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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Mr. James Ames

Mr. James Ames, the Valuator and Returning Officer for the Corporation of the City of Wellington, was born in Sydney, New South Wales. He was brought to the Colony by his parents in 1840, and received his education at private schools in Wellington. Although brought up to a country life, Mr. Ames had an experience on New Zealand goldfields, both prior and subsequent to which he was farming in Wellington and Otago districts. On the formation of the Wellington Town Board, about November, 1867, Mr. Ames joined the staff in the capacity of assistant clerk and rate collector. When the City Council was elected in 1870 he became city valuer under the provisions of “The Rating Act, 1867.” Mr. Ames has held the office under the Wellington Corporation for about a quarter of a century, and is the only valuer that has been appointed in the city. In his earlier years he took an active part in rowing competitions, and bears marks of the straining by the contraction of the tendons of his hands. Mr. Ames is a competent and popular officer, and performs his important duties as returning officer and valuer in an impartial manner.