MACKECHNIE, EDMUND AUGUSTUS (1823-1901) was born at St Christopher's, West Indies, a son of the Rev Charles Mackechnie, an army chaplain. Coming to New South Wales with his father, he became associate to his relative, Sir Alfred Stephen, and was admitted a solicitor. After practising for some years he came to Auckland (1870), where he was in partnership with MacCormick and later with G. Nicholson. He was a member of the City Council (1882-85) and chairman of the hospital board, but his main interests were literary and scientific. He was president of the Auckland Museum and Institute and of the Society of Arts. On his death (on 17 Jan 1901) Mackechnie bequeathed to the Auckland Institute his books and £2,500 to be applied to the purchase of scientific works, and to the Society of Arts a like sum, which was devoted to the erection of the art gallery in Kitchener Street.

Lyttelton Times, 2 Dec 1885; N.Z. Herald, 18 Jan 1901, 8 Nov 1902; Auckland Star, 17 Jan 1901.

Reference: Volume 2, page 14

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