SIR PERCY SCOTT, BART.

Press, Volume XIIX, Issue 14553, 2 January 1913, Page 7

SIR PERCY SCOTT, BART.

Vice-Admiral Sir Percy Scott was born in July, 1853. Ho entered tho Navy in TiOb' and served in the Ashanti War, tho .Congo Expedition, tho Egyptian War, in South Africa, and also in tho China War of 1000. Ho invented tho night siguall ng apparatus now used in tho Royal Navy, as well.as various appliances for improving heavy gun shooting. Reference was made to his "director" for ensuring accuracy in firing, in yesterday's issue. Ho also invented tho guii carriages which enabled Gin and 4.7 in. guns to bo used in South Africa.

(From Otjb Parliamentary coruesvokuent.) WELLINGTON, January 1. SIR WALTER C. BUCHANAN, XT. Sir Walter Clarke Buchanan, Kt.. wns born in Argyllshire in 1838. 'and reccivod his early education in tho parish school at Greenock. He emigrated *o -Austraba as a lad of eighteen, and settled down to station life in victoria, bix years later ho came over to Otago, and btortlv afterwards settled on a leasehold farm iv Canterbury. Thero he did his full share of pioneering work, an when tho gold diggings wore ■ m full swing on the West Coast, ho bought cattle and dTovo them across* tho Southern Alps to Hokitika, where thero was then a gocd market. Those were stirring times, and tho young colonist had his full sharo of hard work, adventure and hardship. But Sir Walter Buchanan was ever a worker and a man of grit, and difficulties were met in a cheerful spirit r.nd gonerally overcome. In the year 1871 ho camo north and purchased his well-known station Tapurapuru in the Mnsterton district- There he set about subduing tho wilderness with tho spirit of a true pioneer, and before many years had passed ho had become ono ot the most successful farmers in tho district. He proceeded to improvt tho breed of cattle nnd sheep, and becameono of the most active promoters ot tho frozen meat industry. At its inception ho virited both England and America to study tho latest development* in machinery connected with the free-s----ing process. Ho was one of the ioundcrs, and a director, of the Wellington Meat Export Company, one of the principal meat export companies in the North Island. At tho same time, ho took a keen interest in local government, and became a member of ue South Wairarapa County Council and a Piembcr of the Wellington Education Board. For th<? past thirty years he has continued to take a keen and active interest in education. Ho was also one of tha leading spirits in connection with tho local Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and was himself an exhibitor of prize stock. In 1881 ho entered tho Houso of Representatives, as member for South Wairarapa, and represented that district for somo six years. Ho subsequently represented the Wairarapa constituency in the Houso of Representatives for many years, and is at present member for that district. In Parliament he has always been a keen critic and his knowledge of finance, local government, education, agriculture, and of public ;;frairs generally, havo been of groat value, not only to his constituency, but to tho country as a whole. During recent years he has cut up and disposed of the greater portion of his station property, but he still owns the homestead, and with it one of the finest farms in New Zealand. He has been a just and liberal employer of labour, and his private benefactions, about which th" public know nothing, have been on a very generous scale. Indeed, no deserving person in want, or tho friend of such person, over appealed to him in vain. A few venrs ago he himself built, at a cost of £0000, a hospital for incurables at Greytown, and ho has also built, out of his own private funds, a church at Gladstone.

At the time of the- formation of the Masscv Ministry, Sir Walter Buchanan magnanimously stood down in favour of some younger members of the party, though his claims to Ministerial rank were equal, if not greater, than theirs. The Reform Party in Parliament, by

whom he is greatly beloved, trero not slow to recogaiM, ■ Xi» dWnteriffitedriras in this matter. A ew years offered isuoo to the Government tho | -day xyith a view to the starting of nn experimental (arm ,n the AVaTrarapa i ...istrict, but for some Reason or other i Ins otter was. refused. Though sevontv- | lour years of ago, Sir Walter Buchanan i is still ono of the most alert and active ; i nion in Parliament. He Is ever in his | place, ready to take a hand in debate ! or in Committee work, and the longest I and stormiest- sitting docs not daunt i his spirit or overcome his wonderful I stamina. He will be at it again. aoxt day, ns fresh and alert as the youngest man upon the bvuehes. He often drives Ins own motor-car over tho Rimutalca ranges, from the Wairarnpa to Welling-" ton—a motor journey that requires w good deal of nerve nnd no little skill. At the present moment , Sir \\ alter Buchanan is on board an Orient liner, on his way to England, and the first congratuhi-' tions ho will receive will be by cable and wholes--, a ncs-sago from bis fighting chief, the Prime Minister, who, in | fair weather and foul, has stood shoulder to shoulder with him in many a hard-fought Parliamentary battle. * .

MR LEONARD STOWE, C.M.G. Mr IA-onard Stowe, C.M.G., who for some years now has been Clerk of Parliaments, was born at Trolly Hall, Buckingham, a good many years ago, aud married in 1871 the daughter of Mr Greenwood, formerly Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Representatives. He was educated at Iflley and Rugby School under Dr. Goulbnrn. He camC to New Zealand in one of tho early j ships, the Lady Alice, nnd settled at : Nelson. lie Mas secretary to Mr | Thomas Carter and to Mr A. P. Seymour, both Superintendents of the Marlborough Provincial Council. Ho was appointed Clerk to the Provincial Council in ISO 1. and Clerk to the Legislative Council in IRVS. which position ho still holds. In ISSO he succeeded Major Campbell as Clerk of Parliaments, and ho continues to act in that capacity. Ho has naturally a thorough knowledge of Parliamentary work nnd procedure, and has rendered valunblr* k.--rvice to tho Dominion. He is on enthusiastic horticulturist.