Handwritten notes regarding AJ Mirrielees written during his lifetime

DescriptionWritten when AJ was 93 years old.

Transcript "Alexander James Mirrielees

Born Riverton 1878. After leaving Riverton High School was apprenticed to Mr C. F. Whiteford, chemist, of Riverton for four years — came North, qualified in Wellington and took a position with Kempthorne Prosser, then bought a pharmacy in Johnsonville where he remained 7 yrs.

While in Johnsonville he founded the Johnsonville Bowling Club and was their first champion. He was keenly interested in Rifle Volunteers and a keen shot, won the N.Z. Service Championship Belt and the Challenge Cup, several times at Trentham.

In 1910 he received a pamphlet, “Beautiful Tauranga”, put out by the late Colin Norris — came to see Tauranga, thought it a delightful place, & bought the pharmacy in the Strand, then owned by the late Mr Allely. This pharmacy has subsequently been owned by Mr L. E. Woods who moved into Grey [Street], and now by Mr G. Sinel.

Mr Mirrielees was transferred from the Johnsonville Rifles to the Sixth Hauraki Regt. in which he holds the rank of Major (retired).

He is a foundation member of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, and the Deep Sea Fishing Club in both of which clubs he has served as President. He did much to popularise deep-sea fishing at Mayor Island, and his launch “Kingfish” [text appears to continue / missing at page end].

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Mr Mirrielees served as Government nominee on the Tauranga Harbour Board for seventeen years and was Chairman from 1935 until April 1944, when failing hearing decided him to resign.

During that period he was responsible for plant[ing] Pane-Pane with pines for the Harbour Board, and he also secured Sulphur Point (the old rifle range) for the Harbour Board — hence the road named after him.

Mr Mirrielees was president of the Tauranga Golf Club, during which time he had over 30,000 trees planted on and around the course, mostly with the aid of the Government Scheme 13 during the depression.

For the years [blank / unclear] he was Chairm[an] of the Tauranga Fire Board.

He is a J.P. and for his contributions to Tauranga’s development he has been made life member[?] of the Tauranga Big Game Fishing Club, the Tauranga Golf Club, the Tauranga Club, the Tauranga Bowling Club which he joined in 19[--], the Yacht and Power Boat Club, the Fire Board, and the Tauranga Rifle Club.

The family Mirrielees belongs in Aberdeen, Scotland where Mr A. J. Mirrielees’ father, William Philip Mirrielees, was born in 1832.

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[Some of the family] migrated to Canada, America, Denmark and Australia.

William went to Moscow where he was employed as cashier in his uncle’s large soft-goods firm, still in existence in Moscow but now known as Mostorg. However, he was not long there and went to Victoria (Australia) where he engaged in mining for some time before he removed to New Zealand in 1860 and took part in the Gabriel’s Gully Gold Rush.

He settled in Orepuki, Southland, in 1871 where he took an active part in local-body affairs.

Mr A. J. Mirrielees of Tauranga (now 93 years old) is the youngest of six children, and the only survivor."

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Relates To

PeopleMirrielees, Alexander James (Alick), 1878-1972 (Person)

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Handwritten notes regarding AJ Mirrielees written during his lifetime

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