SCOTTISH PIONEERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 278, 24 November 1931, Page 5

SCOTTISH PIONEERS

THE WAIPU SETTLEMENT LIFE OF NORMAN MACLEOD. The life of the Rev. Norman MacLeod, a pioneer of the Waipu Settlement near Auckland, was described by Mr. J. G. MacKenzie in a lecture to the Wellington Gaelic Club on Saturday. The Rev. Norman MacLeod was born at Stour Point, Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland, on 17th September, 1780. His people were either fishermen, farmers, or crofters. After being three years at the Edinburgh University, he was in turn tea'cher, preacher, and fisherman, fishing for herrings during the week, and preaching on Sundays. The evictions from 1800 to 1840 (known as the Sutherland clearances) made it necessary for people to leave Scotland, and the Rev. MacLeod was one of these. In 1817 began a journey which was one of the most extraordinary in the history of Scottish emigration. That year the Rev. MacLeod left Loch Broom with a party that was to arrive in Auckland Harbour in 1853. The outstanding figure throughout all these years was Norman MacLeod. Some 400 men, women, and children, left in the barque Francis Ann for Picton, Nova Scotia. The winters of Canada were •cold, and although there was plenty of land it was all under heavy timber. A home was offered to the Highlanders in Ohio, and in 1820 they left in a ship called the Ark. Because of a gale the Ark was driven into St. Ann’s Bay, and there the settlers stayed, giving up the Ohio project. The first Presbyterian Church in Cape Breton was founded. After receiving a letter from his son Donald in Australia, the Rev. MacLeod contemplated leaving, and a potato blight settled the matter. Two ships were built —the Margaret and the Highland Lass. Some three hundred people sailed in the two ships, and at the age of 71 years the Rev. Norman MacLeod sailed from St. Ann’s on 28th October, 1851, with his wife, three sons, and three daughters, and the settlers. On 10th April the Margaret reached Adelaide, after a voyage of 164 days. Disappointment. Captain Donald MacLeod, the Rev. Norman’s son, could not be found in Australia, and the Highlanders could not find laud to suit them. After going to Melbourne, the Rev. Norman learned from a letter that his son would most likely bo in New Zealand. As the result of a dream, he decided to see what prospects there were in New Zealand, then in the middle of its first Maori War. Two men, John M‘Kay and John Fraser, went to Auckland in the Gazelle, a packet of 50 tons, and their report was favourable. Land was plentiful, selling at 5s to 10s an a«cre. About this time, the Highland Lass arrived at Melbourne with 188 passengers, her departure from St. Ann’s having been delayed, and, as the Margaret had been sold, it was decided to proceed to Auckland in the Highland Lass. In New Zealand. Early in January, 1853, the Highland Lass cast anchor under the shelter of Rangitoto Island. There was no wharf in Auckland then, it being a small village with fern tree huts, and a few wooden houses nestling in the bush. After negotiations, the Highlanders settled in the Waipu block, 100 miles north of Auckland. Other ships were built at St. Ann’s and followed the Rev. Norman to his new home, so about 1000 people moved from Cape Breton to New Zealand between 1853 and 1860. The Rev. Norman now resumed his old role of preacher, teacher, lawyer, and business agent. His people had a home at last. In the January of 1866 he was failing, being in his 86th year, but he was still in his element when preaching. On Sunday morning the people gathered on the green in front of his bedroom window to hear the Word. To them ho was now a prophet, in communion with God. He was a great man, and eminently filled the role of teacher, preacher and pioneer. He died on March 14, 1866.