FITZGERALD, JAMES EDWARD (1818-1896) was born at Bath and brought up in England. He was nevertheless an Irishman, the youngest son of Gerald FitzGerald, of Kilminchy, Queen's county, and his second wife Catherine, daughter of Sir L. O'Brien, baronet of Drumoland, county Clare. Educated in his native town, he passed on to Cambridge (entering at Christ's College in 1839), and graduated B.A. in 1842. His intention had been to go into the army, preferably the Royal Engineers, but his eyesight failed, and during the next year or two he took long walking tours in Great Britain and Ireland, and so became acquainted with the 'common people' from whom his life hitherto had been quite apart.

In 1844 FitzGerald obtained a post in the antiquities department of the British Museum. There his ability was quickly recognised, and he was promoted to the post of Under-secretary, which he held until its abolition in 1850. During these years he began to be interested in the question of colonisation. In 1847 he issued a circular in favour of founding a colony on Vancouver Island, which the Colonial Office was proposing to transfer to the Hudson Bay Company. In 1849 he published a book examining the charters of the Company and demonstrating that it had no right to be given control of the island. In the event, it did not acquire Vancouver, but it was not possible to carry out FitzGerald's proposal. He then had an idea that some parts of India could be colonised by white people, but his brother Robert (who was a captain in the 5th Punjab Cavalry) dissuaded him from this scheme and he turned his attention to New Zealand. He appears to have been associated with Wakefield's project early in 1849 and to have become impatient long before the psychological moment arrived. In Dec Wakefield wrote warning him not to go to New Zealand, as a man of his qualities would be lost there. Evidently FitzGerald was unhappy in his post at the Museum, for Wakefield advised him "however disagreeable your position may be, it is one of independence for the present, and it gives you time to wait and watch." The Colonial Reform Society was formed and FitzGerald became its secretary. He had ambitions to be the leader of the first party to New Zealand, but Wakefield wrote to Hutt, a director of the Company (in Feb 1850) pointing out his disabilities for the post. "He has uncommon abilities; is a very good fellow, and I like him very much. He has not position enough in this country. He is a younger brother without property and looking for a provision." The following month he wrote: "FitzGerald will make a very good emigration agent, and it is a great satisfaction to have so good and clever a fellow thoroughly enlisted as a Canterbury colonist." He was a member of the Canterbury Association, and evidently drafted most of their important letters. Wakefield got him put on the committee of management. In the discussions as to the name of the capital FitzGerald was all for "Christchurch" as against the alternative of "Lyttelton," then much in favour on account of the generous manner in which Lord Lyttelton had supported the Association. FitzGerald was given charge of the emigration agency, but a month or two later we find Wakefield complaining, from his partial seclusion at Reigate, that it was being neglected and that FitzGerald and Brittan were more concerned with the possible control of the colony after Godley's return to England. Wakefield sooner or later reached this point with many of his friends. He differed violently and could see all their defects at once. FitzGerald, he wrote, "is all imagination and no action-an immense promiser, quite sincerely; ready to undertake everything, but for performance, except in writing or talking, singularly feeble and heedless."

FitzGerald had just married Fanny Erskine (who died in 1900), daughter of George Draper, a London merchant, and had made up his mind to emigrate with the colonists. On 7 Sep 1850 he sailed in the Charlotte Jane as leader of the party. The expedition arrived at Lyttelton on 16 Dec and FitzGerald lost no time in getting himself installed ashore. Shrimpton's printing press was soon ready for work, and on 11 Jan 1851, FitzGerald (as editor) brought out the first issue of the Lyttelton Times, of which he remained in control for two years. At the same time he held the dual official position of immigration agent and inspector of police. He joined Godley in the demand for self-government, which was mildly convulsing the whole colony.

Towards the end of 1852 Godley felt that his work in New Zealand was done, and instead of remaining to be Superintendent of Canterbury he returned home. As a matter of course FitzGerald was nominated for the superintendency (Jul 1853), and he accepted in one of those lofty speeches which characterised the great occasions of his whole career. He had two opponents, Colonel James Campbell and H. J. Tancred, the latter under suspicion of having been brought out to split the Campbell vote. FitzGerald polled 135 votes, Campbell 94 and Tancred 89. On 28 Sep, in a small building in Chester Street West, overlooking Cranmer square, FitzGerald met his first Council. His speech on that occasion reads like a piece of studied and polished prose. In the finest language and with faultless lucidity and logic, the principles that ought to guide Canterbury in founding her government are set forth. He was Superintendent for the whole term of the first Council, that is, until 1857, and the scanty history of that period shows how high were the motives that actuated him. His loyalty to religion and education were marked; yet he set his face sternly against the application of state funds in such a manner as to relieve the individual of responsibility for his own convictions and his children's instruction. He advocated the complete severance of the Canterbury Province from the Canterbury Association, on the ground that local self-government was essential to the success of the colony; but he persuaded the Provincial Council to assume responsibility for the whole expenditure of the association in establishing the settlement.

