New Zealand History | NZHistory, New Zealand history online

[Pages:290] MACDONALD

years (1882-87) overseer of the Ngatapa station, and later manager of other large runs. He became a member of the Farmers' Union, and president of the Poverty Bay Farmers' club, a member of the Gisborne harbour board, of the Cook hospital and charitable aid board, and of the Waiapu county council. When the district was divided he became chairman of the Waikohu county council. In 1908 he was elected M.P. for Bay of Plenty and in 1909 he became junior whip for the Ward Government. In 1912 he was a member of the Mackenzie administration (as Minister of Public Works and of Native Affairs) and in the National ministry of 1915 he had control of agriculture and of mines. He was also president of the board of trade and a member of the lands commission. On the defeat of Ward in 1919, Macdonald became leader of the Liberal party. He died suddenly on 31 Aug 1920.

N.zP.D., 1 Sep 1920; N.Z Herald, 1 Sep 1920. Portrait: Parliament House.

MACDONALD, WILLIAM KENNETH (d. 1879) was born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1852 after 10 years in Australia. With his brother (A. R. Macdonald) he bought the Orari estate in Canterbury. In 1859 he married a daughter of Captain Macpherson, of the 59th Regiment. He was a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral association, a founder of the Christchurch club, and represented Geraldine in the Canterbury Provincial Council (1871-72).

Cycl. N.Z., iii; Acland.

McDONNELL, THOMAS (1788-1864) was born in county Antrim, Ireland, and entered the Royal Navy in 1804 as a midshipman. In that year he was present in the Veteran at the attack on Boulogne. In 1809 he commanded one of the boats in the attack on the French fleet in the Basque roads, and he was in a gunboat at Walcheren. In 1810 he was appointed lieutenant in command of the sloop Opossum, in which he saw service against slavers on the west coast of Africa. He had further service in Europe and the West Indies in the Hem, Narcissus, Henules and Valiant, and took part in the blockade of New York in 1814.

At the conclusion of peace in 1815 McDonnell went on half-pay and joined the East India Company's service. He commanded one of the

McDONNELL

Company's ships in the Red Sea, where he made certain explorations, and he conveyed the embassy to Siam. McDonnell travelled a good deal in India, and accompanied Sir Frederick Henniker in a tour of Egypt. He aftenvards fitted out an opium clipper for trade in China and the Islands. He seems to have visited Sydney first in 1828-29; and in 1830 he was commanding the brig Elizabeth in the China seas. About this time he visited Kaipara and Hokianga, and named Port McDonnell in Hawkes Bay. He made a report to the Admiralty on the supply of kauri spars from New Zealand.

Having purchased land on the Hokianga harbour from a Sydney firm, McDonnell came to New Zealand in the Lady Flora and established a dockyard at Horeke, which was managed by Frederick Russell. In: 1831 he purchased the SiT George Murray, in which he brought his family to New Zealand. In 1835 they built the schooner Tui. McDonnell did a considerable trade with the natives, and in the supply of spars for H.M. ships. These were got in the neighbourhood of Horeke and rafted down Hokianga harbour. In 1835 he made an agreement with some chiefs at Bay of Islands to open the entrance to Hokianga. This he achieved in the following year. At that time he had the largest mill on the Hokianga (about three miles above the mission station). He owned two ships and employed a good number of people. Part of McDonnell's journal was published in 1834.

In 1835 he persuaded the Secretary of State to appoint him an additional British Resident for the Hokianga district. He took a leading part in the government of the white community, with the assistance of the Hokianga chiefs, but came into conflict with Busby, who complained of his taking independent action. In 1837 he gave up his duties as a resident. In 1839 McDonnell visited Great Britain, where he disposed of his rights to the New Zealand Company for ?5,000 and a salary of ?300 a year. He returned to New Zealand in 1841, but was again in England in 1844, when he gave evidence before the parliamentary committee on New Zealand.

During Heke's war in 1845 McDonneH strongly fortified his yards at Horeke. He had by this time to a great extent lost his influence with the natives. He petitioned Parliament in

8

McDONNELL

McDONNELL

1846 for compensation. He died on 13 Sep' 1864 (see THOMAS McDONNELL, 1832-99).

