MACKAY, JAMES (1857-1907) was born at Duns, Berwickshire, educated in Edinburgh and went to sea, serving as apprentice in ships of the Henderson line between England and New Zealand. Leaving the Timaru in 1875, he worked his way from Dunedin to Invercargill, was employed for some time at the Mataura paper mills, made another round voyage in the Waimea, and then settled in New Zealand, driving wagons over the Rimutaka and at other jobs. In 1884 he made a round voyage in the Lady Jocelyn, taking frozen meat from the North Island to England, and then worked for the Wellington harbour board for some years.

In 1891 he was appointed to the staff of the newly organised Labour department, to which he gave many years valuable service. The state farm at Weraroa was one of his projects. Mackay was active in friendly societies, being a prominent member of the freemasons, oddfellows and foresters. He died on 23 Sep 1907.

Cycl. N.Z., i (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 13

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