Sir WALTER CLARKE BUCHANAN New Zealand
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ngairedith
ngairedith
Sir Walter Clarke Buchanan (1838-1924) was born in Kilmodan, Argyllshire, Scotland on 20 June 1838. He was the son of the farmer Donald McChananich and of his wife Janet Clarke. He was baptised under McChananich, the Gaelic version of Buchanan.
He attended Greenock Academy and moved to Australia at the age of 18, where he became a farmer.
Around 1863 he moved to Otago, New Zealand where he and a partner, John Ferguson, found work carrying and stock-dealing on the Otago goldfields.
In 1865 they moved to Canterbury and rented a farm, but the gold discoveries of that year lured them to the West Coast where they engaged in packing and ran a store in Hokitika. Two years later he returned to Canterbury and used a Halswell farm largely as a base for further stock trading.
About 1871 Walter moved up to the North Island. In 1873 he raised a £20,000 mortgage and bought the 10,000-acre Tūpurupuru run in south Wairarapa for £21,000 (equivalent in 2017 to $2,775,000). He cleared almost all the original bush and established an English Leicester flock, later specialising in Lincolns and in shorthorn cattle. He worked hard to improve his property, paying very careful attention to the marketing of the stock. Unlike some other station owners he was personally frugal and led a simple life without lavish expenditure on houses. Walter never married.
NOTE of interest Gladstone, Wairarapa, was the name given to a planned township of 150 sections subdivided from the Tupurupuru Estate in 1870. By 1873 only 23 plots had sold and the promised railway line hadn’t eventuated, but Gladstone School was established in 1876 as planned.
Nearly 100 years later, in 1968, Gladstone School assimilated the schools from Te Whiti, Maungaraki and Longbush and as a result Gladstone became the catch-all name for the wider rural district. The Māori name for the place is still Tupurupuru, after a young warrior who slayed a taniwha that had been devouring locals in the hills behind the school.
Walter took an active part in farmers' organisations. He was one of the founders of the Wairarapa and East Coast Pastoral and Agricultural Society in 1877 and served as its president. He played a leading role in campaigns to eradicate scab and rabbits. He also worked to bring down freight rates for farmers and in 1912 was instrumental in forming a farmers' shipping company, Geo. H. Scales Limited.
A tireless advocate of the frozen-meat trade, he was the principal promoter of the Wellington Meat Export Company; he chaired its first meeting on 6 Sep 1881, served as its chairman for the next 12 years and was a member of the board & director of the company, for many years after that.
He assisted in the establishment of several dairy factories and was the first chairman of directors of the co-operative dairy company formed at Greytown in 1881.
Walter inevitably entered national politics. He was MHR for Wairarapa South (1881–1887) and then represented Wairarapa (1887-1899, 1902-1905 and 1908-1914). He was in Parliament for much of the next 33 years, losing three elections. In the four general elections between 1881 - 1890, he always beat Henry Bunny who had represented the Wairarapa electorate continuously since an 1865 by-election.
He was a staunch conservative, supporting free trade in the 1880s and opposing the protective tariff of NZ's 10th Premier, Harry Albert Atkinson in 1888.
Walter was a strong critic of the Liberal reforming legislation of the 1890s. Although entirely devoid of parliamentary eloquence, he was perceived as possessing a 'phenomenal capacity for legislative drudgery.' In the House, he was a staunch conservative voice and a diehard opponent of the Liberal government of Richard Seddon.
He became a member of the Reform Party that formed in 1909. Despite never being appointed as a minister, he was an influential politician and a strong advocate for farming interests.
He was described as being 'as blunt as the square toe of his boots' and 'one of a brace of the bitterest anti-Seddon politicians in either House'.
Walter's wealth gave him considerable influence in conservative politics, particularly in the years of opposition prior to 1912. In 1907 he bought 800 £5 shares at the founding of The Dominion as a newspaper supporting the opposition. Although he never attained ministerial office, behind the scenes he exercised much influence and became a close adviser to William Ferguson Massey.
27 June 1917 - FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYS his homestead at Tupurupuru
Sir Walter escaped in his night attire at 2 in the morning ..
