Mr. James Temple Fisher, who represented Heathcote in the House of Representatives, from 1876 to 1881, is a colonist of old standing, having arrived in Lyttelton in 1850 by one of the first four ships. Mr. Fisher was born in Kent, England, in 1828, and, after receiving his education in a private school in that country, he entered the Royal Navy, which he left three years later to come to New Zealand. Shortly after reaching Christchurch he took up a considerable area of fertile land in the district now known as Heathcote, and commenced farming, which he followed with success, and still (1902) retains part of his original estate. During his long career in this colony Mr. Fisher has taken a great interest in public affairs, and besides having been a representative in Parliament for some years, he was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council, and of several local bodies. He was Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs in Sir George Grey's Ministry, from October, 1877, till October, 1879.