A SOUTHLAND PIONEER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 26

A SOUTHLAND PIONEER.

THE LATE DR MENZIES. MEMORIAL ARCH UNVEILED. (FfiOM Oob Own Cobbespondent.) WYNDHAM, May 26. In the presence of a large concourse this afternoon the memorial arch to the late Dr J. A. JR. Menzies was unveiled at Wyndham in fine weather. The arch forms an entrance to the Recreation Reserve, and is 30ft high. The main entrance is 14ft wide, and with the wings and gates the width is 70ft. The structure is built ,of brick and concrete, and is of simple design. Mr G. J. C. Smart , (chairman) was associated with the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Labour, Mines, and Marine, and member for the district), and others on the platform. Mr Anderson was the main speaker. He said that Dr Menzies was worthy of honour. Public men were not sufficiently honoured in the Dominion. The late Dr Menzies was born at Rannock, Perthshire, in 1821, and graduated in surgery at Edinburgh. When still a young man he migrated to Australia, landing at Port Phillip, Victoria, in September, 1853, and he then went to Sydney. Not hking Australia, he came to New Zealand the same year, and in December he landedat Wellington. He came to Dunedin in 1854, where he met Mantell, an early explorer in Southland, and went with him to Murihiku, in Southland, where Mantell purchased land from the Maoris. The business transacted, the pair walked along the beach to Bluff, crossing the Matauura at Toitoi, and thence up to Wyndham. Dr Menzies inspected the land in the district, and took up 38,000 acres from the Land Office at Dunedin, and was in occupation of this till 1866, when the gold rush occurred. The demand for land resulted in Dr Menzies reducing his holding to 8000 acres, which was known as “Dunalister.” Dr Menzies was the first settler in Wyndham, the only other white * settler being a Mr Mieville. Difficulty was experienced m obtaining provisions, and they subsisted on wild pork and potatoes. Dr Menzies soon became a leading spirit in the district, and his medical knowledge was sought and freely given. The settlers owed a great debt of gratitude for his services. . „ With the institution of self-government in the colony Dr Menzies started a -political career, and was later appointed to the Legislative Council by the then Governor, Sir Thomas Gore Browne. Dr Menzies was a leading spirit in the separation movement in Otago and Southland. He was opposed by the late Mr James Macandrew. The Southland province was created in 1861, and the first Superintendent was Dr Menzies, who earned tL respect of the people for his administration of council affairs. He relinquished the superintendency in 1865. Dr Menzies resisted the union of the provinces in 1870 without success. In local politics he was . member of the Bluff Harbour and Education Boards. He was the recognised head of the Southland Caledonian. Society, and had a deep love for native traditions and his enthusiasm in things Celtic was unbounded. He was a strong advocate of Bible reading in Schools, and persevered with this till his death. He was leader of the movement, and following the passing of the Education Act he brought down a motion in the Legislative Council embodying the principle, which was eventually defeated. The services of Dr Menzies to the province were recognised in 1875, when he was presented with a piece, of plate. He was a Presbyterian of the old school, and was faithful to the practices and teaching of the Presbyterian faith. He was an earnest Bible school teacher. Dr Menzies had a wonderful memory, and his library was one of the best in the country at the time. He was a firstclass pioneer, and was always willing to help his less fortunate brethren. He gave his best to the country of his adoption, and he maintained the glorious traditions of his race —courage, enterprise, foresight, and carefulness in regard to details. His self-sacrifice was a lesson for the present and future generations. Dr Menzies’s name was honoured throughout the Dominion and the Empire. Mrs Watson, a daughter of Dr Menzies, unveiled amidst applause the memorial arch. . Mr Watson returned thanks on behalf of Airs Menzies and family. Mr Duncan Menzies, a son of Dr Menzies, expressed the appreciation of the family. The Mefizies family, he said, was deeply grateful for the imperishable monument to his father’s memory. Air Potts said that Dr Alenzies was a gentleman of commanding personality, high intellectual attainments, unblemished honour, and an inexhaustible fund of sympathy with his fellow-men. All present were the guests of the committee at afternoon tea, which was served in the cricket pavilion.