OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 668, 19 November 1909, Page 8

OBITUARY.

/;/^/:; : MB. ; /iU!^in)Bfi , 'ilIAC!K^T;--'X'. ,, -:;'■■.<;.' i ■Mγ.' , AlexanderMackay,. who i:wa!s '.'.'■&■ Natire '.- lanivQonrt: Judge', for ■ some,', years',. died, at:' Feilding yesterday,'aged 77 years.' 'Hβ was born i in, Edinburgh on May. 11,: 1833, but when-five : years of age he left.Scotland with.his parents ,V arid resided at'.Southsea,;whore he received his. earlier, education. W,hen twelve; years of age .he':' left for New Zealand'with his, uncle,' the. late '."■ Mr. James Mackay, ,; arriving, in Nelson.-XFor; nineteen years', after'he:.arrived.ho , engaged in.'.' agricultural,' and pastoral pursuits, ■ which l time he studied' the ■ Maori language, in ~ which ho became proficient. 'In August,' 1864., he:,was appointed a resident magistrate, arid'at' . ' the'same , time lie; becanio,Commissioner of. c Nai' tive Reserves: , for:. , thei South'lsland. 'Sutfee--' quently hoowas appointed Civil for 'the South Island-Native District.' ■"!■' Mr. .''■ If ackay. was 'transferred to: Wellington in 1882; ft and , received'the> appointment of Commissioner,,, of Native Reserves for"the colony and Truet:Conimissioner under the Native Land. Frauds'. Prevention 'Act: 1881."' In' addition *to ; other , .'- : duties, Mr.'Mackay .was on several 'occ&sioris'aifc; V pointed a Eoyal Commissioner in tho inyestiga< / tion of Native: affairs. Hβ also • compiled « ' work for'the Government,in: 1870 on South Iβ-;.r land:Nativo. affairs. The.first.portion of this',:. wiirk-'is devoted to:the early history-of:N,er:'., Zealand from the date of its discovery down.t4.>: . the-promulgation of tho Constitution Act : in? •. 1853. -In' May, : 3884; Mr. ■ Mackay '.was • raised Ito . the bench of the Native Land. Court. ;:. Ho: wa*;.;' marriedjin 1863 to, Miss: H. S. Gibbs, .daughta '■■ ' of Mr. Wm.' Gibbs, of Totaranui,'• Nelson: (wh«. was M.H.R.'for> Collinen'ood for some years). : Deceased .leaves a family. 1 of four sons and two : .daughters.; -;'. ■'' :;..' .• ■ '..-■ r :",^-A\::^^i-.[,