John McLachlan (Ashburton.)

The following appears, in the "Press" under the heading of " Pen Portraits from Parliament" (by an Impressionist).

The representative of Ashburton is about the wildest-looking specimen in the Parliamentary collection. But if. he is in the rough to gaze on, he can give " points" to some more ornamental members in the matter of ability and originality of thought and expression. He is a sturdily built, carelessly dressed man, with a large head, made to look larger by the wild disorder of a huge shock of curly hair. He is a farmer, and might have stepped out of his market trap into his place in the House. He is, as a rule, a breezy, happy-go-lucky sort of member, with a good sensß of humour, with a fine stock of anecdotes, and a great admiration for and acquaintance with the writings of his national poet, Robbie Burns. If ever he wants to cap a story or illustrate a point he levies toll on his readings of Burns. He is a shrewd man, and has given glimpses of more ability than he is usually credited with. His attention to;politics, however, is spasmodic, and his influence in the House is limited.