THE NEW YEAR HONOURS.

Press, Volume XIIX, Issue 14553, 2 January 1913, Page 6

THE NEW YEAR HONOURS.

People of all parties will unite in congratulating Sir "\Y alter Buchanan on tho honour of knighthood that has been conferred on him in the New Year Honours. Sir Walter Buchanan is a very fine typo of pioneer-colonist, whoso energy, capacity, public spirit, devotion to principle, kindly disposition, aud political unselfishness, aro a model to tho rising generation. When ho camo to New Zealand ho had nothing but his strength and his brains to help him along, but he made such good uso of his opportunities that he became a leading pastoralist. To men like. Mr Buchanan, who broke in tho wilderness and built up our export, trade, tho Dominion owes a great deal, and it is very fitting that a representative of tho class should bo honoured. But Mr Buchanan has other claims to distinction. Ho has been actively interested for many years in public affairs, a keeu worker in tho education world for thirty years, and an untiring and most useful member of Parliament, while his benefactions, about which, as our Parliamentary correspondent says, tho public knows nothing, havo been on a very liberal scale. As a public man his chief characteristics have been his probity and unselfishness. Ho never sought office and no ono has ever accused him of having an axe to grind. Sir Walter Buchanan is very vigorous in his old age—in this respect he romiiHfa ono of Mr Bryec—and every ono will wish him many years of enjoyment of his well-deserved honour. The Companionship of Si. Michael and St. Georgo conferred on Mr Leonard Stowe, Clerk of Parliaments in

New Zealand, is a fitting recognition of long service well and faithfully performed.

The Homo honours aro not exciting. A message published yesterday stated that it was understood a peerage would be conferred on Mr James Bryce, tho retired ambassador at Washington. This is not confirmed, but even if it is not correct, the honour will doubtless be bestowed sooner or later. Mr Bryce is one of the greatest Englishmen of his day. and would naturally be given a seat in the House of Lords. Ho intends to devote the rest of ]ii s life to literature, but he will doubtless find timo to attend some of the debates in the House of Lords, whero his splendid intellect aud profound knowledge of foreign affairs will bo of tho greatest value. Sir George Sydenham Clarke, who lioconies a peer, is a distinguished soldier and public servant, who has crowded an immense amount of varied work into his life. Probably no man has a more comprehensive and accurate knowledge of Imperial defence questions, and it has been contended that ho would havo served the Empiro better had he remained secretary* of the Imperial Defence Committee, instead of going out as Governor of Bombay. He. too, will be a great acquisition to the House of Lords. Sir Percy Scott, who is made a baronet, is well-known to all who follow naval affairs, as tho virtual father of modern gunnery in tho Navy, but is more widely known for his connection with tho defence of Ladvsmith.