People Talked About

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue III, 16 January 1904, Page 2

People Talked About

The Late Hon. W. C. Walker. The late Hon. W. ('. Walker for many years was intimately connected with the politics of the colony, hut some of the best. work he did was in connection with the development of Canterbury, he having devoted a great deal of time and energy to advancing the welfare of this provincial district; indeed, it was from the old Provincial Council that Le graduated to the General Assembly, and rose from a private member to be a Minister of the Crown, and latterly Speaker of the Legislative Council. He was the eldest son of the late Sir William Stuart Walker, K.C.8., who for many years was chairman of the Board of Supervision in England. He was born in 1837 at Bowlandston, Midlothian, Scotland, and was educated at Trinitv College, Glenalmond,

Perthshire and Trinity College, Oxford. He graduated at the latter institution, and there he took the degree of M.A. in 18(52. He landed at Lyttelton in the Evening Star with his brother. Mr. A. J. Walker, and they engaged in sheep-farm-ing pursuits for many years. Their station in Ashburton district is known as “Mount Possession.” Fifteen years after his arrival in the colony the deceased entered publie life, being elected first chairman of the Ashburton County Council in 1877. He held that position continuously until 1893. In 1884 he was returned to Parliament as representative of an Ashburton constituency, and stood as a supporter of Sir Julius Vogel. He was one of the staunchest supporters of the Stout-Vogel coalition, his loyalty never wavering even in the stormiest times through which that regime passed. He w’as re-elected for Ashburton in 1887, but at the third contest in 1890 lost his seat. For six years he was whip to his party. He had thrown in his lot with

the Ballance Government, which in 1892 had him called to the Legislative Council. Soon after, in 1696, Mr. Walker was appointee! Minister for Education, in succession to Mr. W. P. Reeves, and at the same time he became Minister for Immigration. While he held the portfolio of Education he was also leader of the Government in the Council. For many years he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, and was also a member of the Canterbury Land Board. Just before the session last year began it was announced that Mr. Walker, owing to failing health, had relinquished office, and the portfolio of Education was taken by Mr. Seddon. Mr. Walker was then appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council. In 1871 Mr. Walker married a daughter of the late Archdeacon Wilson, of Christchurch. He leaves a widow, five sons and one daughter. Only one son. Mr. C. R. Walker, is in Christchurch at present. Lord Kitchener in India. the tour which Lord Kitchener has just completed on the north-west frontier of India is the most complete ever undertaken by a Commander-in-Chief. He has inspected the whole of our frontier line from Quetta to Gilgit, and examined every fort and point of natural vantage in the country, so that he is now in a position . o gauge exactly the chances of a Russian invasion. It is stated that Lord Kitchener has found our forts defended as usual in large measure by the obsolete muzzle-loaders, and has given orders tor rneir replacement by quick firing guns. He lias also discovered our telegraphic and signalling methods to be out of date. Lord Kitchener has just introduced an important ami far-reaching scheme for renumbering our Indian army throughout, and he is credited with the intention of reorganising it completely and putting it on a war footing. When two men of such energy as Lord Curzon and Lord Kitchener get together at the head of affairs reforms are at hand, and these are now in progress in India.

Mi-. Geach earned the reputation of being one of the smartest advance agents in the colonies, and since he has assumed the managerial role he has always brought along something well worth seeing.