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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Mr. Thomas Wilmor McKenzie

Mr. Thomas Wilmor McKenzie is one of the very few now remaining of those brave colonists who sacrificed much and risked all to carve out for themselves an honourable career, and at the same time to lay the foundations of a prosperous country. Remembering the prominent positions occupied by Mr. McKenzie in Wellington's earliest days, it seems incredible that he was a lad of scarcely thirteen years when he first saw the shores of Port Nicholson. Though so very young, his experiences of life had begun in earnest. Born in the “World's Metropolis,” on the 6th of March, 1827, he passed but little of his childhood there, for at a very early age he went with his parents to St. John's, Newfoundland, where he soon imbibed the ruling passion of his life—love of freedom. The death of her husband caused the widowed mother to return with her son to England; but the subject of this sketch chafed under the changed conditions, and his mother decided to cast in her lot with the Port Nicholson colonists of the New Zealand Company. Embarking in the good ship “Adelaide,” 640 tons, commanded by Captain Campbell, Mrs. McKenzie and her son left the Old Land for the second time, on the 18th of September, 1839. Before leaving, however, young McKenzie distinguished himself by a gallant and successful effort to save a fellow-creature's life. A man was seen by him to be drowning in the Serpentine in Hyde Park, and, being a strong swimmer, he sprang in and supported him until further assistance came. About this time he succeeded in winning second prize in a swimming contest on the Thames, against competitors from the ranks of the Life Guardsmen. During the early part of his life in Wellington, Mr. McKenzie by virtue of his excellent swimming powers, was on three occasions able to save life which otherwise would have been lost. In 1840 he saved a man at Petone, or Britannia, as it was then called. On another occasion he was one of four when a boat capsized, and being the only swimmer of the party, the whole of the time until assistance came was occupied in helping his comrades back to the boat from which the relentless waves frequently hurled them. This he kept up for half-an-hour, when a boat from the man-of-war completed the rescue. The last case was that of a friend who fell over when endeavouring to board a vessel sailing up the harbour. The “Adelaide” was the fourth ship of the contingent, arriving in February, 1840. On arrival Mr. McKenzie was at once apprenticed to Mr. Samuel Revans, proprietor of the New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator,” afterwards altered to the New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator,” on the change of site being made from Petone to the shores of Lambton Harbour. The first two editions of this newspaper were printed in London before the despatch of the colonists. After completing his five years apprenticeship. Mr. McKenzie worked as a compositor for two years on the same journal. About this time he acquired some land at Makara, and as there were too many hands at the office, an arrangement was made between the men whereby they worked on alternate weeks at the office, and on their own sections. This sent on for some time until the paper changed hands, and Mr. McKenzie and his fellow workers were thrown out of employment. In consequence of this, the Wellington Independent was started, the proprietors being Messrs. William Edward Vincent, T. W. McKenzie, George Fellingham, and James Muir. The paper thus established was published under this proprietary for a long time eventually, however, Mr. Vincent left for Sydney, Mr. Fellingham died, and Mr. McKenzie purchased Mr. Muir's interest, thus becoming page 297 Mr. Thomas Wilmor McKenzie sole owner. For many years the paper was successfully conducted under the personal supervision of Mr. McKenzie. In these early days when postal communication was not what it is to-day, and there were no telegraphs, there was often the utmost difficulty in getting news. The editor was dependent on papers received by sailing vessels, and when a ship arrived, great hardships were often cheerfully endured in an attempt to get on board promptly. On one occasion the enterprising pressman who was waiting in a boat for an opportunity to get on the deck of a newly arrived ship, seized a rope that was dangling from the mizzen-boom. The vessel at this moment was put about, and Mr. McKenzie was left swinging in mid-air; he clung to his rope, however, and was first on board. This is a sample of the hazardous risks often freely taken in the struggle to supply news in the early days. As high as a pound was often given for the use of a boat, and a similar price for a copy of the Home News. Mr. McKenzie afterwards established the New Zealand Mail, and also the Wellington Almanac. The three properties were later on sold to the original New Zealand Times Company, the name Wellington Independent being changed to New Zealand Times, of which Mr. McKenzie became manager and secretary, continuing with two short intervals to about the time when the business changed hands again. Since this Mr. McKenzie has not been actively identified with the press of the Colony. He has mostly lived in private life so far as business is concerned, except for two or three years, during which he acted as a director and manager of the Wellington Building Society. This company had, by the defalcations of an official, drifted into difficult circumstances, and Mr. McKenzie was successful in piloting the concern to a satisfactory position, for which he earned well-merited praise. Mr. McKenzie possesses a fund of information as to the early days of the Colony. His stories of the Maori disturbances when Te Ruaparaha threatened the settlements, the midnight patrol after a day's hard work, the first earthquake shock in 1841, the scarcity of provisions, and other hardships, are both thrilling and entertaining. In public life he has ever been prominent. As one of the first burgesses of the original borough, he showed deep interest in civic affairs. Nearly half a century later he sat as a member of the City Council, and during his six years' service in that capacity, contested a mayoral election, but was defeated after making a good fight. A great many of the institutions are largely indebted to the spirited advocacy of Mr. McKenzie and his coadjutors. He was a member of the “Constitution Association,” as it was called, and did much to hasten self-government. The old Mechanics' Institute was originated by him, and subsequently developed into the Athenæum, which was largely assisted by his efforts, and for many years proved most useful to citizens and visitors. In the early days Mr. McKenzie used his influence to promote the Town and Country Land Association, which did good work, and some years later helped the Small Farm Settlements of the Wairarapa. As an Oddfellow, Mr. McKenzie was the first corresponding secretary, and procured the charters from Manchester for six lodges, which he opened in Wellington, and like-wise obtained and transmitted charters for the first Auckland and Dunedin Lodges. He has been Hon. Secretary since 1848 for the Widows and Orphans Society, in connection with the I.O. of Oddfellows, M.U., and has received very flattering letters from the societies' actuary touching his accounts. He has occupied the highest position possible in the Order within New Zealand. As a Mason, Mr. MeKenzie is a Past Master; he has occupied among other offices that of District Grand Warden, E.C., and was installed First Grand Principal, Royal Arch Chapter, for three years, having previously filled the second and third chairs. He was instrumental in obtaining a grant of land from the Provincial Council in Grey Street and Lambton Quay for the Oddfellows, and exerted himself to promote the erection of a large building for lodge meetings, which was also used for many years as a theatre and opera house. This property is still held by the Order, and is of great value. Mr. McKenzie also performed a similar service, as far as land is concerned, for the Freemasons' Pacific Lodge, E.C., and also for the Benevolent Society Contributors. Mr. McKenzie was for many years a member of the Hospital committee. He is now one of the trustees of the Home for the Aged Needy. He has long been a member of St. John's Presbyterian Church, and was for some time on the beard of management, but for many years now has been prominent as an elder. Mr. McKenzie from the first has been consistently attached to the land of his adoption, in which he has ever striven to forward every good cause. Probably not one of the early settlers has worked so hard for the public, and with so little thought for self. By industry and painstaking efforts he has obtained a competence, but nothing is more certain than that his best and noblest efforts were not made in his own interests. He is in his sixty-eighth year at the time of writing (1895), and he spends his declining years mainly in looking after those who have been less fortunate than himself. He passes into his ripe old age thoroughly and most deservedly respected.