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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. James Alexander Park

Mr. James Alexander Park was Mayor of Dunedin for the year 1902–3. He was elected without opposition, and had previously represented Bell Ward in the City Council for some years. During his mayoralty the celebrations of the King's Coronation were held in Dunedin, the Fourth Contingent returned from active service in South Africa, also the Otago detachments of the Eighth and Ninth Contingents, and peace was proclaimed. Mr. Park laid the foundation stone of the new tramway car-house, and thus inaugurated the service of the new electric tramways. After the wreck of the “Elingamite,” Mr. Park took an active part in organising the Shipwrecked Mariners' Relief Society of New Zealand. He is chairman of the Otago Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Committee. The Greater Dunedin scheme has found in Mr. Park a warm advocate, and he has also taken an active interest in the Dunedin Competitions Society. Mr. Park was born in Edinburgh, in 1854, and was educated in Dunedin at the Boys' High School, and at the High Street School of which his father, the late Mr. J. B. Park, was headmaster for twenty-nine years. He entered mercantile life in 1870. as junior clerk in the office of Messrs McLan-dress, Hepburn and Co., auctioneers, and page 107 twelve years later started in business on his own account, under the style of J. A. Park and Co. He is now senior partner in the well-known firm of Park, Reynolds and Co, auotioneers, Manse Street. Although an active business man, Mr. Park has managed to find time to interest himself in athletic sports of all kinds, and their organisations, with which he has been identified from his youth. His chief hobby is volunteering, with which he has been associated since 1867, when he became a lieutenant in the School Cadets. He afterwards joined the High School Artillery, and subsequently the B Battery. In 1883 he joined the Otago Hussars, of which he was Regimental Sergeant-Major until his appointment as Quarter-Master and Hon. Lieutenant of the No. 1 Battalion Otago Mounted Rifles, Mr. Park was married, in 1881, to a daughter of the late Mr. George Ross, of Dunedin, and has a family of twelve children. At the close of his term of office as Mayor, Mr. Park was presented by the present Mayor and members of the Dunedin City Council with an address and a massive gold ring, set in greenstone, the greenstone piece being engraved with the arms of the Corporation of Dunedin. The band of the ring was inscribed, “J. A. Park, Mayor, 1902–3,” and inside the band were the words, “Presented by the City Council.”

A View from Roslym. Morris, photo.

A View from Roslym.
Morris, photo.