FOUGHT AGAINST MAORIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 786, 5 October 1929, Page 13

FOUGHT AGAINST MAORIS

DEATH OF OLD SETTLER mr. james McDonald From Our Own Correspondent PUKEKOHE. Friday. An early pioneer, James McDonald, of Takapuna, lias died at the age of SO years. Born at Taxnaki in the year 1549, the late Mr. McDonald. was the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McDonald, early colonists of New Zealand, settled at Pukekohe East with his parents in IS6O. When a boy of 14 years of age he took an active part in the defence of the little Presbyterian Church at Pukekohe East and supplied the small band of defenders with ammunition to keep the hostile Maoris at bay. With his father, young McDonald had been over the family holding in the morning, and in the afternoon was about ot set out for Drury with a horse and dray to bring supplies and ammunition for the settlers in anticipation of an attack. Young McDonald was carrying the cart saddle when the first shot was fired by the natives, one of the McDonald family’s horses being killed. The family had to leave the district on account of the hostilities. When the trouble was over, the late Mr. McDonald returned, and was engaged in farming there until 30 years ago. He then removed to near Hamilton and later went to Ngarua, Matamata. In 1914, Mr. McDonald retired to reside at Milford. He was present at the Pukekohe East church jubilee celebrations held last year. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Miss Grace McDonald. The two remaining members of the family are Mrs. Matthew Routly (Pukekohe) and Mr. Alexander McDonald (Epsom).