O'NEILL, JAMES (1819-82) was born at Manor Hamilton, County Leitrim, and came to New Zealand as a youth with his brother A. O'Neill (q.v.). He was in business in Auckland for some years, and took a leading part in public affairs. In 1853 he was elected to represent Auckland City in the Provincial Council and sat until 1857, being for the last year a member of the executive. He sat again for Auckland West (1861-68). O'Neill also represented the City in the House of Representatives (1853-55) and some years later was member for the Northern Division (1861-69). He was then called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member until 1872, when he retired to live in England, where he died on 24 May 1882. He was interested in the Mechanics' Institute, was a justice of the peace and a visiting justice.

Old. N.Z., ii (p); Auckland P.C. Proc.; N.Z. Herald, 26 May 1882.

Reference: Volume 2, page 70

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