THE LATE SIR WALTER BUCHANAN

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 256, 24 July 1924, Page 7

THE LATE SIR WALTER BUCHANAN

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL’S TRIBUTE

“THE GRAND OLD MAN OF THE

WAIRARAPA”

The Leader of the Legislative Council yesterday asked the Council’s leave to move a motion in reference to the death of Sir Walter Buchanan, AI.L.C. Sir Francis Bell said that the moving of the official tribute which the Council always paid to one of its members whose life had ended had fallen to his lot, but it expressed more’ to them than its formal words conveyed. He did not propose to follow tho practice of. dealing in detail with the several incidents of Sir Walter Buchanan’s public or private life because he was sure there were few of them who were not acquainted with their late friend’s record. He had held a peculiar place in the. public and private life of the Dominion, in that in every capacity he had commanded the respect of all in a measure which had been rarely approached. Throughout a long life lie had been as careful of his own health as he was of his own affairs. The sagacity and good management he personally exercised he carried into his public life, and his dealings with legislation and administration. Even in his old age it was wonderful how his great capacity had been maintained and to such an extent that it would be hard to fill the place he held in the Dominion. Sir Walter Buchana not only held a big place in the public esteem, but was similarly situated in the esteem of his personal friends. He gained not only the respect but the affection of every member of the Council. They felt his loss more than in other gatherings of public or private men. He was not an eloquent speaker, but he spoke with great deliberation and. every word was weighted with obvious sincerity, and his words had considerable influence and value. His geniality and. kindly nature attracted all who associated with him. Sir Francis Bell spoke as one of Sir AValter Buchanan’s life-long friends, who had boon closely associated with him in public affairs, and his loss would leave a gap in the speaker’s life. He knew that those he invited to participate in the motion felt as he did, and shared their sorrow with all those who mourned the death of a great man. He moved: “That this Council, records its sense of the great services rendered to New Zealand by tho late Hon. Sir Walter Buchanan, a member of tho Legislative Council and formerly' a member of the House of Representatives, and respectfullv tenders to his family an assurance of its sympathy with them in their bereavement.” , The Hon. J. Grimmond, in seconding the motion, recalled Sir Walter Buchanan’s connection with the AVest Coast, and throughout his business and private life there he had always been held in the highest esteem and respect—he was a man everybody trusted, straightforward and honourable. He. was always ready to help those in distress, and well deserved his success in life and the honours paid him. The Hon. C. H. Izard endorsed every word which fell from the Leader of the Council. Ho had known Sir AValter Buchanan for over 40 years, and sat with him in tho other House, where ho was one of the most generous opponents. He was of magnetic and attractive personality and was an example to all of them. He was a man of considerable industry, marvellous energy, and unswerving loyalty not only to his party but to the Dominion; generous and open-handed

1 and always ready to advise and assist - oven those who were not associated ; with him in his politics. He was in- . deed AYairarapa itself, and it would be many years before they would have such another so well acquainted with the requirements of that district. Air. Izard said he felt that the good work which Sir Walter Buchanan had done would live for many years after he had gone. He fell in harness, as ho would have liked to, and passed away as they all would prefer to. The Hon. Dr. Collins paid a tribute to a friend of forty years whose friendship he had esteemed so long and whose confidence he had treasured. In 1871. Sir Walter Buchanan had. brought his land in' the Wairarapa in its virgin state, and by pluck and perseverance ■ had improved and built a great home for himself. While working on that station. _he contributed materially to tho political, social, and educational development of the Dominion, gave generously and wisely, and so ingrained himself into the hearts of the neopie , where he lived that he earned the name of the “Grand Old Man of the Wairarapa.” The huge concourse of people who gathered from the whole countryside to pay their last respects to his memory was without precedent in the history of the AYairarapa. He had been one of the greatest men in the Dominion, and his loyalty to the land of his adoption, his endeavours ■ to help those in distress, his generosity towards the establishment of a Chair i of Agriculture at Victoria College, and his promise of only a few days ago of ; not having reached the end of his tether in that respect, were character- : istic of his long and well-spent life. : The Hon. R. Moore believed he i first knew Sir AValter Buchanan before ; any of those present, for he was only 1 a vouth when he first came in contact 1 with him. Sir AValter was then farm- i ing at Sefton and trading to the ] West Coast with cattle. It was a business of day and night in the saddle, i for he developed tho largest cattle i trade then known, and he always main- i tained the respect and esteem of those i ho had transactions with. In his pub- i lice work he had set an example to i all of them as well as to the rising generation. The Hon. AA r . H. Triggs said he had first met Sir AValter Buchanan forty years ago, and he had always found him a man who never swerved from the path of duty. His name would always be held in respect and affection. His judgment was shrewd, and lie tried to assist in laying the foundation of the Dominion on right lines. No one had

ever suggested that Sir AValter did not deserve the prosperity he enjoyed. He took up his land in an unimproved state, and despite difficulties and discouragements he won out.. AVhen success camo at last he realised ho was onlv the trustee of his great wealth. Ho devoted much time and monev in enterprises of benefit to his fellowsottlers .from which he personally reaped little benefit, but was always readv to help those less fortunate than himself. The Hon. R. Scott spoke as a colleague of Sir AValter Buchanan in the other House, where ho had one of the most favourable opportunities of. gauging his character and his work.: Ho was an exceptional man. of splendid character, great foresight, and considerable • forethought. He was a man anrono would be proud to knew; loval to his King and country, his party and his conscience. A stranger might think him , abrupt and strorigwilled. but deep in his heart ho was one of tho strongest in sympathising with the weakness of his fellow-men,

and always willing to give a helping hand to those who really required it. The Hon. AV. Earnshaw referred to the days of 1891-96, when Sir AValter Buchanan, the late John Duthie, and Sir AVilliam Russell did wonderfully good work on the Labour Bills Committee and gave them a new outlook on labour problems. The Hon. T. AV. Hislop stated that in the 80’s he was a fellow-member of the House of Representatives with Sir Walter Buchanan, and although ho had not come into contact with him before, he recognised by his speeches that he was a man of great principles, wide knowledge, and considerable selfreliance. with a desire to make tho Dominion a very much better country than it was. He was always willing to give a fellow-colonist a helping hand. The Hon. G. J. Garland said he recognised Sir AValter Buchanan as a man of transparent honesty, and the one man in tho AVairarapa who recognised the importance of higher education. ’ His charities, kindiv acts, manliness. truthfulness, and honesty, appealed to all who had the privilege of his acquaintance. The Hon. H. E. Alichcl said that when the history of New Zealand was written and the matter of land settlement and primary industries was dealt with, no one would stand out more prominently than the great statesman who had iust passed away. The Hon. J. Barr thought they had much need to be proud of one who had the best character and all the Ixjst virtues. He a great representative of the country he camo from. His honesty and integrity and his loyalty to King and country. were all powerful in his composition, in addition to his sympathy with his fellowmen. The motion was then carried. At the Chamber of Commerce yesterday the chairman (Air. 11. D. Bennett), in paying a tribute to the memory of tho late Sir AValter Buchanan, said that all felt a deep sense of loss in the passing, of such a notabla personality in public life,.- and it was the chamber’s duty to place on record its high regard for him. This was agreed to. At a meeting of the Harbour Board , last night, on the motion of the chairman (Mr. G. Alitehcll). regret was expressed at tho death of Sir Walter Buchanan.