EARLY RANGITIKEI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 217, 14 September 1940, Page 6

EARLY RANGITIKEI

MR. ALEX McKENZIE IS 83 TO-DAY MEMORIES OF THE OLD BUSH DAYS OF N.Z. Mr. Alex McKenzie, Signal Street, Marton, is 83 to-day. He was born at Poyntzfleld, Lower Rangitikei, on September 14, 1857 in a “toi toi” whare built by the Ngatiapa tribe. His parents, Mr. Thomas Urquart McKenzie and Mrs. Margaret McKenzie (nee Fraser) arrived by the ship Oriental in 1840 and. went to Blenheim. For two years Mr. Alex McKenzie studied at a half-time school, the school house being on Newton Bush (Wheeler’s property). It was afterwards moved to Poyntzfleld. Later he studied privately in the Poyntzfleld homestead. At 13 years of age he took charge of a herd of grazing cattle on his parents’ property near Awahuri. In 1871 he joined the Bank of New Zealand staff at. Wanganui, but, three years later, on account of his health, he resigned and went farming at Carnarvon. In 1878, with his brothers, he took up 250 acres in Kairanga, this property being sold afterwards because of floods. He then leased 1000 acres of Kikitea property from the Hon. John Brybe. This he occupied from 1880 to 1884. In 1885 he took up 250 acres in Fitzherbert East. He was farming in the Pohangina Valley from 1894 to 1904. Leased 'the Home Farm. He leased Poyntzfleld from his father until his father’s death in May, 1904. When his mother died in April, 1909, the property was sold to Mr, Lyn McKelvie. Mr. McKenzie then took up 1000 acres near Bulls, “Brandon Hall.” His health, however, was such that he exchanged, that property for a farm in the Waikato. Later, Mr. McKenzie came to Kai Iwi, and eventually to Wanganui, where he was a Government valuer. He assessed the original Rangitikei block in 1914 and then joined Booth, MacDonald and Company and remained with that firm until 1934. In 1927 he was a member of the Marton Borough Council and supervised the Marton Park and grounds. In this younger days Mr. McKenzie was fond ot sprint racing and could do the 100 yards in 10 3-ssec. He was also good at pole vaulting and managed 10ft. 3in. He represented Rangitikei at cricket, hunted with the Rangitikei Hunt Club and was president of the Harewanui Polo Club. He was keen on school matters and served on school committees in Kiwitea, Palmerston North, Marton and Parewanui. He was also greatly interested in music, and was a member of musical societies in Wanganui, Palmerston North and Bulls. In the latter town he was on the Bulls Operatic Society. He was on the Nga Tawa branch of the British Music Society and on the committee of Trinity College of Music. He was a member of choirs in Wanganui, Parewanui, Palmerston North and Frilding. I When in McKenzie was Ensign for the was

in 1871. He joined the Alfred Troop I and was a member of it until it dis-1 banded. Authority on the Maori. An authority on Maori history and legends, Mr. McKenzie has written several articles on these subjects which have been published in the daily press of New Zealand. He also had a great love for horticulture and landscape beautification. In 1939 he became a i member of the Rangitikei Tree Plant-1 ing and Beautifying Society, of which he was appointed correspondence I member to write and publish articles dealing with the aims and objects of the society. In the same year he was | instrumental in securing from Mr. | Hannan the Centennial Park for the I Borough of Marton. A sum of £BOO | was raised and he personally collect- j ed £l5 in cash and obtained from resi-j dents donations of trees and shrubs j valued at £450. This area is to be j used as a parking place for cars and ' a camping ground and athletic field. | Mr. McKenzie's wife -died in 1935. j His two sons, H. G. and B. U. McKen- j zie served in the Great War of 191418. Mr. H. G. McKenzie was at the landing at Gallipoli and Mr. B. U. McKenzie served in France. Mr, Alex McKenzie has three grandsons in Egypt with the First Echelon of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and there are two more in camp. Changed Rangitikei.

Many changes have taken place in P.angitikei since Mr. McKenzie spent his youth there in the days of the “Great Ford,” after which the station of Greatford is named. He was the first white boy to spend a night on Mt. Stewart, the Maori name for which is “Whakaari.” meaning “a vision held up on high.” He has made the journey to Wellington on foot six times, and has repeatedly driven cattle to Wellington on horseback. On 12 occasions he drove cattle to New Plymouth, and was one who helped Mr George Croker drive the first mob of sheep over the mountain track in Taranaki.