PATERSON, JAMES (1807-86) was born at Edinburgh. He served his time with a saddler in his native city, and in 1838 went to British Guiana, where he remained for some years in business in Georgetown. In 1851 Paterson returned to Scotland. About this time George Ross, an early settler of Otago, was in Scotland overseeing the construction of a brigantine for use in the New Zealand coastal trade. Paterson came into touch with him, had his interest in New Zealand aroused, and decided to emigrate to Otago. Ross's brigantine, the Clutha, 250 tons, was ready towards the end of 1853. Amongst her passengers were James Kilgour, John Sibbald, Calder, Alexander and Paterson. The Clutha loaded at Leith a variety of merchandise on account of Ross and his passengers. She put into Yarmouth for a new bowsprit, and arrived in Otago on 12 Feb 1854.

Paterson started business in Rattray Street, Dunedin, as a general merchant, being shortly joined by his brother-in-law, George Hepburn (q.v.). Later the firm established itself in Princes Street; purchased the local business of Macandrew and Co. and afterwards removed to Manse Street, where it carried on as saddlers, general merchants, and commission agents. In Oct 1861 Paterson was elected for one of the Dunedin seats in the Provincial Council. A few months later he took office in the provincial executive. In Jun 1862 he contested the parliamentary seat for Dunedin and Suburbs against J. L. C. Richardson, but was defeated by eight votes. When Richardson resigned shortly afterwards Paterson was returned unopposed. He now took up land at Crichton, Tokomairiro, and devoted more of his time to public affairs. He was in the Provincial Council (1861-67) and was a member of three executives, part of the time as provincial secretary under the superintendency of Harris. While holding this office he carried through the Council an ordinance dissolving the Dunedin town board and appointing commissioners to manage the affairs of the city and to bring order into its finances. In Jun 1863, after a redistribution of seats, he was returned for Dunedin, Vogel being one of the defeated candidates. In the same month he defeated Vogel in a straight-out fight for the Dunedin and Suburbs seat in Parliament. In 1865 he stood for the mayoralty of the city, but was defeated by Mason.

In Oct 1865 Paterson joined the Stafford Government as a member of the executive. He was re-elected for the City in 1866 with Reynolds as colleague (Paterson 610 votes, Reynolds 609); and a few months later took office as Postmaster-general. Feeling ran high in Otago over the refusal of the General Government to delegate to Macandrew, the new Superintendent, the powers usually given to superintendents to administer goldfields, and also over proposals which threatened to take away some of the revenues of the city. Richardson, now a member of the Stafford Government, stood firmly against Macandrew. Public opinion in Otago was strongly on the side of the Superintendent, and Paterson and Reynolds both fell into bad odour. When the members returned to Dunedin there was a hostile demonstration in the Princess theatre, from which they had to escape with police assistance. When they came back from Wellington again (Nov 1868) they were invited to explain their conduct. Reynolds attended, but Paterson declined, and so terminated his political life as an elective member. Reynolds was again returned, but Paterson resigned his seat (Jun 1869) and accepted a call to the Legislative Council. Ill-health prevented him from taking much further active part even in this sphere, and in 1884 he forfeited his seat for non-attendance. He died on 29 Jul 1886. Paterson was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church.

Otago P.C. Proc.; N.Z.P.D.; McIndoe; Otago Daily Times, 30 Jul 1886, 6 Jun 1930 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 79

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