The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Vogel, Julius

VOGEL, Sir Julius, Australasian statesman: b. London, 24 Feb. 1835; d. near there, 12 March 1899. He was educated at the London University College School and at the Royal School of Mines, and in 1851, attracted by the discoveries of gold in Australia, went to Melbourne. He engaged in journalism, and in 1861 established in Otago, New Zealand, the Daily Times, the first and still the leading morning newspaper in that colony. In 1863 he entered the New Zealand House of Representatives and in 1869 he was appointed colonial treasurer, and subsequently was postmaster-general, commissioner of customs and prime minister. He resigned the latter office in 1876 and was agent-general for New Zealand in London in 1876-81. In 1884 he re-entered New Zealand politics, was elected to Parliament and again appointed treasurer but in 1888 resigned and returned to England. He was afterward engaged under the New Zealand government in London until his death. He greatly furthered immigration to New Zealand, was instrumental in building railways, was active in bringing about the Australian federation, and secured the passage of a law for inscribing colonial stocks. He was knighted in I875. His writings include ‘Great Britain and Her Colonies’ (1865); ‘Official Handbook of New Zealand’ (1875); ‘A. D. 2000,’ a novel, etc.