Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/316

 Government in the Upper House as Minister of Mines from Dec. 1886 to Jan. 1887.

Mackelvie, James Tannock, has established a perpetual memorial for himself in Auckland, N.Z., by his endowment of that city with a valuable art collection selected by himself in Europe, and a rich bequest for the maintenance of a permanent gallery. To further this purpose the Municipal Corporation, in Sept. 1891, resolved to erect a Mackelvie annexe to the handsome building, in which the Grey Literary Collection and the Auckland Free Public Library are placed. Mr. Mackelvie in early life was engaged as supercargo of a vessel during the Crimean war, and subsequently as purser on an Atlantic liner. Leaving the sea, he obtained an appointment in a large mercantile house in London, and was so engaged in 1865, when Dr. Campbell, desiring a partner to take charge of his business while he visited Europe, entered into an agreement with Mr. Mackelvie, who came to Auckland and assumed the direction of the business of Messrs. Brown, Campbell & Co. until 1870, when the partnership terminated by effluxion of time. During that short period, however, Mr. Mackelvie had amassed a fortune by means of judicious mining investments on the Thames goldfields. He returned to Europe a month or two after quitting his connection with Brown, Campbell & Co., and lived in retirement, employing a large part of his time in collecting the art treasures which he had resolved to bequeath to the city where his fortune was made. Many valuable paintings and sketches were forwarded to Auckland during his lifetime, and at his death, which took place on June 4th, 1885, by the terms of his will, after providing for about £35,000 legacies, in some of which the trustees have a reversionary interest, the balance of the estate was left in trust for the people of Auckland. The legacy, owing to the great depreciation in all kinds of property, is very much less than the testator no doubt intended, but, including the reversionary interest in legacies, the trustees hope the amount may not be far short of £30,000, besides the valuable collection now in the Art Gallery. During his stay in the colony Mr. Mackelvie was director of the Bank of New Zealand, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, and other companies.

'''Mackenzie, Lieut.-Col. Henry Douglas''', of the family of the Mackenzies, baronets of Coul, Ross-shire, is the eldest son of the late Rev. Charles. Mackenzie and Henrietta, his wife, daughter of Chas. Simonds, of Beading, Berkshire. He was born in 1849, and was formerly a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Having taken service in the New South Wales military forces, be acted as Brigade-Major to the Soudan expedition in 1885, was mentioned in despatches, and received a medal with clasp, and also the Khedive's star. In Oct. 1888 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to the New South Wales forces, and ranks as lieut.-colonel. He married, in 1873, Sofala, daughter of the late Hon. John Bligh Suttor, M.L.C., of Wyngdon, Bathurst, N.S.W.

McKenzie, Hon. John, M.H.R., Minister of Lands and Immigration, New Zealand, was born at Ardross, in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1838. In 1860 he went to Otago, N.Z., and soon acquired sufficient experience to become working manager of the Pakitapu station, near Palmerston. He then took to farming on his own account in the Shag Valley. In 1865 he was made clerk and treasurer to the local Road Board and secretary to the local School Committee. In 1868 he contested Waikouaiti for a seat in the Provincial Council of Otago, being his opponent, but he lost the election. In 1871, however, he was successful, beating his opponent, Mr. John Douglas, for the Waihemo seat by two to one. He retained this position until the abolition of provinces, having been elected a second time for Waihemo without opposition. In 1881 he was sent to the House of Representatives by the electors of Moeraki, and has sat in the House for various constituencies for the same part of the country ever since. In 1884 he went to Sydney to attend the Stock Conference. Mr. McKenzie was whip to the Stout-Vogel combination in 1884, and did good service for his party, being rewarded by the portfolio of Lands and Immigration when the Government came into office in Jan. 1891.

Mackenzie, Sir Robert Ramsay, Bart., sometime Premier of Queensland, the son of the 8th baronet of Coul, Ross-shire, emigrated to New South Wales, and 300