OBITUARY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13529, 10 November 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. 8. M. MACKAY. Father of the West Coast. (Per United Press Association.) QREYMOUTH, November 9. Mr Samuel Maggitt Mackay, “father of the West Coast,’’ is dead. He was a native of Leeds (Yorkshire), and arrived at Nelson in 1854, He came to the West Coast in 1857, where he met Mr James Mackay, jun., in 1860, who bought from eight to ten million acres of land from the natives for .£l5O cash, a ton of flour, and half a lon of sugar-’-altpgethor valued at .£3OO. Mr Mackay witnessed the signatures. He subsequently visited Okarito, finding gold oh the beach and in the Duller River. He visited Christchurch in 1863, and wrote a letter to the Lyttelton Times, which caused a rush to set in. He bought 2200 acres in the Little Grey Valley, which he improved and resided on It has since carried 1800 sheep and 300 head of cattle. The building is like an English farmhouse. He visited England in 1886, and subsequently bought 2000 acres at Pakarao, 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 Mr Marshall, M.L.C. Mr Mackay‘died peacefully, aged 82 MR. ALEX. HENDERSON. Expires at Social Gathering. , CHRISTCHURCH, November 9. Mr Alex. Henderson, chief of the Scottish Society, died suddenly at a social gathering of tlje society , to-night, over which ho presided. He had given an address on the aims and objects of the society, and had sat down for n few minutes whiic some letters from Scotland were being read, when he was seized with a fit and was removed to ah ante-room, where 1 he died a few minutes after. He had been attended lately for heart trouble. He was 57 years of age, and formerly Christchurch manager for Ross and Glendinning, but had retired about two years ago.