MAXWELL, EBENEZER (1862-1937) was born at Kilmore, Victoria, a son of the Rev Andrew Maxwell and nephew of Alexander Johnston (q.v.). He came to New Zealand in 1866 and attended the Crofton Grammar School, Wellington. For three years he was in an insurance office, and then in a legal office. He joined the Armed Constabulary for the Parihaka operations (1881) and served for seven years, mostly in clerical employment at Opunake and in the Defence department at Wellington. For 14 years he was sheepfarming at Opunake, and thereafter at Marumarunui until 1911, when he became a valuer, assessor and consulting forester. He took a great interest in tree planting, and was at different times a member of the Egmont National Park board, the Empire Forestry Association, the New Zealand Forestry League and the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. His publications include Afforestation in Southern Lands, Forestry in New Zealand, New Zealand Forest Trees and Comparative Rate of Growth. He was some years chairman of the Parihaka road board, and the Egmont county council; 28 years on the New Plymouth harbour board (seven years chairman), a director of the Opunake Wharf Co., and the Taranaki Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co., and a provincial office-bearer of the Farmers' Union. He was captain of the Opunake Mounted Rifles (1900), and major of the 1st battalion (1904). Maxwell married (1896) Pattie, daughter of James Johnston, Aberdeen. He died on 30 Mar 1937.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1932; E. Maxwell, op. cit. and Recollections and Reflections of an Old New Zealander (1935)

Reference: Volume 2, page 41

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