MACASSEY, JAMES LIVINGSTONE (1842-80) was born at Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Ireland, the son of an Independent minister. As a boy he came to South Australia, and was articled to Gwynne (afterwards a judge) and Lawrence, where he showed great aptitude for the law. He moved to Melbourne and went into the office of Mr Stephen, afterwards also a judge. The gold discoveries attracted him to Otago, and he entered the office of Richmond and Gillies in Dunedin. He was admitted to the bar in 1865, and entered into partnership with G. K. Turton, and later also with John Hyde Harris. Macassey soon became a leader of the bar, and was engaged in most of the important cases in the province. He had few rivals as a pleader, and conducted nisi prius cases and banco work with great zeal and ability. He practised later in partnership with Allan Holmes and with F. R. Chapman (q.v.) and eventually with his brother-in-law, C. C. Kettle.

Macassey twice contested parliamentary seats (against Mervyn and Pyke), and in 1872 was elected to the Otago Provincial Council for Wakari, which he represented, however, for only a few months. In 1875 he published reports of cases heard before the Supreme Court in Otago and Southland and on appeal (1861-72). He married Elizabeth, daughter of C. H. Kettle (q.v.). His death occurred on 9 May 1880.

Macassey's son, Percy SEABORN KETTLE Macassey (1875-1936), was crown prosecutor in Wellington.

Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); Saturday Advertiser, 15 May 1880; N.Z. Law Jour., 1930, 410; Otago Daily Times, 10 May 1880; The Dominion, 19 Jun 1936.

Reference: Volume 2, page 5

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