The Church in New Zealand

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 8, 4 March 1925, Page 19

The Church in New Zealand

A Brave and Faithful Pioneer Among the early settlers of Westland and pioneers of the rugged ' 'Far South'',. of ■ the province, few, if any, can show a record ,to surpass that of Mrs. Margaret McKenzie, whose death at the ripe-old age of BlT.years is recorded in this week's issue of the Tablet. In,Co. Tyrone, Ireland, in 1836, was'boru Margaret" McKenna, the heroine of our'narrative. Arriving in New Zealand in 1860, and marrying two years later, the pursuits and achievements of her long life form a veritable romance of colonisation. After her marriage to the late Mr. Daniel McKenzie (who predeceased her live years ago), the devoted couple lived at • tlokilikai .for seven years. They then, with their three,children, removed down the coast to Jackson's May, where a new settlement, had boon started. There, their second son was horn, lie being the first, white child born in Jackson's Bay. After two years, they again moved farther south to another new settlement at Martin's Bay, where they bought land'' and started cattle farming. A few other settlers. were there' at that time, but gradually all left except* flic, McKenzies. One more soil' was born in Martin's Bay, which made a, family

THE “FAR SOUTH’ ’ OF WESTLAND

of five—three sons and two daughters—all of whom are still alive. ''.; ;; I .'/; ;}■• ..If: says much for the bravery and .endurance of Mrs. McKenzie that she lived "and reared her family where it was impossible to have bad medical attention should such' have boon required. When they ~ first .weiit To Martin's Bay, a steamer calied^niout lily wtfh mails and provisions. That service gradually s diminished as settlers deft till, for- many years past, the Government steamer-, only calls there once a year. After living a life of complete loneliness for erfu ino years, being away only once during that time to. have her youngest son baptised, in 1886, Mrs. McKenzie walked 70 miles bo Wakatipu to perform her Easter duty. She. was accompanied by Iter husband who had gone over the track several times before,.. but it must liavcibeeh a very trying journey'for a woman; of fifty years of age. In.those days there was no proper track: just a blazed trail in the midst of dense forest which was very difficult to get through. There were no huts on the' way, travellers had to carry a tent in addition to provisions required, and set up camp on the approach of evening;^.Tho tracing-of the path was so difficult, and so

' . y \ -■ ■ j many,, rivers , and : creeks had lo s be forded on fool, that, it took over. a. week. to roach Lake Wakatipu, and cross it by steamer to Queenstown. ‘ ■ >"" : o :'.-Yy; .V C

Consignor of 'Oahiaruy was priest in charge of QueoiistowiVparisliHn those day'sP Alter some -years— about 1895 —a -Jnudlel'trsiok; was made overland .from' .Martin’s ; Bay To, f ‘ . . . . r>' _ np Lake WakatipU, and ; huts wmPluiilt.. on the way, which very much lessened theHiaril’sJlips of the journey. After that, iVlrsysMoKeiijSie went (mi yearly to attend- her •cliUrcli^^fe-vj

.Some 25 years ago, the' It)to’ Fatlieiy iii 11, (it Queenstown, - went. ovandaiidyto; Mairl in-; Hay, lie being- the .first'; priestuvltb eVer visited ami offered- Holy Mass , hi that imhioW part of his 1 parish. kather • Cored fa'ft, who' ♦ succeeded to (he eharge of the parish on filler (loath of l , ’alhcr O Donnell; ■ also is ; t ,a£ visit to Martin's May-.' hop'l 21 years -;i^Q.<€li©> late Mr. and - Mrs. .McKenzie', .both being well on in years, I fought V a small place v oilthe, Paradise Pond at (llenorchy, andUteeditlmrei until Mr. McKenzie passed away';' Since, I hen, Mrs. McKenzie lived' with some other-

family. A few months ago, . the - feebleness of old age and failing health made her. wish to go to the Home of. the' Little Sisters of

(he Poor, where she would yet the care and; nursing she needed and would be-enabled to ' ■ attend Mass and receive the Sacraments meyrep frequently than she could at Gleiiorchy.' , •

Tho late Mrs. •■ MeK'eiraic- was'a woi|£w of rare intelligence- .and w -it'll a 'most/ 'ijMiftrkable memory.' She and'herhusband 4 Broijfjh't .■ up ami. educated their • family in 'Martin's [?;■;.•, and gave 'them also a .good' religious;!; training. Together during -a ■'lung' and* ■■■; nr.ii'; life replete with "a. nobleness erf purpose'..": impossible to excel, the worthy <'ouple iiovV rest from their, labors side by side w the. picturesque little cemetery-shadowed byißeu'/ Lomond, the lowering height of ', which wa»' ever a landmork to I hem in their pilgrimages > of love and devotion.: ''•'■''. ■■■■■- ■■'•■ > ;".■;-: