McMASTER, ALEXANDER (1823-85) was born at Stranraer, Scotland. As a young man he emigrated to Australia (1842) and obtained his first employment in the countinghouse of Benjamin Boyd at Twofold Bay. He then moved to Melbourne, and from there to the goldfields. Returning to the city, he took employment on the literary staff of the Argus and afterwards joined a bank, in which he became teller.

In 1857 McMaster came to Otago and joined Borton in the lease of the Maerewhenua run. Later they took up Tokarahi, thus increasing their holding to 13,000 acres freehold and 70,000 acres leasehold, on which they ran 42,000 sheep at the time they dissolved partnership (1878). McMaster imported many fine merino sheep for his properties, and also stud horses. He was a successful exhibitor at many shows. In later years he lived at Waikaura, Oamaru. He had no inclination for political life, but in 1861 he permitted himself to be nominated for the superintendency on behalf of the squatting interest against Richardson. The result was: Richardson 292; Macandrew 189; McMaster 106. A month or two later he was elected for the Northern constituency in the Provincial Council, in which he sat until early in 1863. He died on 10 Sep 1885. He married (1860) Helen, daughter of John Adair, of Stranraer. (See T. G. Reap.)

Col. Gent.; Pyke; North Otago Times, 14 Sep 1885.

Reference: Volume 2, page 23

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