The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1913.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3719, 3 January 1913, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1913.

9here is only one New Zealand name

A Tribute to a Worthy Settler.

on the list so far published of those who have been lion-

ored by His Majesty the King on the occasion of the customary gift of titles at New Year time. It. willj however, be generally recognised that the tribute in question is thoroughly well deserved, for no more worthy resident ol' this Dominion could be found than Mr. Walter Clarke Buchanan, M.P. for the Wairarapa, who, it will be seen, has been made a Knight Bachelor. Mr Buchanan, as is well-known, is now well advanced in years, having been born

in Argyllshire as far back as 1838, | which fact makes him now in,his 75th I year. He is,- undoubtedly a splendid j example of tlie numerous section of early settlers ;iWlio, despite tlie diffieulties which attended colonisation, managed by dint of a tremendous capacity for hard work and prudent management of their affairs, to amass what is regarded in this- Dominion as a fairly considerable amount of-wealth. It was in 1857 —when only 19 years of age —that Mr Buchanan emigrated., to,Victoria. He decided, however, to come straight on to Otago, where, for six years,’ viz., from 1837 to 1803, he was engaged in pastoral pursuits. -Mr Buchanan then went up to Canterbury, where he settled on a leasehold property, which he worked very successfully for about eight years. At the beginning of the TO’s he was able to purchase the now very valuable property, the Tupurupuru Station in the Wairarapa. To the older settlers Mr Buchanan is best known, in addition to having been a prominent politician for over 30 years, as one of the pioneers in connection with the frozen meat industry, the export of dairy produce, and tlie establishment of high class flocks and herds. He was, it may, for instance, be mentioned, a founder and director of the Wellington Meat Export Coy. As regards politics, Mr Buchanan’s name is, of course, writ large in that important portion of the history of the Dominion. A staunch member of the old Conservative party, and later a keen supporter of the Reform party, he has represented Wairarapa with only two breaks of three years each from 1881 with credit to himself and to his electorate. This, no doubt, is a record of which any politician might well feel proud, but the honor attaching to the length of his term of office, it will be agreed, is eclipsed by the high reputation which he has earned for sincerity of political conviction, for enthusiasm in a political cause which he firmly believes is for the great advantage of the Dominion as a whole, and for hard, hut clean political fighting. As is well-known, Mr Buchanan could even to-day, if -the necessity arose, take a giant’s share- in a protracted

“stone-wall” which would eoreiy test tlie physical strength of the most sturdy among his younger eo-members of Parliament. It would, of course, seem an open secret that if he had been agreeable he could not have been refused a portfolio in the present Government. What is suggested in this regard is that he may have felt that his earlier prominent connection with the old Tory party might be used against the Reform Government, n the truth were only told, however, it might appear that his action in “standing down” was merely a further evidence of that generosity which is a feature of his character, as he would, no doubt, feel that he could afford to allow a younger man to be given a chance to distinguish himself in the more responsible duties which fall to the lot of members of a Ministry. Much excellent work, it will also be generally recognised, has been done by Mr Buchanan in many other directions. He has been, for example, a valuable member of the South Wairarapa County Council, a useful member of the Wellington Education Board, a worthy president of the Wairarapa A. and P. Association, etc., etc. With all his means, it is especially worthy of note, the new Knight Bachelor lias also proved one of the most generous settlers of the Dominion. It is, for instance, only a few i months ago when a benevolent instij tution for which he subscribed £6OOO | was officially opened in his district, j He also offered in the days of the j Ward Government to give some £4OOO or more if the State would establish an j experimental farm in the Wairarapa. j His name, too, is associated with the i gift of parks, balls, etc., in various parts of tlie electorate, which he so ably and conscientiously represents. If the hundreds upon hundreds of monetary gifts which it is known he has made privately as well as those which he has made publicly, to help one cause or another, could be taken into account, the total extent of his benefactions to date, it would be safe to say. would reach an astonishingly mrge figure. Under all the circumstances. then, it should corne as no 'surprise if the elevation to knighthood of the member for Wairarapa is greeted with extreme pleasure by people of all classes —and of all, shades of politics —for the recipient has undoubtedly well-earned the honor which he has just had conferred upon him. j