McINDOE, JAMES (1824-1905) was born at Rothesay, Scotland, and educated in the parish school. He entered an office for business training, but was fond of farming and horticulture and became a member of the Bute farmers' association. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Gillies (q.v.). His father being a member of the Otago Association, he saw the first two ships leave the Clyde for New Zealand, and when his father died he decided to emigrate.

McIndoe sailed to Otago in the Alpine (1859) and commenced business as a merchant and auctioneer, but soon left for the goldfields. Returning to Dunedin, he was in business as a seed merchant till 1866. In 1867 he was elected to the Otago Provincial Council for Green Island and Caversham, which he represented till 1870. He was M.H.R. for Caversham for a few months in 1870. McIndoe took a great interest in the early history of Otago, and contributed many sketches and articles to the press (notably the Otago Witness) under the initials "J.M.I." A Sketch of Otago (published in 1878) is a useful manual and chronology. He was fond of walking and botany. McIndoe was a leading member of the Knights of Labour. In his later years he acted as a government valuer. He died on 4 Sep 1905.

Otago P.C. Proc.; McIndoe, op. cit.; A. Brown; Cycl. NZ., iv (p); Otago Daily Times, 5 Sep 1905.

Reference: Volume 2, page 12

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