[1][3] A journalist,[4] Hutchison worked for The Southern Cross in Auckland for some months, then bought the Wanganui Chronicle and started the Tribune in Wellington.

[6] He stood in the 1875 election in the Hutt electorate and was decisively beaten by the incumbent, William Fitzherbert.

Alexander Sligo, Hugh Gourley and Hutchison received 5045, 4065 and 2030 votes, respectively.

[13] Another son, Sir James Hutchison, was editor of the Otago Daily Times.

[2] He had been ill for some time before he died on 3 December 1905 at his home in Queen Street, Dunedin.