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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. James F. Collins
Mr. James F. Collins , An early pioneer Victorian settler of the fifties, and the eldest son of the Very Rev. James Collins, D.D., Dean of Killala, County Mayo, Ireland, was born in 1833, in Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland, and was educated for the Army at the Royal School, Cavan. Mr Collins, however, joined the service of the Provincial Bank of Ireland at Monaghan, in 1852, but left Ireland for Melbourne in 1853, and joined the post office at Bendigo in 1854. Subsequently, he engaged in mining at “Jim Crow,” Castlemaine, until 1858, when he re-visited his native land. He was married, in 1859, and sailed for New Zealand, arriving in Canterbury in December of the same year. In 1860, he settled in Southland, and was engaged in farming operations in the New River district untill March, 1888. Mr Collins took an active interest in the political, social and pastoral affairs of the district, and was elected a member of the first Provincial Council, and also was a member of the road board. He was one of the promoters of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, an industry which has conferred such vast benefits on Southland, and he was also a subscribing member of the Southland Acclimatisation Society. His son, Mr E. E. Collins, is noticed in connection with the dredging industry, under Waikaia.