AN EXPLORER HONOURED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1519, 15 August 1912, Page 4

AN EXPLORER HONOURED.

CAIRN FOR QUINTO.X M'KIXXOX. At yesterday's luncheon given by tho New Zealand Club in honour of the new High Commissioner. l (the Hon. Thonm Mackenzie), that 'gentleman a made reference to a slab of stone which hud bceu inscribed in Wellington in honour ■W Quinton M'Kinuon, tire New Zealand explorer, who lind discovered M'Kinuou'6 Pass. On that slab, ?aid Mr. Mackenzie (who was speaking about tho advantage of possessing Highland names) were four great Highland names-yM'Kinnon, W. D. S. Macdonald (late Minister for Public Works), DugaM 31/Pherson (chief of tho Dunodin Gaelic Society), and his own.

"You Sassenaehs don't appreciate the value of a Highland name, said Mr. Mackenzie. "Once when I contested tho Waihemo scat iu succession to the late Hon. John M'Kenzie, ono of my adherents approached a rather irascible elector, whose vote ho thought might be secured. "Are you going to vote for Tom Mackenzie? he was asked.

'"No, I'm not!' he replied uncompromisingly. " 'Oh, why not—he's a decent sort of fellow!' argued my supporter truthfully. But the eld man was not to be shifted.

"After tie election the old man was asked for whom ho had voted, and he replied: Tlisy handed me a paper with two names on it. One was Gaffey—do yo'u" think I would strike out a grand old Highland name for a name like Gaffey I'"

Subsequently Mr. Mackenzie informed a Dominion representative that a cairn was to bo erected at the top of the M'kinnon Pass in' honour of its discoverer. The cost had been subscribed to by the public, tho Gaelic Society of New Zealand, the Otago Rugby Union, and tho Government. Mr. Mackenzie liad also delivered, lectures in aid of the memorial fiuul. The slab of Portland stone, which is to bo cemented into the Cairn, has been inscribed by Jlr. Wm. J. Helyor, of Manners Street. The lettering is as follow:—"Erected by tho' Gaelic Society of New Zealand, the Otago Rugby Union, nssisted by the Government, in honour of Quinton Jlackuinon, explorer, who discovered this paps in 1888, and w.ho iu 1892 was drowned in Lake To Anau. Hon. T. Mackenzie, F.R.G.S.. Prinit- Ministor, Hon. W. D. S. Macd«nald. Minister for Public Works; Dugald M'Pherson, chief of the Gaelic- Society." The stone measures 2ft. Gin. byi 2ft 10in., and is to bs erected as early as possible in the'coming season—probably some time in October.