In Parliament, too, FitzGerald took a prominent part. Elected for Lyttelton on the day after his return as Superintendent, he was one of the leading constitutionalists in the first Assembly, and took a strong stand against sectarianism, and in favour of responsible government. When the latter principle had been affirmed by the House with scarcely a dissentient, FitzGerald became head of the first executive, with Sewell and Weld as colleagues; but they resigned office when they found the Governor would not dispense with three colleagues, officials who had been appointed before the constitution, and were considered irremovable. His honorarium as a member of Parliament, £116, FitzGerald presented to the Lyttelton Colonists' Society to help to form a library. Indifferent health prompted him to retire from the superintendency and from Parliament in 1857, and he was appointed to act as emigration agent for the province in London. He sailed in a small schooner, the Speedy, by way of Australia, taking his wife and four children.

During his two years in England he received two offers of governorships-Queensland and British Columbia-but his health forbade his accepting. On returning to the Colony in 1860, he started farming on a property at Springs Station, which had been granted to him by the Provincial Council in recognition of his services. He was also in partnership with his brother-in-law (Draper) and Hunter-Brown.

In May 1861 appeared the first issue of The Press, of which FitzGerald was editor, and in Jun 1862, he became sole proprietor. Meanwhile he had entered again into both provincial and general politics. He sat in the Provincial Council (1861-62). In the middle of the latter year he was returned as M.H.R. for Ellesmere. In the ensuing session of Parliament he made several notable speeches on behalf of the Maori, by whose desperate condition he was deeply affected. In that of 8 Aug, which was particularly eloquent, he said: "I appeal to you tonight, not only on behalf of that ancient race whose destinies are hanging in the balance, but on behalf of your own sons and daughters-for I venture to predict that in virtue of that mysterious law of our being by which great deeds once done become incorporated with the life and soul of a people, enriching the source from whence it flows through the ages, the inspiration to noble thoughts and the incitement to generous actions-I venture to predict that amongst the traditions of that great nation which will one day rule these islands and the foundations of which we are now laying, the most cherished and the most honoured will be that wise, bold and generous policy which gave the Magna Charta of their liberties to the Maori people." The Government being defeated, FitzGerald was asked to form a ministry, but he proposed Domett. He tried to induce the Government to recognise the complete amalgamation of the two races by granting to the Maori full representation in Parliament. Most of his resolutions were adopted, but the Government balked at Maori representation, and FitzGerald withdrew his motion.

In the course of that Parliament he was for a few months Minister of Native Affairs (in the Weld ministry), but it was soon defeated and that practically ended his political life. He had represented Ellesmere (1862-66) and City of Christchurch (1866-67). Speaking at a farewell dinner in Christchurch, in Apr 1867, FitzGerald said: "No public man in the Colony could look back on a career which yielded greater satisfaction. From the time at which the Colony received representative institutions up to 1865 no ministry has been found in which he had not either held, or in which he had not been urged to hold, a prominent position." In Jan 1867, FitzGerald was appointed Controller-general, a title which a few years later was altered to Comptroller and Auditor-general, and he retained that post until his death in 1896.

Apart from his official life, FitzGerald always showed a keen interest in intellectual pursuits, and he was a leader of thought in whatever circle he moved. Some idea of his wide literary interests and advanced views may be gained from pamphlets, articles and books which he published, both before and after coming to New Zealand. His life of Godley, which appeared in The Press on 29 Jun 1862, is a noble tribute. He had sound ideas on the theory and practice of government, on literature, and on that field of thought which was generally designated as socialism. It was largely due to him that Wakefield's 'sufficient price' was applied in Canterbury. Gisborne says of him: "His mind was imbued with large principles and was richly stored with information of various kinds. A thorough Irish gentleman, he was, like his countrymen, quick, impulsive, witty and winning in manner and conversation." In Wellington, where he spent the last 30 years of his life, FitzGerald was president of the Citizens' Institute and a member of the Union Debating society. He died on 2 Aug 1896, and his widow in 1900.

NZ.C. (Canterbury Association papers); Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Stout in Who's Who NZ., 1908; FitzGerald, op. cit.; N.Z.P.D. (notably 25 Jul 1862 and 18 Aug 1865); Cant. O.N.; Cycl. NZ., i, i (p); Cox; Gisborne; Rusden; Godley, Letters; E. Wakefield, Stafford; Saunders; Lyttelton Times, 1851, pass. and 26 Nov 1923; The Press, 25 May 1911, 1 Feb 1930 (P).

Reference: Volume 1, page 146

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