John Adam Mackie

July, 29, 1914

Death: Mackie, on July, 23 at his residence, “Springbank”, Tapanui Flat, John Adam Mackie in his 75th year.

Obituary: Mr John Mackie One of the best known and most popular of the early day farmers in the person of John Adam Mackie, passed away on the 23rd inst at his home “Springbank” Tapanui Flat where he has retired for the past 45 years. the late John Mackie came out to Otago From Scotland in the identity days and for some time worked about Tokomairiro Plains and Clutha. At the latter place, he was boating for a time on the ferry, when he received news of land being surveyed for settlement at Tapanui and he came and saw the rich soil and selected a 500 acre block and named it appropriately “Riverside” as it was bounded by the Pomahaka River, afterwards to be stocked with trout. Deceased was a famous angler in his prime and fished the stream for years in all weathers and without using waders. As an allround farmer, John Mackie had few equals and he evidently had a good grounding, before coming to this country. In every branch of agricultural pursuits and anything appertaining, to take the most out of the soil, the late proprietor of “Riverside” was a master. He was one of the best broadcast sowers ever seen in the land. His work was superior to the early day machines and quickly executed. His stack building was a picture and in the art of growing roots and grain, John Mackie was facile princeps. In the stock lines “Riverside” produced splendid Ayrshire cattle and crossbred sheep of the very best. In the early days, Mrs Mackie’s butter was known far and wide, and later when milking for cheese, the herd yielded bountifully. After that first Tapanui Cheese Factory closed owing to low prices, then ruling and the milk supplied became reduced, the late Mr Mackie erected a small cheese factory on the farm and Mrs Mackie, the cheesemaker turned out cheddar that was unsurpassed in the market for high flavour and good ripening qualities. Some ten years ago, with advancing years the bulk of the farm was sold and a new residence built at the east end of the railway. The smaller property was quickly brought into first class order. New residence and outbuildings with plantations, gardens and orchards quickly made one of the neatest homesteads in the countryside. In his younger days, the subject of this notice took an active part in agriculture shows., A and P Society, Farmers Club, ploughing matches and so forth and he was ever ready to assist and direct the new settlers who followed in his footsteps and settled in Tapanui plains or hills. When Mr Mackie first arrived in Tapanui, his residence was a ten acre section where Mr D McDuff now resides. Ten acre sections were deemed large enough by the Provincial Council squatters Government and several of that size were surveyed around Tapanui Bush and elsewhere, squatters could get their hundred thousand acres of land easier than a labourer ten and consequently many lucky diggers who would have liked to have secured farms when the flush of the diggings was over had to leave the country for Australia or elsewhere to obtain them. Needless to say, early farmers in this district had a great struggle to pay their way, and growing produce for the bushmen and diggers at Waiakaka, Waiakia and Scrubby Flat engaged their attention. Oats, chaff, butter and cheese, potatoes, pork and poultry – there was a good market for all and the early settlers paid their way out of the holdings. The first grain crop of any size was grown by Messrs Mackie, John Cleghorn and Daniel Robertson, some 60 acres and this enormous crop, over a man’s head, on the virgin land was all cut by scythe by Mr Cleghorn and his two mates in the venture – lifting and stooking and the whole crop was saved within a month. Later a threshing mill was brought up from Waiwera by Robert Melrose (now butchering at Waipahi) and the first wheat was milled at Kaihiku. The teams occupied one day in going, and got their grists put through overnight whilst the carters rested, and the return journey was made the following day, over a very rough track, formed by early day squatters and Lake bullock teamsters. There were no bridges, and many of the creeks and crossing places were very boggy. Some pit-sawing was done by the late Mr Mackie when he first resided in Tapanui, in company with the late James Brand, near Dalvey, to provide timber for their homes; and of course a large amount of fencing had to be done to enclose “Riverside” and make to requisite small paddocks for animals and crop. After 1875, farming became general in the district and conveniences grew for the pioneers. These early days were full of hardships, but men and women of that time made light of their troubles. In 1863, there was the biggest flood on record in the Pomahaka Valley and a similar experience followed in 1870, but the farmers had no sheep to drown in those days. The late Mr Mackie was born on his father’s farm “Southcraig”, Kilmarnock, and ran away from home at the age of 18, and came to the colony in the “Clontarf” landing in Lyttleton, and coming to Dunedin in a small schooner in 1858. He first worked for Sidey at Half-Way Bush, Dunedin. He then was foreman on the formation of the Main South Road, Dunedin to Waihola in 1859. He came to Tapanui, contract fencing for Capt Mackenzie in 1860, and went to Gabriel’s Rush in 1861. He took a farm in partnership with D Paton on Toko Plain, and in 1863, married Agnes White, who came to Dunedin in 1849, in the “Ajax”. He came to “Riverside” in 1868, with his wife and three boys – Robert (now Presbyterian minister at Winton), William (rector of Tapanui High School) and John. Messrs James, David and Alexander were born at Tapanui, and the daughters, comprising Mrs James Edgar, Mrs Edward Pinder, Mrs Sutherland (since deceased) and Misses Marion and Margaret, the last two residing at home. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon, when there was a large following of relatives and friends to pay their last respects to a man who was widely known. The Rev G Hercus conducted the funeral service