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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Mr. James Macandrew
Mr. James Macandrew, was a member of two governments; in the Grey Ministry he was Secretary for Crown Lands, and Minister of Immigration from the formation of that Cabinet in October, 1877, till July, 1878, and took the portfolio of Public Works in March of the latter year, retaining the position till the defeat of that government in October, 1879. In the Stout-Vogel combination of 1881, he was Minister of Lands, Mines, and Immigration, for the twelve days during which that Ministry occupied the Treasury Benches. Mr. Macandrew was born in 1829, in Aberdeen. He went as a youth to London, where he got an insight into mercantile life. He became much interested in the scheme for settling members of the Free Church of Scotland in Otago, and decided to emigrate to the Colony. In 1850 he bought an iron schooner, and with his family set sail for New Zealand. Settling in Dunedin, Mr. Macandrew proved himself an enterprising colonist, and introduced the first steamer, carrying general merchandise. In 1853 he entered the political arena as a member of the first Provincial Council of Otago for Dunedin City. In 1854 he was elected to the House of Representatives for the same place, and from this time till his death, in 1887, he continued a member of the House, either for Dunedin or Port Chalmers. In 1860 Mr. Macandrew was elected Superintendent of the Province of Otago, and served four terms. He was appointed by Acting-Governor Wynyard a member of the Executive Council without portfolio, and held the position in common with some other members of the House of Representatives for three days. Mr. Macandrew was the originator of the Panama and Californian mail services, and, it may be said, of the steam communication of the Colony. At the time of his death, 24th February, 1887, he was considered the father of the House of Representatives.