Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. James Mckechnie , who has been Stationmaster. Postmaster, and Telegraphist at Abbotsford since 1899, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1854, and apprenticed as an engineer. He came to New Zealand in 1874 by the ship “Invercargill,” and for three years was engaged in farming life in the Wyndham district, Otago. Mr. McKechnie entered the railway service in 1877, and shortly afterwards was appointed stationmaster at Burnside. He subsequently filled similar positions of trust at Waitati, Caversham, and Newmarket, near Auckland, before receiving his present appointment in 1899. Mr. McKechnie was a member of the Green Island school committee for seven years, is attached to the Cargill Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons, No. 632, Scottish Constitution, and is an enthusiastic member of the Green Island Bowling Club. He was married, in 1883, to a daughter of Mr. Andrew Mulholland, farmer, of Eden, County Derry, Ireland, and has one son and two daughters. Mr. McKechnie built and furnished the Prince of Wales Private Hotel, at Clinton, in the county of Clutha. This hotel is now occupied by him, and is replete with all modern conveniences. It is extensively patronised by tourists and anglers, the famous Waiwera and Pomahaka fishing streams being in the vicinity. The house is situated seventy miles south of Dunedin; and the train from Dunedin reaches it in two hours and a half, and from Invercargill in two hours and twenty minutes.