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James Gapes (1822-1899) was an example of how a working man could, through emigration, prosper in a new land. He arrived in Canterbury as an assisted immigrant on the Regina in 1859, established a painting and paperhanging business, was on the Christchurch City Council and twice, in 1877 and 1881, served as Mayor of Christchurch. The 13 September 1878 Star commented about how he had topped the poll in a council election:
… Mr. Gapes cannot be regarded as new blood. For five years he served the citizens with great assiduity and attention. If not brilliant, he was painstaking, liberal and prudent. If cautious, it cannot be charged against him that he was in any way behind his associates in advanced ideas. That he fully enjoys the confidence of the ratepayers is made evident by the large number of votes which separates him from the next highest on the poll.
When he topped the poll in 1878, James climbed onto a hotel railing to acknowledge the crowd. Some blackguard knocked him off his perch by throwing a bag of flour at him. James climbed back onto the railing. This time the miscreant did nothing.  Perhaps he admired the pluck of Councillor-elect Gapes; perhaps he had run out of flour.
James had an excellent stage presence, was active in musical circles, sang, and, with Sir John Cracroft Wilson, played the flute. The 1 August 1865 Lyttelton times records James’ participation in an amateur performance for the benefit of the Benevolent Fund of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. The house
… was crowded in every part, and the whole affair went off most successfully. In fact, this could hardly fail to be the case for the audience were, one and all, in thorough good humour and determined to enjoy themselves …..
James sang a ‘comic Irish’ song ‘with an irresistibly funny chorus; this was deservedly encored’.
Grandchildren or great-nieces and nephews saw him in the street (some were hoping that he would throw them them a few coins so that they could go off and buy sweets). They called out: ‘How are you Grandpa?” and he replied: “Still keeping a footpath down”.
James’ son, Thomas (1848-1913) took over the family business.