GEDDIS, JAMES McROBERTS (1856-1935) who was born in Belfast, Ireland, came to New Zealand in 1864 and settled in Auckland, where his father, John Stewart Geddis, established himself as a manufacturer. Entering journalism in 1869, he served on the New Zealand Herald (1869-78), the Dunedin Age (1878-79) and the Auckland Star (1879-88), and in 1888 was appointed to the Hansard staff. He contributed to the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia and Maori Wars and published a series of articles Summer Isles of Eden. With his brother, W. J. Geddis (q.v.), he established the St James Chronicle, and with W. Blomfield, purchased and conducted the Auckland Observer and in 1900 founded the New Zealand Free Lance in Wellington. He was president of the New Zealand Unitarian Association (1920-23) and of the Wellington Unitarian Association (1930); was chairman of directors of several companies and in 1926 was created an Officer d'Academie Francaise. Retiring from the Hansard staff, he became editor of the Free Lance until 1921. He died on 21 Sep 1935. In 1882 he married Hannah Elizabeth, daughter of J. B. Jackson, of Auckland.

Cycl. N.Z., i; Who's Who N.Z., 1924, 1932; The Dominion, 23 Sep 1935.

Reference: Volume 1, page 162

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