MACANDREW, JAMES (1820-87) was born at Aberdeen, and educated there and at the Ayr Academy, before going into mercantile life. His training was completed in London.

In 1845 he became a member of the London branch of the Otago Lay Association, importing into their discussions with the Colonial Office great industry, tact and untiring hopefulness. In 1850 he purchased the iron schooner Titan, 161 tons, loaded her with merchandise on account of himself and his friends, and sailed with his family and a select party. They arrived in Otago on 17 Jan 1851. Macandrew soon became a leading member of the Constitutional Association, which was agitating for self government for the colony. He established his business at the corner of Manse and Stafford streets, and while the store was being erected visited in his schooner the northern settlements of New Zealand. His remarkable energy was matched by unconquerable confidence in the future of the Colony. With Reynolds on board, the Titan sailed with a cargo of Otago produce to sell in Australia and California, bringing back merchandise and live stock for the province. Macandrew assisted in the establishment of lime-kilns in the Kaikorai valley and of flourmills at Green Island. He despatched the first shipment of wool direct to London. In the yards of James Adam he had two ships built, the Star and the Bon Accord, and he infected the Provincial Council with his passion for communications. In 1858 he employed the Queen in the intercolonial and coastal trade. As the first steamer which visited Dunedin, she received a salute of 24 guns on dropping anchor in the harbour. The Pirate and the Pride of the Yarra followed under his auspices. He advocated a fast mail service with Great Britain, and originated the line by way of Panama. He took a leading part in promoting the breakwater at Oamaru and the Dunedin-Port Chalmers and Clutha railways, and he moved in the Council for the construction of the graving dock, which as Superintendent he opened. He made an arduous journey to Southland, and saw the first building erected on the site of Invercargill.

When the first Provincial Council was elected in 1853 Macandrew was returned for the Dunedin Country district, and when the Council met he was elected speaker, resigning a few days later to become a member of the executive. The day after his election to the Council he was returned unopposed as M.H.R. for Dunedin. It was he who moved that each sitting should open with prayer to Divine Providence. After a long debate the form of prayer was adopted. Macandrew was a member of the first executive (1854), before the introduction of responsible government. In the province his position continued to become substantial. He was a member of the first town board of Dunedin (1855). For three years (1856-59) he was speaker of the Provincial Council, and when Cargill retired at the end of 1859 he was elected Superintendent.

It seemed likely that with his undoubted ability, his patent sincerity, his optimism and magnetic influence over the affections of his fellows, Macandrew could in a few years have attained to the highest position in New Zealand. That was rendered impossible by a painful incident. A shortage was disclosed in the public funds in connection with emigration. Called to account, Macandrew indignantly repudiated any dishonesty, complained that the investigation was prompted by hostile parties in the province, and, meeting it with contumacy, was declared guilty by the Council, and on its petition removed from the superintendency. Richardson assumed the office in accordance with the constitution, and was duly elected (Jun. 1861), but Macandrew actually polled 189 votes against Richardson's 292 though he fought the campaign from within the walls of the prison.

By 1865 Macandrew was again in the General Assembly as the representative of Bruce, and two years later, when the superintendency fell vacant, he defeated Thomas Dick by 2,259 votes to 1,892. He was never again in danger of being displaced. At the last superintendency election (1878) he polled 3,702 votes, Gillies 2,759 and Graham 26. The faith and affection of the people of Otago never altered. He was their David, but, as a biographer has said, 'the excellent talents of economy and administration were denied to him. His mind was never disciplined, nor was his judgment sound. He was given a specious and original genius, which enabled him to initiate many important public movements and to see further into the future than men who made better ministers of public works. He set a pre-eminent example of patriotism and public spirit.' For the remainder of the provincial period (1867-76) Macandrew was the undisputed Superintendent of Otago. In colonial politics Grey, one of his closest personal friends, took him into his ministry (1877-78) as Secretary for Lands and Minister of Immigration and Public Works, and he was in the Stout-Vogel government of 1884. He represented Clutha (1866-70), Port Chalmers (1871-75), Dunedin City (1875-79) and Port Chalmers again (1879-87). While in Grey's ministry he obtained from Parliament the authorisation of three important railways, the North Island Main Trunk, the Midland, and the Otago Central. He favoured easier terms of land settlement, and obtained the insertion in the land bill of 1884 of a clause providing for grants of land to Highland crofters.

He considered they would make excellent settlers, and, with his customary optimism, pictured 40,000 families being brought out under this scheme. He was a firm believer in the union of English-speaking peoples as a factor in securing the peace of the world, and on his motion Parliament carried a resolution embodying this aspiration (1885).

As a Scot, Macandrew's interest in education amounted almost to a religion. He was active in setting apart large reserves from the provincial estate. In 1869 he gave valuable evidence before a parliamentary committee in favour of a university in Dunedin, and when Parliament refused to accede to his proposals he introduced them in the Provincial Council. The University was eventually founded in 1870 under a provincial ordinance. Macandrew was a member of the University council until his death. It was the last public body that he attended, and on his deathbed he remarked: 'It is my wish and hope that Otago University will get a royal charter to grant degrees. It is a matter I have had much at heart for many years.' As Superintendent, Macandrew took a keen interest in the founding of the Normal Training College in Dunedin, the Benevolent Institution, the Industrial School at Caversham, and the Otago Boys' High School. It could never be said of him that he placed his own interest first. A critical biographer wrote after his death: 'Neither as a member of the community nor as a politician can selfishness be written against the name of James Macandrew.' His weakness was his 'absolute lack of business capacity or attention to detail.' He imagined on a generous scale, but could not study the minutiae of his schemes. He never imagined with an eye to profit or praise for himself.

Macandrew died on 28 Feb 1887. His wife (Elizabeth Hunter Reynolds) died on 28 Feb 1875.

Otago P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D., pass.; Gisborne (p); Saunders; Hocken; Reeves; Cox; Brett's Almanac, 1879; Public Opinion, 21 Oct 1882; Otago Witness, 27 Apr 1861; Otago Daily Times, 24 Nov 1875, 14 Feb 1880 (p).

Portraits: Parliament House; painting (by Miss Sperrey) in Otago University.

Reference: Volume 2, page 4

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