22 June 1918 - Sir Walter's 80th Birthday
Many Happy Returns Of The Day
.. A brief outline of the career of the 'Knight of Tupurupuru" is given in the 'Age" this morning .. he spends much of his time at Tupurupuru, although since his homestead was destroyed by fire he has taken up his residence in Masterton. He can ride over his property with the youngest men, can assist in drafting stock and can perform many acts of endurance which would put younger men to shame .. (more at link)
from the Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 July 1924
TRAGIC DEATH of Sir WALTER CLARKE BUCHANAN
(taken from papers of the day so some info may repeat)
The death occurred about 8.30 o'clock on Saturday evening, under somewhat tragic circumstances, of Sir Walter Clarke Buchanan, M.L.C. It appears that Sir Walter had agreed to meet the Hon. Alexander Donald McLeod (Minister for Lands) at the Masterton railway station on arrival of the evening train from Wellington and drive him to the Masterton Club, where it was proposed to entertain the Minister in honour of his elevation to Cabinet rank.
The night was dark and stormy and there was rain and hail from the south falling. Sir Walter was driving from his house at Lansdowne and when near the corner at the foot of the hill, a sudden gust of wind blew his hat off and in attempting to recover it he momentarily lost control of his motor and the latter went into a ditch near by. Sir Walter was driving slowly and the car just dropped into the drain. Sir Walter got out and walked to Mr Vincent Gray Darroch's (1881-1949) house in King Edward street, where he asked to use the telephone. He rang up the Masterton Club, told of his mishap and asked that someone should come up for him, adding that he would be standing by the car.
Sir Walter then left the house, declining the assistance of Mrs Darroch (Annie Hendry nee Haddell 1877-1954) down some steps. He went on to the road, with the intention of waiting for the new car to arrive and Mrs Darrock, feeling somewhat uneasy about him, followed. She was horrified, on going to the back of the car, to find him lying on the ground, apparently dead. She ran into Mr Webster's house for assistance and when she got back to the car, Mr Alexander Anthony Gordon Pilmer (1863-1928) had arrived.
Mr Pilmer, who was in the Masterton Club, volunteered to take his car up. When Mr Pilmer approached the corner he saw the car in the ditch, but nobody was visible. As he got nearer he saw a dark object on the ground at the back of the car and on getting out found that it was Sir Walter lying face down on the ground. Turning him over, he spoke but got no reply. Mr Pilmer at once took the seat out of the car and got Sir Walter on to it, off the drenched ground. At that moment Miss Knight, who lives in a neighbouring house, came up. Having a good knowledge of first aid, she assisted Mr Pilmer in the effort to restore life. Mrs Darroch then came along and at Mr Pilmer's request returned to her home and rang up Dr Hosking. Mr Webster also arrived and a few drops of stimulants were applied to Sir Walter's lips. There were, however, no signs of life and when Dr Hosking arrived he was only able to pronounce life extinct, death being due to heart failure. The body was then taken to the Masterton Hospital and yesterday morning it was removed to the residence in Lansdowne.
The late Sir Walter, in spite of having endured all the vicissitudes of the pioneer and having devoted himself energetically to the public and commercial life of the Dominion, was hale and hearty right up to the time of his tragic death.
Deceased was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, on June 20th 1838 and was educated at the parish school at Greenock. While still in his teens he decided to emigrate to the colonies and reached Melbourne in 1857. He spent six years on Victorian stations gaining experience and in 1863 landed in Otago. Later he settled in Canterbury, where he leased a farm. He was actively engaged for a period in stock-dealing with the West Coast.
After spending eight years in the South Island, he came to the Wairarapa and in 1871 purchased the Tupurupuru estate of 13,000 acres, in conjunction with his brother (Donald Buchanan). After a few years the partnership was dissolved and Mr Donald Buchanan took up land in the Hawera district, where he died about 14 years ago. Tupurupuru at that time was covered in bush and in a very rough state. By dint of hard work and good management, Sir Walter brought the property into a high state of cultivation and it was later considered one of the most improved properties in the Dominion. As a breeder of Shorthorns and Lincolns, he established a Dominion reputation and was a prominent prize-taker at various shows in New Zealand.
NOTES on brother Donald Buchanan (1831-1910)
. born in Kilmodan, Argyll, Scotland.
* his wife, Mary Whyte (1834-1918), was born at Kilmur, Scotland about 1834, the daughter of John Whyte, a farmer, and Catherine nee Clarke. She married Donald Buchanan at Kilmur, about 1860 and they sailed to Victoria, Australia. Later Mary took three children, including daughters Kate and Jessie back to Scotland to be educated, while Donald joined his brother Walter in New Zealand. In 1875 Mary and the children came to New Zealand to where Donald and Walter had taken up land in the Wairarapa. In 1878 the family moved to Hawera, living there until later moving to an Ohangai farm. After the death of Donald, Mary and her family moved to a house they built at 301 South Road, Hawera and Mary died there on 5 Nov 1918. She is buried in Hawera.
