SALE, GEORGE SAMUEL (1831-1922) was born at Rugby, England, his father being a master at Rugby School, where he was educated (under the headship of Arnold). In 1850 he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated (B.A., 1854; M.A., 1857). He took first-class honours in classics. Being elected a fellow of Trinity (1856), he was next year appointed a lecturer in classics.

In 1860, owing to ill-health, Sale came to New Zealand in the Minerva, and was for a short time manager for Ross and Harper at Lake Coleridge station, Canterbury. On the establishment of The Press (May 1861), he became its first editor, but after holding that position for six months went to the Otago goldfields, where he spent nine months goldmining. He then returned to Canterbury and received the appointment of provincial treasurer and receiver of land revenue (Jun 1864). On the discovery of gold in Westland it was considered wise to send a man to organise a well ordered society there and Sale, who was in charge of the provincial treasury at Christchurch, proceeded there at the request of the provincial government as agent and commissioner for the goldfields. In this capacity he had wide powers to inaugurate every department of the government, and he enjoyed among the miners the title of "King Sale." His appointments included those of warden and judge (1 Apr 1865), commissioner (3 Apr), provincial sub-treasurer and resident magistrate (7 Apr), resident commissioner (13 Aug 1867); under-secretary for the goldfields and commissioner for waste lands (22 Feb 1868). On the separation of Westland from Canterbury Sale resigned his post (4 May 1869) and proceeded to England, entering at Lincoln's Inn with the intention of being called to the bar. The new University of Otago, however, offered him in 1870 the chair of English and classics, which he took up willingly and held until 1908 (being relieved in 1877 of the teaching in English). As one of the three first professors Sale had a powerful influence upon the academic life of the University. A man of wide and deep culture, a stern demeanour and great force of character, he held lofty ideals and insisted on a high standard of efficiency. He drafted the first code of regulations. He took an interest in all branches of sport and warmly championed the demand of the School of Mines to be allowed to grant diplomas. As a member of the council, he did much to persuade the University of Otago to merge itself in the University of New Zealand, on the senate of which he sat from 1877 to 1908. He was a member of the royal commission on the University of 1879. He was also a member of the committee on unemployment in Dunedin (1870), which expressed the opinion that the depression arose in no small degree from the excessive rates of wages and the unwillingness of the men to accept a reduction. On his retirement Sale was appointed a professor emeritus and went to live in England, where he died on 26 Dec 1922. He married (1874) Margaret, daughter of James Boswell Fortune (Canada).

Thompson; Beaglehole; Otago Univ. Calendar; N.Z. Univ. Calendar; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Westland P.C. Proc.; Harrop, Westland (p); Hindmarsh; The Times, 27 Dec 1922; The Press, 16 Feb 1903 (on Rolleston), 25 May 1911, 29 Dec 1922.

Reference: Volume 2, page 139

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