McGLASHAN, EDWARD (1817-89) was born at Edinburgh, and had substantially the same upbringing as his elder brother John (q.v.). His father's family having been publishers to the University, he received a good Scots education and went into the bookselling trade, of which he obtained a very good knowledge. John McGlashan's association with the Otago project inspired Edward to emigrate, but he was prevented by an accident from leaving in one of the first Otago ships. Before leaving Edinburgh he bought up the surplus stock of books of the well-known publishers, Chambers and Sons, and had it packed in accessible form to be sorted on the voyage. At the end of 1848 he sailed for Adelaide. He stopped for a while there and at Melbourne, and eventually reached Sydney, where he made a good profit on his books in a market which was rather bare at the time. McGlashan invested his capital in the purchase of stores and provisions, and when he reached Dunedin (1850) was again able to dispose of his stock advantageously. The first position that he took in Otago was that of registrar of the Supreme Court (over which Stephen presided). Unfortunately for him, there was little business and the judge was moved to Wellington. McGlashan leased from Valpy the sawmill and flourmill on the Water of Leith and gradually worked up a thriving business grinding wheat for the settlers, who hitherto had ground their own in steel hand mills. He carried on a store and auction room in Princes street, finding his commercial training of service. Meanwhile, in 1855, some of his capital was invested in land at Otepopo. In 1858 McGlashan dropped the auctioneering part of his business, and went into partnership with W. Carr Young as Young and McGlashan, merchants. They did exceptionally well until the diggings broke out. In 1862 the partnership was dissolved and McGlashan visited England. For some time he dealt largely in runs and stock, and owned the Mount Stokes station. He had an unfortunate steamer venture to the West Coast when the diggings opened up a market there. He was also sawmilling for a while in the Catlins district, and in connection with this ran the steamer Taiaroa on the coast. In 1876 he directed his attention to paper manufacturing, and established on the banks of the Leith the business which was afterwards carried on by Fergusson and Mitchell. He received the Government bonus for the first paper produced in Otago. Incidentally, he tried to interest British manufacturers in the possibility of using New Zealand tussock for paper-making, but the cost and difficulty of gathering left no margin of profit. In later life McGlashan was a director of several public companies. While living in south Canterbury he was chairman of the Timaru Milling Co., and he had a considerable holding in the New Zealand Shipping Co.

McGlashan entered political life in 1853, when he was elected by Western district to the first Provincial Council, which ended in 1855. He differed from Cargill on matters of policy, and in 1854 advocated selling land at ten shillings an acre in order to induce immigration to the province. He was not able for many years to re-enter the Council, though he stood in 1861 and 1863. In 1871 he got back for North Harbour, for which he sat until the abolition. He aspired to higher honours when he contested the Superintendency against Dick (1865). Meanwhile McGlashan was elected M.H.R. for Dunedin City in 1860, but he resigned two years later. In 1871 he was returned for Roslyn, which he represented until 1875. After that date he dropped out of public life owing to indifferent health, and in 1881 he paid a long visit to Great Britain.

On his return he settled on a farm near Timaru for three years, and then returned to live at St Clair. He died on 31 Jul 1889. His second wife was a daughter of George Bell (Dunedin). During a journey in south Otago McGlashan discovered on the banks of the Catlins river human remains which were believed to be those of the German doctor, G. F. R. Schmidt.

Otago P.C. Proc.; App. H.R., 1871, H7, p. 27; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Hocken; McIndoe; Otago Daily Times, 1 Aug 1889; 28 Mar 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 10

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