OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 13

OBITUARY

Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, C.M.G. JOURNALIST & HISTORIAN General regret will be expressed at the news of the death of Air. Thomas Lindsay Buick, C.AI.G., the wellJiiiown Wellington author, historian and journalist, which occurred yesterday in his seventy-second year. Mr. Buick was the son of the late Mr. John Walker Buick, of Oamaru, and was born and educated in that town.

Many who knew him 1 well were perhaps not aware of the varied life Air. Buick had led. In his early twenties, when resident in Blenheim, he made his entry into public life as a lecturer, and was at that time a member of the Marlborough Rugby football representative team. He was only twenty-four years of age when he was elected member of Parliament for Wairau. As such lie claimed that he was a member of the first Labour Party in this country. His talent was such that in 1891 he was selected to second the Address-in-Reply motion iu the House of Representatives and the late Hon. John Ballance, then Premier, singled him out for the position of secretary for the National Liberal Federation, which was established in 1892, an organisation which did a good deal to pave the way for'the Seddon regime. In 1893 Air. Buick was again elected member for -Wairau, and in the same year Mr. Seddon nominated him as whip to his party on its assumption of the duties of administration. But Air. Buick’s experience of politics, successful though he wak, did not enslave him. Naturally studious, he turned to journalism as an outlet for his many talents. The year 1897 saw him part proprietor of the “Manawatu Standard,” and six years later he became part proprietor of the “Dannevirke Advocate,” his work in both cases involving the full range of journalism as it was understood in the provincial Press of those days. But Air. Buick was energetic and untiring, and there were few activities for the public welfare iu which he did not play a part. Early in the century saw him a member of the Alarlborough Education Board; he also represented the Waipawa county on the board of governors of the Napier High School; he was a justice of the peace and a coroner.

These multifarious duties did not 'press too heavily upon him, for he found time for the writing of several books, without which any library of New Zealand works is incomplete. His “Old Alarlborough” (which includes 1 very fine and unbiased account of the Wairau massacre) is an illuminating volume on the early history and settlement of that province. This was so successful that it was followed by “Old Alanawatu,” which traced the history of the west coast o£ the Wellington province from the days of. Te Rauparaha down to modern times. Other works of which Air. Buick was the author were “An Old New Zealander, or the Napoleon of the South,” “The Treaty of ..Waitangi” (two editions), “New Zealand’s First War, or Hone Heke’s Rebellion” (1926), “The French at Akaroa, an Adventure in Colonisation," “Wellington, the Growth of a Great Port,” and “The Mystery of the Aloa.”

Mr. Buick was a great lover of music, and was one of the most consistent of concert-goers .up to the last He wag an honorary office bearer in the Wellington Harmonic Society, the Royal Wellington Choral Union, and other musical bodies. He was also author of brochures, “The Romance of the Gramophone” and “Elijah.” He was one of the first in the field with an idea to associate music in its highest form witli the coming centenary celebrations. He ‘.wag one of those who approached the Government with a proposal to bring out a prominent conductor and certain principals from the Old Country to assist in the performance of notable, choral and orchestral works during the centennial year.

Mr. Buick had a certain charm of personality that made him welcome in all circles. He was very widely read, and yet never paraded the fact. For his several works he was made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society'••of London. It was he who established what is known as 'The M.H.K. Medals” in the schools of Marlborough. Afterleaving the country Mr. Buick was offered and accepted a position on the staff of the Bress Association in Wellington, and was there up till the time of his retirement about, four years ago. He was then appointed to the Turnbull Library as officer of historical research (under the Department of Internal Affairs), in which capacity he did some interesting work. . He had been in indifferent health for some months past. He leaves ir widow, but no family. p Prime Minister’s Tribute Deep regret at the death of Mr. T. Lindsay Buick was expressed yesterday by the Prime Minister,- Rt. Hon. M." J. Savage. “The death of Mr. Buick will be deeply regretted by old Parliamentarians, scholars and all New Zealanders who love the story of their own country,” said Mr. Savage. “In his later years Mr. Buick was a familiar figure in the Turnbull Library, where, as a diligent historian, he was an ever-ready friend to the young student and a living source of information about New Zealand’s past. “It is not too much to say that Lindsay .Buick was one of the most remarkable of the first generation of New Zealanders. Beginning life as a catpen ter, he entered Parliament as a member of the first New Zealand Labour Party. During his term in the House of Representatives from 1890 to 1896 he belonged to that small band which stood solidly behind William Pember Reeves and the Labour laws which made this country the pioneer of social legislation. He joined the Liberals,’ and remained a- Liberal in his thoughts and' ways until the end of a varied but always useful career. “On losing his seat in Parliament, Mr. Buick turned to journalism, becoming in time assistant manager of the New Zealand Press Association Following on his retirement he gave all his time and energy to the history of Zealand, and won a world-wide reputation. •‘As an historian he tills a particular niche in New Zealand literature. It has been said of his works that his fossils are not mere ossified links with the past: they come to life on the printed page.’ He could blend romance with scientific fact. His service to the country was worth while. “He was a' good friend and a gen erous critic. The shelves of libraries tyeai- the monuments to his painstaking work. ! We all regret his passing and give, sympathy to his relatives.” Mr. Justice O’Regan’s Memories “Having served as n member of the House of Representatives with Mr. Buick, necessarily I saw and knew a great deal of him,” said Mr. Justice O’Regan last night in paying a personal

tribute. “He was electetl member of Parliament for - Wairau at the general election held on December 6, 1890, and was the youngest member serving in that Parliament; indeed, he could not have been more than 24 years old. That was the first election held under manhood suffrage, one man, one vote, having been conceded when Sir George Grey moved his amendment to the Atkinson Government Election Bill in 18S9, and the election marks an epoch in our political history.

“Before they quitted office ns the regjjlt of the election, the Atkinson Government secured the appointment of five members of the Legislative Council, and I remember that between 30 and 40 members, of whom Mr. Buick was one, of the neivly-elected House, on the Governor, Lord Onslow, to protest against what was popularly considered an abuse of authority. “I remember that after the first session the Premier, Mr. Ballance, in the course of a speech reviewing the political situation, referred in the highest terms to Mr. Buick as a Parliamentary orator, and 1 remember later, when I sat in the House myself, the member for Otaki, the late Mr. J. G." Wilson, a member of the Opposition, following Mr. Buick in debate. and warmly commending his speech and expressing the regret that we did not Jiear him more often. “It is no more than truth to say that the member for Wairau always, had the ear of the House. Indeed, he was one of the most pleasant speakers to whom I have ever listened, and in those days there were such Parliamentary debaters as Sir Robert Stout. Captain (afterward Sir William) Russell, and such forcible speakers as R. J. Seddon and John McKenzie.

“Though he censed to be a member of Parliament, Mr. Buick made a name for himself as a conipiler of New Zealand history. His career should be an inspiration to others inasmuch as he was essentially a self-educated man, having begun life as a carpenter. He was studious. industrious, always courteous and a most delightful companion.

“The news of his death has come to me as a painful surprise and I am not alone

in regarding it as a personal loss. I may add that I last met him in Auckland a few weeks ago, when he was compilin'' the life of Baron de Thierry. How fa' his work has progressed I am unable !• say, but I trust the author accomplished enough of th,e manuscript for it to be completed.”