Douglas Macarthur

Douglas Macarthur

Douglas Macarthur was appointed as Arthur Halcombe’s assistant – officially titled the sub agent to the Emigrant and Colonists’ Aid Corporation.  From 1874 he was based in Feilding, and lived there until his death in May, 1892.

Douglas Macarthur was the first mayor of Feilding, served as chairman of the Manawatu County Council, the Manchester Roads Board and the Oroua County Council and eventually became Member for the House of Representatives for Rangitikei, a position he still held at the time of his death.

Macarthur was also active in many community organizations, not only in Feilding, but also Manawatu-wide – including the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association.  When he died suddenly in his mid fifties, the Manawatu community felt a genuine sense of loss.

In both Palmerston North and Feilding there are streets named after Douglas Macarthur – the one at Terrace End in Palmerston North being on the site of what was originally a section owned by the Emigrant and Colonists’ Aid Corporation, and which had a emigration barracks building on it in the 1870s.  New arrivals bound for the Manchester Block, would stay here overnight on their journey from the port of Foxton to Feilding. 

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