DEATH IN OFFICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22192, 20 August 1935, Page 10

DEATH IN OFFICE

RUGBY UNION OFFICIAL' MR. THOMAS BUCHANAN A well-known official of the Auckland Rugby Union, Mr. Thomas Buchanan, aged 65, an accountant, of 218 Balmoral Road, Mount Eden, was found sitting dead in a chair in an office in the Victoria Insurance Building;, Shortland Street, early yesterday morning. The discovery was made by a cleaner working in the building. It was Mr. Buchanan's practice to work at the office at the -week-ends. In a letter received yesterday morning by a solicitor, Mr. Buchanan referred to his financial affairs. At an inquest opened yesterday afternoon before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., and adjourned, evidence was given by George Alexander Buchanan, a son of deceased, that his father had been in ill-health for the past few years.' Mr. Buchanan was keenly interested in Rugby football, and for the past 15 years he had been honorary press representative of the Auckland Union. He was the first elected life member of the Taranaki Rugby Union, of which he was president for several years, and was manager of several Rugby teams which represented Auckland and Taranaki. Mr. Buchanan also took a keen interest in wrestling. During his residence in Taranaki he was prominent as a racehorse owner, racing under the namo of "W. Raleigh.'' The bestknown horse he owned was Rewi Poto, which in the 1919 Wellington Cup deadheated with Red Ribbon. Mr. Buchanan is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. H. G. Ashby, Sydney, and Miss B. C. Buchanan, Auckland, and a son, Mr. G. ABuchanan, Patumahoe.