Biography of Allan McDonald
Allan McDonald was baptised on 2 June 1842, the son of Donald McDonald, Farmer and Ann Stuart of Auchnahannet, Scotland.
He came to New Zealand around the early 1860s and settled in Dunedin with his brothers Donald and James.
In 1875 he moved from Dunedin to Poverty Bay, went into Partnership with Percival Barker and took up the Kaiti and Whataupoko runs. Several years later the Partnership was dissolved.[1]
In 1876 Allan McDonald of Whatauopoko, Sheep farmer was duly elected to Council for the Waimata Riding.[2]
A Gazette Notice appears appointing Allan McDonald of Gisborne, a Justice of the Peace.[3]
In 1879 he was elected Member of the House of Parliament as Representative for the East Coast.
The 1882 Electoral Roll for the East Coast records Allan McDonald, Farmer, Sec 203 and 80 of the Gisborne Township.
In May 1884 he resigned his seat in controversial circumstances, leaving his letter of resignation with his Solicitor, Mr Alfred Whitaker, to be handed to the Speaker after his departure[4] for the Scottish Highlands. He returned later that year.[5]
In 1885 he was elected Mayor of Gisborne but resigned before the 1886 election “due to the death of his property manager”.
The 1887 Electoral Roll for the East Coast records Allan McDonald, Farmer, Sec 203 and 80 of the Gisborne Township.
In July 1887 he was appointed to the Gisborne Harbour Board as a Government Nominee.[6]
A Legal Gazette Notice is issued, Supreme Court of New Zealand, Chamber Business Re Allan McDonald, a lunatic – Motion.[7]
In a Court case between Allan’s brother Donald v Te Kani and Others. E[Edward] ff Ward, Solicitor deposed that he was acting as Solicitor for Allan McDonald in 1888.[8]
In the middle of May 1893 Allan left Poverty Bay on the SS Rotomahana for Melbourne.
He went missing on 24 May 1893, last being seen at the Otago Hotel, Flinders Street, Melbourne.[9]
The Victorian Police Gazette has under a notice “Missing Friends” that Allan McDonald, age 52 years is being enquired for by the Russell Street Police.[10]
[1] New Zealand Electronic Text Collection – Historic Poverty Bay and East Coast, Chapter XLII
[2] Poverty Bay Standard newspaper, Paperspast, 29 December 1876, Page 2
[3] Poverty Bay Herald, Paperspast, 8 March 1879, Page 2
[4] Mr McDonald’s Resignation, Thames Star, Paperspast, 1 May 1884, Page 2
[5] New Zealand Herald, Paperspast, 1 October 1884, Page 5
[6] Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Paperspast, 9 July 1887, Page 2
[7] New Zealand Mail, Issue 858 10 August 1888, Page 22
[8] Donald McDonald v Te Kani and Others, Civil Business in the Supreme Court, Poverty Bay Herald, Paperspast, 27 February 1890, Page 3
[9] Interprovincial, Ashburton Guardian, Paperspast, 6 September 1893, Page 2
[10] Missing Friends, Victoria Police Gazette, Australia, 24 July 1893
