MACKAY, ALEXANDER (1833-1909), born at Edinburgh, was educated at Norfolk House Academy, Southsea, and came to Nelson with his uncle (J. Mackay, senr) by the Slains Castle (1845). While engaged in farming, he learned the Maori language and he accompanied his cousin (James Mackay) when he purchased the Kaikoura block from the natives (1859), and afterwards on his explorations and negotiations on the West Coast. In Feb 1860 they proceeded up the Buller river to the Grey. As his uncle was trying to find a route through Devil's Grip to Nelson, he returned to economise the expedition's food supplies.

In 1864 Mackay was appointed commissioner of native reserves in the South Island and civil commissioner. His knowledge of the history of the South Island tribes, which was unsurpassed, is obvious in the introductory pages of his monumental Compendium of Official Documents relative to Native Affairs in the South Island (1873). In 1882 Mackay was transferred to Wellington as commissioner of native reserves for New Zealand, and he frequently sat as a commissioner under the native land frauds prevention act. In 1884 he became a judge of the native land court. He died at Feilding on 18 Nov 1909. Mackay married (1863) a daughter of William Gibbs (q.v.).

App. H.R., 1876, G3a, 1891, Ses ii G4, 7, 7a; Cycl. N.Z., i; Hindmarsh; Reid; Harrop; Mackay, N.Z. Times, 19 Nov 1909; Evening Post,

Reference: Volume 2, page 12

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