ASHCROFT, JAMES (1834-1911) was born and educated in London, and for fourteen years worked in the mercantile firm of Redfern, Alexander and Co. He came to New Zealand in the Kensington (1862) and after a year with Peacock and Co., Christchurch, he was eleven years in business as a grain and produce merchant in Oamaru. He represented the town in the Otago Provincial Council (1869-70). For five years he was with Cargill and Co. and the National Mortgage Co., in Dunedin, and he then joined the Otago Daily Times, which he edited (1878-83). Appointed official assignee, he was stationed in Dunedin for nine years, and in Wellington until he retired (1908). Over 3,000 bankruptcies came under his supervision. A member of the Church of England, Ashcroft was closely associated with the Sunday school movement, and was a member of the diocesan synod of Otago. His publications include a collection of Fugitive Poems on local topics, and two short pamphlets on Ritualism and Auriferous Resources of Otago and Southland. He died on 23 May 1911.

Cycl. NZ, 1; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Paul; Ashcroft, op. cit.; Otago Daily Times, 23 May 1911.

Reference: Volume 1, page 26

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