OBITUARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10474, 10 November 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY

FATHER OF THE WEST COAST.

By Tdegraph — 2*rt~~ Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night

Mr Samuel Meggitt Mackley, father of the West Coast, is dead. The late Mr Mackley was a native of Leeds. He /arrived at Nelson in 1854, and went to the West Coast in 1857. There he met Mr James Mackay, junr., in 1860. The latter benight from eight to ten million acres of land from the natives for £l5O cash, a ton of flour, and half a ton of sugar, altogether valued at £3OO. Mr Mackley witnessed the signatures. He subsequently visited Okarito, finding gold on-the beacH and in the Buller River. He visited Ghristchureh in 1563, and wrote a letter to the "Lyttelton Times" which caused a rush to set in. He bought 2200 acres of land in the Dittle Grey Valley, which he improved, and has resided on ever since. It carries 1800 sheep and 300 head of cattle, and the buildings are like English farmhouses. He visited England in 1886, and subsequently bought 2000 acres at Pakarae, Poverty Bay, but sold it recently at an enormous profit, as it was vastly improved. He leaves a widow, four sons and six daughters, including Mrs James Marshall, wife of the Hon. J. Marshall, M.L.C. Mr Mackley died peacefully at the age of 82.