in numbers from both sides of the Cook Strait), Mr Mackay, from his knowledge of Maori, was constantly appealed to to settle them. This resulted in his being appointed, in February 1858, to be Assistant Native Secretary, and subsequently becoming Resident Magistrate and Warden of the Collingwood goldfield.
Under instructions from the Native Secretary and Chief Land Purchase Commissioner (Mr Donald M‘Lean), Mr James Mackay proceeded to the East Coast of the Middle Island in January 1859 to make a final payment for the lands in the Province of Nelson (since Marlborough), commencing at Cape Campbell and extending to the river Hurunui. Mr James Mackay was accompanied by his cousin Alexander Mackay (now Native Commissioner for Middle Island). After completing this purchase, known as the Kaikoura purchase, the two Mackays proceeded to Christchurch, which they reached in April of that year. Here Mr James Mackay received further instructions to proceed to the West Coast and purchase the country from Kaurangi Point to Milford Haven from the resident Natives. Mr Alexander Mackay volunteered to accompany his cousin; they travelled by land, and on arriving at Lake Sumner found Mr John Rochfort, who had entered into a contract to survey the southern boundary of the Province of Nelson and to traverse the rivers Grey and Buller and some portion of the Coast line. Mr Rochfort had two survey labourers with him. At the end of April the party started to cross the saddle dividing the Hurunui and Teremakau rivers. They were doomed to be disappointed for about a week, as snow fell heavily, and they were confined to their camp. On the weather clearing, the party broke a road through the snow, and managed to reach clear ground on the Teremakau in time to camp for the night. The next day James Mackay took the lead. He and Rochfort were some distance ahead of the remainder of the party. They came to a bluff point which compelled them to cross the river. J. Mackay did not like the nearest ford, and fortunately as it turned out went to one a few yards lower down. Rochfort, however, preferred the upper one. On reaching the middle of the river he lost his footing on a slippery ledge of rock, and was rapidly carried down the stream, rolling over and over in the current, not being able to rise on account of his heavy swag from which he could not disencumber himself. Mackay heard the splash of Rochfort’s fall, and seeing it would tax his strength to the utmost to attempt to stop his companion (the current being too strong to stand still in), immediately clutched a large boulder with his right hand and caught Rochfort with his left as he floated past. He succeeded in stopping him and getting his head above water, and held him until the rest of the party came up, when with their united strength he was dragged out of the river. This spoiled some of their scanty stock of provisions and matches. The party kept together until they reached the Otira stream, when Rochfort and his men went on with the survey, which they continued down the Teremakau to Pakihi, and thence by the Brunner Lake and river Arnold to the Grey. The cousins Mackay followed the Teremakau to the sea, and went thence to Mawhera (now Greymouth). Here Mr James Mackay entered into negotiations with the Natives for the sale of their lands. They agreed to take £200 for all their claim, but declined to sell all the block lying between
