KERR, JAMES (1834-1901) was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and served his time on the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Herald, afterwards working for two years on the Dumfriesshire Courier. He emigrated to Melbourne in 1858, visited the Owens diggings, and was employed for three years on the Melbourne Age (George Fisher, q.v. being a fellow employee). In 1861 he came to Otago, and he was employed by the Otago Daily Times for four years. Then, with Arnot and Keogh, he founded the Grey River Argus (1865), which eventually became a limited liability company. Kerr was a member of the borough council, and a member and chairman of the harbour board and the education board. He was a director of the Gas Co. and a trustee of the racecourse. As a freemason he was deputy district grandmaster.

Called to the Legislative Council in 1892 by the Ballance government, he was an active member until his death (on 25 Aug 1901).

Cycl. N.Z., v (p); N.Z.P.D., 26 Aug 1901; N.Z. Times, 17 Oct 1892; Grey River Argus, 26 Aug 1901. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 248

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