will not bo until after the present generation has passed away that he will cease to be affectionately regretted by thousands of old identities. Always unselfish m his public career, he seized nono of the hosts of opportunities by which ho could have secured great wealth for himself and his family, and tho faults of his political life were only such as were born of an enthusiastic and sanguine belief m the immense possibilities of his adopted country. His public deeds are known to all, and his name and his works are written indelibly on the pages of New Zealand's history, but of his private benevolence, his kindly aid and. help, m counsel and m purse, to hundreds of his fellow-colonists, they only who had the privilege of his personal friendship are able to tell. But generations will pass away before James Macandrew ceases to bo remembered for his private worth, and there aro many m all lands who will regret him as only the leal and the true are regretted. Sorrowfully we add o'u* tribute to tho memory of one who loved New Zealand as he loved his life, and who was ono of the foremost of the fast shrinking bnnd of her pioneer oolonists, one whoso death leaves a gap that can never bo filled, and of whom it may be truthfully written that "take. him for all m all, we may not look upon his like again."

Following, from Mr Cox's " Men of Mark m New Zealand," supplies a brief account of a useful and a distinguished career, of whioh bis descendants may well bo proud : — Maoandrew, James, {was born m 1820, a native of Scotland. He spent the chief part of his early life m London, and had a good commercial training. As a member of the Committee of the Otago Association he took an active and zealous part m founding the Otago settlement, for whioh he, with his family, left London m 1850. Sinoe then he has taken an active interest m public affairs, and wo a four times elected Superintendent of the Province of Otago, which office was held by him when the Abolition of Provinces Aot came into operation. As Superintendent ho initiated and carried into effect many important publio educational institutions, euoh as the Otago University, Caversham Industrial School, Girls' High School, the Otago Museum, the Normal Training School for Teachers, and the Sohool of Art. Mr Macandrew also was tho prime mover m tho construction of tho Oamaru Breakwater, the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway, Port Chalmers Graving Dook, and various other railways and works throughout Otago. He is rightly spoken of as the father of the House of Representatives, being tho only member oow m the House who sat there m the first session of 1854. He may also be almost called the father of steam communication with New Zealand. At one time he suggested that tho province of Otago should sell and oonvert one of its sheep runs into cash, and invest the same towards acquiring an | interest m three steamships, to be built on ; the Olyde, and to ply monthly between Port Chalmers and Panama. Subsequently, as is well known, this service was taken m hand by the General Government at the expense of the colony. It was on Mr Maoandrew's motion, m the sessions of 1869 and 1870, that the Galifornian service was established. In 1870, on opening the Provincial Council of Otago, he proposed that the province should itself establish a fifty days' direct service to London, and hoped to seouro the co-operation of Canterbury. He was Chairman of the joint Committee of both Houses, which reported m favor of the direot steam service m the session of 1881. It was mainly on his recommendation and at his instance that Messrs Willis and Co., of London, sent out tho steamer Nelson to trade on the New Zealand coast m 1854. This vessel, however, was speedily withdrawn from the colony ; and m 1858 Mr Macandrew established an intercolonial and inter-provincial steam service between Melbourne, Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, and Wellington, whioh, although an unprofitable undertaking to the firm with whioh bo was then conneoted, was the commencement of the real progress of New Zealand. He has long been urging that publio works should be constructed without tho intervention of foreign capital, and has recently been advocating the establishment of a State Land Bank, whereby the onltivators ol the soil might obtain money at a reduoed rate of interest — his great panaooa for tho ills of New Zealand being cheap money, largely increased population, and local self-govern-ment. Tho latest of his proposals is to endeavor to get the assistance of the Imperial Government towards locating along the New Zealand coast the 40,000 families of Highland crofters who have been the Bubjeot of a recent Royal Commission m England. In the session of 1884 a olau3e was at bis instanoo inserted m the Land Bill, as tho first step towards accomplishing this somewhat stupendous scheme of immigration. In 1885 ho proposed the resolution, passed by the House of Representatives, having for its object a political confederation, or alliance, of the wholo English-speaking people throughout tho world, for the purpose of mutual dofonce against foreign aggression, the maintenance of peace, and the promotion of tho brotherhood of nations. He was a member of the so-called " Clean Shirt Ministry" m 1854 ; was Minister of Lands m the Grey Government m 1877, until suooeeded by Mr Stout ; was also Minister of Publio Works when the Middle Island East and West Coast line, tho main line from Wellington to Auokland, the Otago Central, and various other lines were fust authorised by Parliament.