In the Public Bye.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 August 1901, Page 815

In the Public Bye.

John McKenzie, whom a grateful colony

congratulates upon his SIB JOHN McKENZIE, , „ , ,/ n K.C.M.G. elevation to the Upper

House and his subsequent decoration with an order of knighthood, was born at Ardross, Rosshire in 1838, his father being a tenant farmer. He received an elementary education at his parish school, but before reaching the age of sixteen years he was work-

ing on his father's farm. The practical knowledge thus gained before he reached his majority was of great service in after life in administrating for the benefit of the practical farmer in New Zealand. It was in 1860 that McKenzie landed in this colony, and engaged as shepherd with Mr John Jones, of Puketapu Station. Four years later he was working manager, and in 1865 he invested his savings in a farm

at Shag Valley, Waihemo. In 1871, after having unsuccessfully run against Mr (now the Hon.) George McLean for tho Otago Provincial Council, Mr McKonzio huccohnfully contested the Waihemo scat. On the abolition of provinces in 1876, ho became a member of the Waikouaiti County Council and afterwards chairman of tho newly formed Waihemo County Council. After holding other positions in local bodios ho was in 1881 elected to represent Mooraki in the House of Representatives. From 1883 to 1892 he was a member of tho Otago Education Board. On his re-election for Moeraki in 1884 he became Whip for the Stout-Vogel Ministry. In 1887 Mr McKenzie was elected for the new electorate of Waihemo, and on the boundaries being again changed was elected for Waitaki. In 1884 he became a commissioner of the Otago Land Board, and in 1886 was one of New Zealand's delegates to the Stock Conference in Sydney. On the formation of the Ballance Ministry- in 1891 Mr McKenzie assumed the office of Minister of Lands, which he administered in such a manner as to place our laud laws in tho front rank of progressiveness. This office ill-health compelled him to resign in 1900. His elevation to the Legislative Council and the knighthood conferred by the Duke of York were suitable rewards for his services.

The Hon. W. C. Walker, C.M.G., was born

in 1837, at BowlandHON. W^C. WALKEE, 8tow? Midlothian, being the eldest son. of th ß late Sir William Stewart Walker, X.0.8., for many years chah'man of the Board of Supervision, Edinburgh. Mr Walker was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, and at Trinity College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. in 1861, and subsequently M.A«

Mr Walker sailed for New Zealand by the '■ Evening Star," and arrived at Lyttelton in 1862. Since then he has been intimately

connected with the settlement of the province. With his brother he has been engaged in sheep farming, and has a run in the Ashburton district. He first appeared in public life in 1877 as the first chairman of the Ashburton County Council, a position he ocoupied until 1893. In 1884 he was eleoted to represent Ashburton, and sat in two parliaments. He was defeated at the general election in 1890. Called to the Counoil in 1892 he became a member of the Cabinet, and leader of the Upper House in 1896, when he suoceeded the Hon. W. P Reeves as Minister of Education and of Immigration. He was instrumental in passing the Act for the reconstitution of Canterbury College and the separation of the Agricultural College. From 1891 to 1896 he was a member of the Canterbury

Land Board. Since joining the Ministry Mr Walker has done a great deal of conscientious work, aud few ministers have a heavier burden than representing the Cabinet in the Upper House.

Dr. Waddell, M.A., comes from Co. Down,

DR. WADDELL, M.A. Iveland - His mother was a sister of Captain Mayne Reid, the well known novelist. He obtained his early education in a country school, and served his time in the drapery business. He quitted this and entered as a student Queen's College, Belfast. In 1874 he graduated B.A. of the Queen's University (now the Royal University) of Ireland, and M.A. in the following year. He took his theological course iv the Presbyterian Theological College, Belfast, was licensed to preach in 1876, and came to this colony early in 1877. Immediately after arriving he was appointed to take charge of St. Paul's, Christchurch, during the illness of Dr. Elmslie. He was then called to Prebble-

ton and Lincoln, whei'e he remained for about a year and a-half. St. Andrews, Dunedin, invited him to become its pastor

in 1879, and he has remained there ever since. Last year, on the celebration of his twenty-first anniversary, his congregation presented him with an address, a silver salver, a cheque for £50, and added £50 a year to his salary. The Literary Institute gave him a purse of sovereigns, and valuable presents were also made to his wife and daughter, and very complimentary references to his work and himself were made both by the speakers and the local press. In 1897 his Theological Alma Mater conferred upon him the honor of DD. T. H. Rawson, Mem. Inst. C.E., the secretary, treasurer, and T - H - EAWBON ' MEM - engineer of the Otago INST. C.E. B Harbour Board, was the third surviving son of the late T. E. Bawson, M.D., Plymouth. He was born in London in 1851, and came to the colony in 1859. He entered the Public Works Department in 1872, passing through the grades of engineering cadet, assistant engineer, and resident engineer ; was engaged on important public woi-ks, including rail-

way survey and construction, public buildings and roads, having personally located some twenty-six miles of railway, and had the local

charge of over fifty miles of railway construction in the Wanganni and Manawatn districts. In 1891 ho was appointed to tho dual position of resident engineer for the

West Coast, and engineer to the Oiroy mouth Harbour Board. He carried out breakwater and training wall extensions, and among other works practically completed the Greymouth-Hokitika railway of twentyfour miles. Inlß93Mrßawßon was transferred to Westport and appointed engineer to the Westport Harbour Board, and there carried out extensive works, including training walls, dredging, and wharf extension. In 1898 he resigned his position in the Public Works Department, and Westport Harbour Board aftor 26 years of Government service, to take up his present appointment with the Otago Harbour Board. Mr llawson was elected an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1884, and a member in 1897. Mr Nicholas Ruid has for many years been a leading figure in merMR NICHOLAS BEIfI. .. . , . -^ , cantile circles in Wellington. A native of Scotland, he arrived

in the colony in 1859. He is one of the partners of the firm of W. and G. Turnbull and Co., and for [many years has taken a prominent part in its management, He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and represents the shipping agents on the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr Reid Was one of the honorary commissioners * for the royal reception.

