CRAWFORD, JAMES COUTTS (1817-89) came of a naval family and was the son of a captain in the Royal Navy, and the grandson of an admiral. He was sent to the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth (where he won the gold medal), and was posted to the Prince Regent, 120 guns (Rear-Admiral Sir William Parker). He saw service on both coasts of South America; in Spanish waters during the Carlist war, and in the Sapphire at Corfu (1836). Here he received the Royal Humane Society's medal for life saving. In 1837 he was promoted sub-lieutenant, but seeing no likelihood of further promotion resigned and came to Sydney in the Commandel (1838).

Crawford bought a herd of cattle and drove them overland from Braidwood to Adelaide. Late in 1839 he came to New Zealand in the schooner Success, landing at Titahi Bay and walking across to Port Nicholson. Chartering the cutter Harriett from the whaler Toms, he did some exploring in the northern bays of the South Island. While camped on the beach at Pito-one he bought from Henry Moreing five of the New Zealand Company's land orders, entitling him to five town acres and 500 country. He acquired a tract of land on Watts Peninsula, where he established the Glendavar cattle farm (north of Burnham lake). Some years later, in order to drain the lake, he had a tunnel 100 yards long cut through the hill to Evans Bay. This is said to have been the first tunnel made in New Zealand, and is still being used for sewerage and for oil pipelines. The name Miramar was given to the estate by Crawford's brother-in-law, Major McBarnett. After acquiring his land Crawford returned to Sydney by way of Bay of Islands, and brought back cattle. In that year (1840) he made an overland journey to Auckland, and then left for England by way of the Philippines and India.

In 1846 he returned to New Zealand and was present in H.M.S. Driver with Sir George Grey at the apprehension of Te Rauparaha. Next year he made a journey on foot with Clifford and Stafford to reconnoitre the Wairarapa, and was much struck by the remarkable sense of locality that Stafford possessed; the future premier readily recognised from the reverse side trees and natural features that they had passed on their outward journey. Later Crawford visited in H.M.S. Inflexible the settlements at Nelson and Taranaki. As a geologist he rendered great service both to the General Government and the province of Wellington. In 1861 he rode overland to the upper Wanganui to inspect the coal measures of the Tangarakau river. Next year he accompanied the Superintendent (Featherston) to Waitotara. He explored the Tararua range, portion of north Auckland, and finally (1864) the Waikato basin. In 1841 he started a flax dressing company in Wellington. He was a member of the Geological Society of Edinburgh and of the Imperial and Royal Geographical Society of Austria. He was president of the Wellington Philosophical Society and a governor of the New Zealand Institute, in whose transactions appear many papers recording his observations. In 1880 he published in London Recollections of Travel in New Zealand and Australia, and in 1883 The Reform of English Spelling.

Crawford was a member of the Legislative Council (1859-67), resigning on accepting the post of resident magistrate and sheriff at Wellington, which he held until 1882. He was a captain in the New Zealand militia and also in the Lanarkshire militia in Scotland. He married (1843) Sophia (d. 1852), daughter of Sir James W. D. Dundas, G.C.B. In 1857 he married Jessie (d. 1880), daughter of Alexander McBarnett, of Torridon and Attadale, Ross-shire, Scotland. Crawford died in England on 8 Apr 1889.

G.B.C., 1844/556; Col. Gent.; N.Z.P.D., 1859-67; Ward; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); E. J. Wakefield; Crawford, op. cit.; Wellington Independent, 8 Nov 1861; Evening Post, 5 Oct 1929 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 108

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