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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

The Hon. Sir James Prendergast

The Hon. Sir James Prendergast , B.A., for many years Chief Justice of New Zealand, was born in 1828, and educated at St. Paul's School, and at Queen's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B. A. in 1849. He entered the legal profession, studied at the Middle Temple, London, and was admitted to the bar in 1856. Sir James practised as a special pleader in England, and in 1862 he came out to Otago by the ship “Chili.” He was admitted to the New Zealand bar, and in the following year was appointed Crown Prosecutor at Dunedin, and Provincial Solicitor for the province of Otago. In 1865 Sir James was called to the Legislative Council, and was appointed Non-Political Soclicitor-General and subsequently Non-Political Attorney-General. This latter position he filled until 1875, when he was appointed Chief Justice of New Zealand. On several occasions during the absence of successive Governors from the colony, Sir James creditably filled the position of Deputy-Governor. He resigned the Chief Justiceship on the 25th of May, 1899, and was succeeded within a month by Sir Robert Stcut.