HISTORIC HOMESTEAD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 14

HISTORIC HOMESTEAD

LINK WITH BUSBY FAMILY EARLY DAYS OF DALKEITH Dalkeith, the home of Sir Frederick McMaster, in the Mudgee district of New South Wales, at which Lord ard Lady Bledisloe have been guests, h*,s an historic importance, of interest to New Zealand. Dalkeith was originahy portion of the grant, called Cassilis, to Sir. John Busby, the father of Mr. James Busby, formerly British Resident in New Zealand. The name was bestowed upon it because of Mrs. Busby'* descent from the Scottish noble family • of Cassilis. Mrs. Busby was formerly Miss Sarah Kennedy, daughter of a younger brother of an Earl of Cassilis. Dalkeith is now world famous on account of its Merino stud. Sir Frederick, who has been host to many distinguished visitors to New South Wales, was in Otago and Canterbury not so long ago, observing New Zealand methods in stock raising. Because of its association with the Busby family, and his own gift of the Wat- % tangi Estate, once .the home of, Sir. j James Busby, Lord Bledisloe's visit to Dalkeith has been full oif interest to him. There is still a member of the Busby * family, a direct descendant ,of the original owner, residing at Cassilis. Mr. Alexander Busby is a grandson of that Mr. Alexander Busliy, owner of Cassilis, who visited his brother James at the Bay of Islands early in 1840, on the eve of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Curiously enough, both James and Alexander Busby died in England, and are buried in Norwood Cemetery, London.