G.B.O.P., 1844/556; App. H.R., 1856 ii, E3, Dl5; P.R.O. C.O. 209; N.Z. Archives B.R. 1 and 2; N.Z.C.; Hist. Rec. Aust., ser. I, xvi; O'Byrne, Naval Biographies; Earle; Sherrin and Wallace; E. J. Wakefield; H. E. M. Fildes in N.Z. Herald, 14 Jul 1934.

McDONNELL, THOMAS (1832-99) was the eldest son of Thomas McDonnell (q.v.), and was born at the Philippines. As a child he came to New Zealand with his father, ana he received most of his education at Hokianga. In 1853 he left for Melbourne to try his fortune on the goldfields, but two years later returned to New Zealand and received an appointment in the civil service, being stationed in Hawkes Bay and later at Coromandel. With his brother William he took up a sheep run in Southern Hawkes Bay. He was a capable Maori linguist and on the outbreak of the Maori war joined the Defence Force (Aug 1863) and served as a sub-inspector under Colonel Nixon in Auckland province. He was present at the actions at Mauku, Drury, Queen's Redoubt and Burt's Farm. In company with von Tempsky, he reconnoitred the enemy position at Paparata, narrowly escaping capture. For this he received the thanks of General Cameron. He took part in the Thames expedition under Colonel Carey. In the attack on Rangiaowhia (2 Feb 1864) he approached the large house with Mair and summoned the occupants to surrender. The reply was a heavy volley, in which Colonel Nixon was mortally wounded. NlcDonnell assisted him out of danger. Promoted captain, he was second in command of the Maori contingent in the fighting at Maketu and was slightly wounded in skirmishes. He was appointed magistrate at Cambridge, but had only been there a few months when his senices were again required in the field. Promoted brevet-major (Jul 1865) and given command of the 'Vhanganui contingent in the operations on the West Coast, he took an active part in the first assault at Weraroa (21 Jul) and then proceeded with the relief force to Pipiriki (19-30 Jul). Summoned away by the murder of Volkner, McDonnell served under Brassey in Bay of Plenty, being present at the actions of Kiorekino and Te Tarata (3 and 4 Oct). He pursued Kereopa and his people up the Waimana valley, taking their pa

at Te Puia and defeating them in the Waimana gorge. He was soon recalled to the West Coast to serve as advance guide to General Chute's column. There he was in action at Moturoa, Te Putahi (7 Jan 1866), Ketemarae and Keteonetea ; and was again wounded.

The Government having decided to occupy the confiscated lands in Taranaki, McDonnell was given com~and of the protecting force and established his camp at Manawapou. His negotiations with the Ngati-Ruanui and: the TangahQe were unsuccessful. After being several times arhbushed, he retaliated by attacking the Hauhau position at Pokaikai. For this he was criticised, inasmuch as he had accepted a token of peace some days earlier. There were further stubborn engagements at Pungarehu and Kelemarae. In Apr McDonnell was promoted lieutcolonel and given command of the native contingent operating against the Hauhau in tlle Rotorua district, Henry Tacy Clarke being attached to his force. From this duty he was recalled to Patea to command a force of 100 men detailed to quell the Fenian disturbances in Hokitika. The situation in Taranaki was far from satisfactory. In May 1868 Booth issued warrants for the arrest of two principal fighting chiefs of Titokowam, and requested McDonnell to execute them. By diplomacy he secured the return of some of the settlers' horses, but it soon became clear that hostilities were im-

minent. A message was sent to "Vanganui recalling

McDonnell, who hurried to Wellington for authority to raise a force of 400 men, of whom 100 should be natives. With the rank of inspector iIll the Armed Constabulary (Jul 1868), he hastened back to Taranaki to find that there had been a serious reverse at Turuturumokai (12 Jul). Placing Roberts in charge of that post, he made his plans for retaliation against Titokowaru's stronghold at Te Ngutu-o-teManu. On 21 Aug, in thick fog, he approached the position with a force of 350 men, himself leading the frontal attack while von Tempsky attacked on the left. The defenders fled into the bush from which, after the whares had been burned, they maintained a harassing fire on the retreating force. McDonnell brilliantly extricated his men, the rearguard being commanded by Major Hunter. Both sides suffered some losses.

9

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download