Mr John Plimmer is one of the best known

men in the Empire MR JOHN PLIMMER. -,. A . . \. Uity, and enjoys the distinction— uot quite undisputed — of being "The Father of Wellington." It is true there are one or two in the city who arrived before Mr Plimmer, but no one has claimed for himself the title Mr Plimmer has been accorded by the voice of the people. It was in 1841, when still a comparatively young man — he was then in his thirtieth

year — that Mr Plimmer landed at Port Nicholson, where he has resided ever since. Much of the early history of the settlement

is bound up {in the life of John Plimmer, and of late years the old pioneer has identified himself with many popular and national movements, notably with the despatch of contingents to South Africa. He is a prominent shareholder and a director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. " The Father of Wellington" completed his eighty-ninth year on the 28th June, but he is still hale and hearty, and takes an active interest in affairs generally, and the progress of the city iv particular. Mr Plimmer acted as an honorary commissioner during the Royal visit.

Mr. James Allkn was boru in 1855 in South Australia, and came to MR. JAMES New Zealand when two ALLENor three years old. He left New Zealand for England in 1860, and remained seventeen years in England, chiefly at a private school and Clifton College. He won a Natural Science Exhibition at St. John's College, Canterbury. He went to St. John's in 1874, and took his B.A. degree in 1877. Whilst at the University he was selected to play in the Canterbury football team v. Oxford in 1875 and 1876. He rowed twice in the trial eights, and was first captain of the Lady Margaret Boat Club. Mr. Allen married, and came to New Zealand again in 1877. He was elected to the Dunedin City Council about 1881, and served for three years. He returned to England in 1884, and went to the Royal School of Mines, obtaining the Bessemer and the Murchison Medals. In 1887 he again returned to New Zealand, and entered the House of Representatives in the same year as member for Dunedin East. In 18yO the city constituencies were amalgamated, and he lost the seat, but was elected at a bye-election in 1891 for Bruce. Mr. Allen has been a member of the Otago University Council for many years, and has also taken a special interest in the School of Mines. He has done gocd work for the High School Board, and is still connected with the Kindergarten Association. Some

few yeai's ago, when a movement was made to supplement the funds of this body, he took a prominent part, and assisted it materially to attain the desired end. He

Wellington,

Wrigglesworth & Binns, MR. JAMES ALLEN,

has served for years as Lieutenant-Com-manding the Dunedin Naval Artillery Volunteers, and has seen the Company rise from small numbers and weak finance to its present state of efficiency in both respects. The Patriotic Movement also owes much to Mr. Allen's energetic assistance and advocacy and the time he spent in its interests. Mr. Allen always took great interest in athletics, and in his younger days frequently represented Otago, both in rowing and football.

Me. Alferd Kidd has just been unanimously elected Mayor of Auckland MR. ALFBED in place of jy r Logan Campbell, who has retired from office. Mr. Kidd represented the Bast Ward in the City Council from 1885 to 1888, and at this period he held the position of Chairman of the Finance Committee. In 1890 he was re-elected to represent the same ward, and has held that seat until his

election as Mayor compelled him to resign. He has acted as Chairman of the Stroots Committee for the past eight years. Mr. Kidd has always been regarded as a most energetic and conscientious worker, and therefore has generally been appointed tho Council's Delegate to the Charitablo Aid and Harbour Boards. Ho also holds the onerous and responsible position of Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. He was chosen to officiate as Acting-Mayor during the absence of Mr. Groldie during part of his term of office,' and also to assist Dr. Campbell in the routine work to which tho latter gentleman, through advancod age, was unable to attend. It will, therefore, be seen that Mr. Kidd has devoted himself heart and soul to the welfare of tho city in

which he dwells, and has done much to gain or it the position it now holds in this colony. The ceremony of turniug the first sod on the occasion of the introduction of the Electric Tramway system into this colony was a fitting commencement of Mr Kidd's

term of office, and one significant of many fixture municipal reforms. At no time in t% history of the City of Auckland has there been more pressing need of a man of Mr Kidd's keen judgment and clear foresight at the head of the Council than at present, when the fast increasing population open up possibilities which have not been hitherto adequately provided for.

Me John McVay, the present Mayor of Napier, was born in MR. JOHN McVAY. F . ' Auckland. He moved to Napier in 1861. During the thirty- four years of his residence there he has by his energy and keen business ability built up the extensive business which bears his name* He has invariably taken a great interest in municipal affairs, and devoted much of his time to them, as the fact of his having sat for seventeen years on the Council amply proves. He has also occupied the position of Chairman of the Public Works, Waterworks, and Roads Committees, besides

having a seat on the Finance and other Committees. It will therefore be seen tha*

Napier owes much to Mr McVay for his untiring energies in its behalf.