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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
Mr. James Lawrence
Mr. James Lawrence was born in the year 1826, at Hythe, Kent, and was the son of Mr. Job Lawrence, of Canterbury, England. He was educated in his native town, and joined the Customs at Folkstone. On the occasion of the late Mr. H. S. Tiffen's second visit to New Zealand, Mr. Lawrence accompanied that gentleman, and became his manager at “Homewood,” Kaikoura, in 1856. He arrived in Wellington in the ship “Westminster,” and transhipped to Napier in the little schooner “Salopia.” Mr. Lawrence afterwards purchased a part of the Homewood estate from Mr. Tiffen, and carried it on as a sheep run until 1886, when he sold it to Mr. James Collins. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence then took a two years' trip to Europe, visiting Rome, Venice, Milan, and many other cities of interest. Mr. Lawrence has taken an active part in public matters. He represented Waipawa in the Hawke's Bay Provincial Council for a term, but declined re-election. He was a warm supporter of Sir Donald McLean. Mr. Lawrence was chairman of the Kaikora Road Board, School Committee, and Licensing Committee, and president of the Waipawa Racing Club. For many years he was a Justice of the Peace. In 1866 he married a daughter of Captain Brown, R.N., of Sligo, Ireland.
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