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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. James McKay

Mr. James McKay , sometime of Bushy Park, Long Bush, was born in the parish of Rogart, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1830, and when he arrived at manhood he left his native land Mrs McKay. for Australia. He landed at Melbourne in 1852, when Victoria was in the full tide of its gold discoveries. Instead, however, of rushing to the diggings with the majority, young McKay entered the service of Mr Gray, a pastoralist, and remained with him for some time. Then he followed, in succession, various other occupations, but as he did not altogether like Victoria, he turned his attention to New Zealand, and arrived in Wellington in 1856. His desire was to secure land, and as nothing near Wellington satisfied him, he removed to Canterbury. There he remained for some time, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Christchurch, and took a contract to harvest one of the early crops of wheat grown in the settlement. As a reminiscence of the past, and a comparison with more modern methods, it may be observed that the grain was cut with a sickle. Once more Mr McKay took up his bed and walked—that is, he carried his swag southward from Christchurch, with a Portuguese as his mate, and at last found himself at Invercargill. He was three weeks on the journey, and some of the rivers on the way could not not be forded, but had to be swum, owing to their being in flood. It was still the year 1856 when Mr McKay reached Invercargill, and at the time of his arrival Mr J. T. Thomson was surveying the town. Mr McKay found employment in connection with the survey of the surrounding district, and while he was thus engaged he bought his land at Long Bush, and there, shortly afterwards, he began to make the home of all his later life. during 1858 and 1859 he paid brief business visits to Victoria, and had to travel overland from Long Bush to Port Chalmers, and then take passage in a sailing vessel bound for Sydney. While he was visiting Victoria, Mr McKay made the acquaintance of his future wife, and, after some of the wilderness at Long Bush had been reclaimed, and a house built, the bride-elect arrived in New Zealand. The young couple were married at Mr Finlayson's house
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mrs McKay And The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mrs McKay And The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Residence Of The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Residence Of The Late Mr. J. McKay.

page 1062 at, Waikiwi, on New Year's Day, 1861. Some of the circumstances of the wedding are worth recalling, as a contrast between the past and the present The bridegroom, his brother, and a few guests had to tramp through swamp, tussock, and flax from Long Bush to Waikiwi; and the Rev. A. H. Stobo also had to trudge along a primitive bush track from Invercargill, to perform the marriage ceremony, after which the wedding party walked backed to Long Bush, where they entertained themselves and each other with caber-throwing, leaping, racing, and dancing to the strains of a violin played by Mr Alexander Ross now (1905) of Tyne Street, Invercargill. Mr and Mrs McKay became prosperous colonists, and the father and mother of five daughters and seven sons, two of whom—a son and a daughter—they lost by death. Mr McKay was one of the founders of the Long Bush Ploughing Match Association, and became an office-bearer of the Woodlands Presbyterian church, chairman of the school committee, a member of the Southland Caledonian Society, and a cordial supporter of the Pioneers' Association; and he was for several years chieftain of the Highland Society of Southland. Mr McKay died at Bushy Park, Long Bush, on the 6th of December, 1904, aged seventy-four years; and was survived by his wife, six sons, and four daughters.