PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1073, 21 July 1924, Page 5

PASSING OF A PIONEER.

SIR WALTER BUCHANAN’S DEATH. TRAGIC ENDING TO LONG LIFE. (Per Press Association). MASTERTON. July 20. Tho death occurred suddenly on Saturday night, following n motor mishap, of Sir Walter Clark Buchanan, M.L.C. Deceased was driving his car from home to town during a heavy storm. When turning a corner his hut blew off, and in an endeavour to recover it, tho car swerved into a ditch. Sir Walter left the cur and went to an adjacent house to communicate for assistance, and when he returned to the car apparently dropped dead and was found a fow minutes after by a friend who had come to his assistance. A doctor was summoned, but could only confirm the fears of his death. ’The .funeral takes place at Clureville cemetery at- noon on Tuesday, leaving his residence at Masterton at 11 o’clock. The deceased was born at Glendurvel, Scotland, on June 20, 1838, tho son of Baron Donald Buchanan, of Auchenbreck. He was educated in the parish school, Glendarvel, and later at Grenoch Academy. At 18 years of age he emigrated to Australia, where ho followed the occupation of stpekmun in Victoria lor six yours. lie joined the stream to tho goldfields of Otugo in 1863. and a year or two later leased a farm in Canterbury and engaged in cattle dealing between the two islands. In 1871 lie came to the Wairnvapa, whore he purchased the original Tupurupuru station of 13,000 acres, which he was farming at the time of his death. The late gentleman established an English Leicester stud and specialised in Lincoln sheep and Shorthorn cattle. For more than forty years lie was conspicuous in Parliamentary life in New Zealand. He first became number for Wairnrapa South in 1831. a seat which he held till 1887. Then he was member for Wairarapa till 1889. lie lost bis seat to Mr J. T. M. Hornsby and regained it in 1902. lost it again to Mr Hornsby in 1905 and regained it in 1908 and held it till 1914. He wus appointed to the l pper House in 1915, r.nd knighted in 1912. In 1881 he assisted in the flotation of the Wellington Meat Export Company, being the first chairman of directors. He also assisted in tho establishment of the Greytown and Clureville dairy factories, uml took an interest in fruit, growing. Among his benefactions are tho Buchanan Home for Incurables at Greytown. ami tho re-cently-endowed chair of agriculture for Victoria University. He was a liberal donor to patriotic funds during the war, anil took great interest in education, and for 30 years was Wairurapa member lor the Wellington Education Board. • Among his public activities he was past president and latterly patron of the Wairurapa and East Coast P. and A. Society, and a prominent member of the Council of Agriculture and the Royal Agricultural Socioty. Ono of his latest interests was in the establishment of Flock House for tho training of British boys. Ho leaves two nephews at Masterton and two nieces living in Hawera.

Tho late Sir Walter Buchanan was in good health up to the time of his death and last week attended meetings in Wellington of the Council of Agriculture and of the Royal Horticultural Socioty in both of which he took a keen interest. Me had many friends in this district who will learn with regret of the passing of one of the pioneers of farming m New Zealand.

PRIME MINISTER’S TRIBUTE. “PATRIOT AND PHILANTIIROPIT.” The Prime Minister, who was deeply moved by the news of Sir Walter Buchanan’s death, paid a striking tribute to his memory and public service. “Sir Wulter Buchanan,” said Mr Massey, “was in my room on Thursduy last, with a deputation, urging the importance of progress with scientific agricultural education, at which he was one of the speakers, lie spoke well, and with great earnestness, because lie spoke on a subject which was very close to his heart. It can be imagined, then, what a shock it was when the news of his death reached my homo last evening. “Sir Walter Buchanan hud been one of my staunchest friends from tho day when I first took my seat in Parliament in June, 1894, and I speak of what 1 know when I say that ho was one of tho whitest men the Creator ever made. lie has died us he lived —in harness —ijoing what he believed to be his duty to tho very last. llis last fniblic act, on Thursday, was typical of lim. Ho offered, if need be, to make u further donation from his private funds to supplement his munificent gift of £IO,OOO to endow a Chair of Agriculture.” "Now that he has gono wo shall begin to realise what we have lost —a patriot and a philanthropist in tho best sense of the terms. Ho loved the country of his birth with an affection which never waned. He loved the country of his adoption with a love which found expression in numberless instances. Through the long strenuous years of war his head, heart and pocket wero always ready to respond to the calls as they came along, “In private life thoro are very many people to-day who have reason to remember his memory with gratitude. But he made no parade of his benefactions; ho ucted on the principle. ‘Let not your left hund know what your right hand dooth.’ “Ho has gono to liia rest, full of years and honours, respected by all who knew him. Tho more he was known, tho more highly was he respected. Wo part from him with the feeling that we shall not soon see his like again.”

It is understood that Parliament will adjourn to-morrow out of respect to the memory of Sir Walter Buchanan. The funeral will take place at Clareville cemetery at noon to-morrow. It will be preceded by a service at deceased’s lute residence, Lansdowne, Mastertoi. The Prime Minister states that ho will not be able to attend the funeral, much as ho desires to do, as he will have to he in his place in the House of Representatives to move the adjournment of the House.