COLLINS, JAMES FRANCIS (1833-1909) was born in Cavan, Ireland, the son of the Rev Dr Collins, dean of Killala. Educated for the army at the Royal school in Cavan, he entered the Provincial Bank of Ireland at Monaghan, and in 1853 left for Victoria. In the following year he entered the post office at Bendigo, and after mining for some years at Castlemaine, returned to Ireland and married. In 1859 he arrived in Canterbury and in 1860 he moved to New River, Southland, where he farmed till 1888. Collins represented Waianiwa in the Southland Provincial Council (1864-65) and was on various local bodies, including the road board. He was a promoter of the Southland Frozen Meat Co. and of the acclimatisation society. He died on 29 Jul 1909.

Southland P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Southland Times, 30 Jul 1909.

Reference: Volume 1, page 101

🌳 Further sources