The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 4, Issue 6 (October 1, 1929)
“Farewell to Lochaber.”
“Farewell to Lochaber.”
New Zealand has numerous communities of Highland Scots and their descendants, and though the Largs councillors in Old Scotland have banned the bagpipes the Caledonians in these Islands are never likely to follow this curious example. Pipe bands are popular, and never a prominent Scot is laid in his grave but the inspiring and heart-stirring strains of the page 25 famous laments are heard. “Lochaber No More” and “The Flowers of the Forest” are played here as they are played in the far-away glens of the north.
Splendid settlers those ex-Nova Scotians, and splendid sailors too. There is a story still told with pride in Waipu and by the Scots of Auckland that on one day in the old sailing ship era there were at anchor in the Waitemata Harbour, either just arrived or about to sail, nine vessels, all commanded by McKenzies, and all McKenzies of Waipu.