MACKAY, JAMES (1804-75) came to New Zealand in the Slains Castle, settling in Nelson early in 1845 on a farm in the Wakapuaka block which he had bought from the New Zealand Company. Disputes about the native title caused him a great deal of trouble. In the first New Zealand Parliament Mackay was M.H.R. for the Town of Nelson (1853-55). He favoured responsible government and took a leading part in establishing the forms and privileges of Parliament. He was convenor of the committee which considered the customs tariff and brought steam communications under the notice of the House. The incident in which he was assaulted by Sewell and others belongs to the fight for responsible government. Mackay sat in the Nelson Provincial Council for Nelson (1857-61). He died on 31 May 1875.

N.Z.P.D., 1854-55; Parltry Record; Nelson P.C. Proc.; Saunders; Rusden; Thomson; The Colonist, 4 Jun 1875.

Reference: Volume 2, page 12

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