Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

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

Mr Andrew Mercer

Mr Andrew Mercer , one of the pioneers of Otago, was Mayor of Dunedin for the year 1873–74. He was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1829. He served his time as a cabinetmaker, and entered into partnership with Mr. George Ross. The partners came out together to Otago by the ship “Philip Laing,” in 1848, and had under the New Zealand Company's land regulations. Acting on these orders, they selected rural land in the Clutha district, but letting it lie for a while, they started a store in Princes Street, Dunedin, opposite the Bank of New Zealand's present premises. Subsequently Mr. Mercer sold out, and went farming at Warepa, but returned to Dunedin, about 1859, to open a store on the site of the Colonial Mutual Buildings. He carried on business there till about 1880, when he retired, and went to live at Portobello, but afterwards removed to his residence in High Street, where he died. Mr. Mercer was a member of the city Council for seven years. At the Otago Convention, formed when the provinces were about to be abolished, he attended as representative of Owaka. He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1872, and sat very often at the Police Court. Mr. Mercer was married in Dunedin, in March, 1849, and died on the 6th of June, page 103 1902, leaving a grown-up family of seven, and thirty-three grandchildren.