McLEAN, JOHN (1818-1902) was born in the island of Coll, Argyllshire, educated there and on attaining his majority emigrated to Victoria, where he worked for a while on the Barrabool hills and then took up land with his brother Allan. During the early days of the goldfields they did well as goldbuyers and supplying the needs of the diggers.

Values of land having risen, they disposed of their Australian interests and settled in New Zealand (1854). The first property they acquired was Morven, in Canterbury. At one time, including Morven and Waikakahi, they had 500,000 acres (on which they shore 250,000 sheep). While their men were making the first road over the Kakanui range (through Dansey's pass) they found gold. On the partnership being dissolved, McLean retired to Otago and took some interest in public affairs. He was M.P.C. for the Town of Oamaru (1871-75) and was a member of the Legislative Council from 1867 until he retired in 1872. Having settled down at Redcastle, Oamaru, he was a member of the local road board, president of the North Otago A. and P. association and of the Oamaru Caledonian society. He took part in investigating the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand and was on the council of Otago University (1886-94). McLean died (unmarried) on 15 Jul 1902. (See G. BUCKLEY.)

Otago P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., iv (p); K. C. McDonald; Pyke; Otago Daily Times, 16 Jul 1902. Portrait: Parliament House.

MACLEAN, SIR ROBERT DONALD DOUGLAS (1852-1929) was the son of Sir Donald McLean, and was born in Wellington. Educated at Auckland Grammar School and Clifton College, England, he was a prominent cyclist and Rugby footballer. After serving his articles to Hart and Buckley, he read law in England and was called to the bar of the Middle Temple (1882). He did not practise, but devoted his attention to his property, Maraekakaho station, Hawkes Bay, where he bred English Leicester and Lincoln sheep, shorthorn cattle and thoroughbred horses. He won many prizes in the show ring. He was chairman of the Hawkes Bay county council and a member of the Heretaunga road board, the charitable aid board, the rabbit board, the Hawkes Bay central rivers board and the education board, and a governor of the Napier High Schools. Maclean was president of the Hawkes Bay A. and P. society and the Manawatu A. and P. association, and a councillor of the Royal Agricultural society; a prominent supporter of the Navy League, a member of the executive council of the Royal Empire Society; president of the Wellington Early Settlers' association, and the Caledonian society; and a director of the North British Freezing Co., the Hawkes Bay Farmers' Co-operative association and the New Zealand Freezing Co. He represented Napier in Parliament (1896-99), being defeated by A. L. D. Fraser. He married (1882) a daughter of T. Butler-Stoney, of Portland Park, county Tipperary. He was created a knight bachelor in 1927, and died on 7 Feb 1929.

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Cycl. N.Z., vi; Ward (p); The Dominion, 9 Feb 1929; Hawkes Bay Herald, 8 Feb 1929 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 2, page 21

🌳 Further sources