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Hello from Down Under.

The little museum on the Isle of Tiree holds an old photocopy of a seaman’s “Master Local Trade” certificate, issued to Alexander MacKINNON. [1997.145.1] [No Provenance]

The original office duplicate of 110 years ago, is held in the New Zealand National Archives, as is his “Mate’s” certificate issued a few years before.

Records in Australia, suggest this seaman, was probably born in 1869/1870.

NZ Arbitration Court records of 1915 have one Alexander MacKINNON, Mate of the ss Hawera giving evidence.

The Hawera was purpose built for the shallow draft harbour of Patea, to Wellington, trade.

Press reports of coastal shipping intelligence, record Alexander as Mate, and then Captain, serving Patea in the Hawera, and or, on one of her three sister ships, until 1926. Thereafter reports normally just stated,  McKINNON as Master or Captain, continuing until WWII, when the boat was requestioned.

During that last 20 years there were a number of Mac/McKINNON Captains serving along the NZ coast, so it becomes difficult to sort them all out, without knowing anything about this man’s heritage, or if he had other family steaming along the NZ coast.

Lyttleton/Christchurch Electoral Roll 1911 - 1914; and Wellington Central 1914 - 1919.

If those who believe they are related to this seaman make contact, I now have over 130 printed items, giving an insight to the service he played for the South Taranaki community, between WWI and WWII.

When COVID restrictions ease, I hope to have quality photos taken from the certificate duplicates.

Alan.
PS This offer of shared info comes without strings [free] paying it forward for the help given to me over the past 50 years.

Interesting.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/hang-minute-tradie-stumbles-103-year-old-time-capsule-in-gallery-wall

Alan.

Hello.

Researching the establishment and gazetting of, local public cemeteries in the 1870 - 1880’s I came upon this seemingly absurd question, by a reader to a newspaper.

“Is it necessary to include freehold allotment in cemetery, including tombstone, in property assessment schedule.”

Further research of the Auckland Star papers, found the following public notices that presumably challenged the enquirer. I did not spot a reply to the question asked.

In the case of the Waikato cemeteries, that I was looking into. Local settlements were seeking the crown to survey off, and gazette local cemeteries that were to be open to the public [ie local residents.]

The Crown required local cemetery trusts to be set up, so that the land could be vested to the community. With latter established ones, they seem to have been vested directly in already constituted, Highways Boards, and County Councils.

FREEHOLD ALLOTMENT
I find interesting. I am of the opinion that the purchaser of a cemetery, plot in the rural cemeteries I'm familiar with, would have been purchasing a right to occupy designated space, in perpetuity, within the public cemetery.

Also interesting is the possibility that the question was by a grieving parent trustee, under the terms of; letters of administration or probate.

I presume one would not be buying FREEHOLD title. Some city cemeteries of that period were already limiting the right to occupy, for years ranging from 90 to 120 years. One of the Australian MYERS, is in a grave who's right to occupy expires about now.

Also not familiar with the conditions in some cemeteries, where family tombs can be erected.

My comments are pertaining to local Waikato cemeteries. Legal ramifications with regards to graves occupied by my ancestors in Scotland, is a totally different legal scenario.

Alan.

PS A further clip not attached but link H/W
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18800929.2.25?end_date=30-10-1880&items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=property+assessment&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA&start_date=01-09-1880&title=AS

Hello from NZ.

Interested to know how many Baronets you could expect to find about 1830, with a surname starting with R.

A NZ published memoir about a voyage to NZ, leaving Gravesend in February 1853 in the SIMLAH, gives an indication of fellow passengers sharing an eight berth 2nd class cabin. One passenger is described as the young son of a Baronet.

“There were eight of us in our cabin, Mr and Mrs O. S., Mr R., who was the son of a baronet, a single lady, Miss H., afterwards called "Ducksy," also three brothers R.,¹ who were going out to learn farming.”  ………

“One day Miss H. told me they were going to have some fun with young R.² The army Captain had picked a quarrel with him, and called him out. Poor young fellow ! He quite resigned himself to be shot, wrote most affecting letters to his parents, bid us all good-bye, and made us presents. To me he gave his church service, to Miss H. his ring. I could scarcely resist telling him how it would end, but was bound to secrecy.”…………..

#1 Three ROLAND brothers are named in published lists of non-assisted passengers.
I found nothing in the NZ press, associating them with a titled family at home, and the Mr R was recorded in addition to the brothers R.

#2 … “his church service”….. may imply he was a young Lay reader within the Church of England.

The author, Annie SHEPHERD nee KEET, was only 19 at the time of sailing with her 1st born and husband.

Her reminisces, for her grand kids were written 37 years later, and are proving to be fairly accurate, in verifiable substance. Remarkable what she achieved in her 20's with children at her feet.

NZ board discussion. Annie Curme SHEPHERD nee KEET. 

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=839360.0

Alan.
Rural NZ pioneers.