The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. Peter Friel
Mr. P. Friel.
The Hon. James Fulton, sometime of Ravenscliffe estate, and one of Otago's earliest settlers, was born at Futtehghur, India, in 1830, He was the third son of Major Robert Bell Fulton, of the Honourable East India Company's Royal Bengal Artillery, and was educated at Blackheath, England. Mr. Fulton came to New Zealand by the “Ajax” in 1849, and shortly afterwards settled at the Taieri, where he and his brother took up a large area of country as a sheep run. At that time there were no roads, but only a small fern track, along which all goods had to be carried on foot. After a time goods were carried on horseback, and then by means of a wooden sledge, drawn by bullocks, Later, the wooden sledge was superseded by an iron one, on which Mr, and Mrs Fulton made many a journey to Dunedin. During the mining rush to the Dunstan and the adjacent districts, in 1861, the Messrs Fulton suffered severe losses by the miners pulling up and burning the fences, and killing their sheep. In fact, the losses in that connection were so serious that it was decided to sell off all stock. Another episode of pioneer settlement experienced by Mr. Fulton was connected with bushranging. A creek close to the homestead came to be known as Garratt's creek, from the fact that the notorious bushranger Garratt stuck up some men beside it. When informed of the occurrence by the victims of Garratt's lawlessness, Mr. Fulton set off for Dunedin to give information, but Garratt succeeded in escaping to Australia. He was, however, subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in Dunedin gaol, Mr. Fulton was for many years Resident Magistrate in the Taieri and for some time in Dunedin and Port Chalmers. From 1879 to 1890 he represented Taiari in the House of Representatives, and was afterwards called to the Upper House. Mr. Fulton died at “Ravensoliffe,” West Taieri, on the 20th of November, 1891. Another article concerning Mr. Fulton appears on page 79 of this volume.