* daughter Catherine Marion 'Kate' Buchanan (1862-1948)
* daughter Janet Clarke 'Jessie' Buchanan (OBE 1868-1966)
* son John Whyte Buchanan (1870-1957)
Walter took a particularly active interest in the welfare of the Wairarapa, especially in connection with the farming community. For many years he was a member of the Wairarapa South County Council and a prominent member of the Wairarapa Pastoral and Agricultural Society, being largely responsible, when president, in providing the present splendidly-equipped showgrounds. He took a very keen interest in education and rendered yeoman service for over thirty years on the Wellington Education Board.
In 1881 he became a member of the House of Representative for Wairarapa, being a supporter of the late Sir Harry Atkinson. On five successive occasions he was returned by substantial majorities until he was defeated by the late Mr John Thomas Marryat Hornsby, the Liberal candidate, whose support lay in small towns. In subsequent political contests he was twice defeated by Mr Hornsby but was member for Wairarapa in 1902, 1908 and 1911, defeating Mr Hornsby on these occasions.
When he was defeated in 1914 by Mr Hornsby, Walter retired and was appointed to the Legislative Council (existed 1853 - 1951).
He took a prominent part some years ago in the formation of the Freight Reduction Committee, which secured valuable concessions in the matter of shipping freights to wool-growers.
He was a prominent member of the Council of Agriculture, taking an active part in the debates of that body. He also supported very strongly the formation of the Royal Agricultural Society and had looked forward with keen interest to the first Royal Show. He was on the executive of the N.Z. Sheep-owners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund and took an interest in the establishment by that organisation of the training farm which had just been opened (1923) at the Flock House Estate, Rangitikei.
His latest activity in the interests of farming was the creation of a Chair of Agriculture at Victoria College. Profoundly impressed with the neglect of agricultural training and the drift of young men towards the professions and the towns, Sir Walter offered a donation of £10,000 (equivalent in 2017 to $1,187,600) to endow a Chair of Agriculture at Victoria University College. He had the satisfaction of seeing the first professor appointed and of discussing with him the development of the scheme.
Walter was created a Knight Batchelor in the New Year honours 1913. He was the reform party's first knight
He was a keen sport, an enthusiastic Caledonian and a trusted friend. In his long career he had performed many acts of public and private benevolence. The establishment of the Buchanan Home at Greytown for aged men and women will stand for all time as a monument to his philanthropy.
During the war, Sir Walter Buchanan displayed remarkable patriotism. He gave thousands of pounds to the various patriotic causes and almost every week saw his name figuring in connection with one or other patriotic appeal. He was a valuable member and past president of the Wairarapa Patriotic Association and manifested a great interest in the welfare of the returned soldiers.
He spent much of his time at Tupurupuru, although, since his homestead was destroyed by fire, he had resided in Masterton. He first lived in Cornwall street (coming there in 1917), until a few years ago, when he went to reside with his nephew, Mr D. Buchanan, at Lansdowne. Another nephew, Mr J. W. Buchanan (John Whyte 1872-1957), also lives at Lansdowne. Mr Archibald Clarke (Featherston) is a cousin of Sir Walter. Another cousin is Mrs Alexander Turner (Masterton) Margaret Buchanan nee Clark 1848-1937. There are three nieces in Scotland, three in Australia and two in Hawera (sisters of Messrs J. and D. Buchanan). There are seven grand-nephews and four grand nieces.
GLADSTONE CHURCH
Before beginning his sermon at the Lansdowne Presbyterian Church last night, the Rev G. King said:- "Our community has suffered a great loss owing to the sudden death of Sir Walter Buchanan, who died last night. Sir Walter was one of the pioneers of the Dominion and was for many years connected with and interested in the progress and welfare of the people. As representative of the Wairarapa for many years in parliament he rendered yeoman service. Among his many gifts to the community was the beautiful little church at Gladstone.
The members of this congregation will join with me in extending to the sorrowing relations our deepest sympathy in their loss and especially to Mrs D. Buchanan, one of the worshippers here and absent from Masterton at the present time."
Appreciative reference to Sir Walter was also made in the Masterton Methodist Church.
A FOREMOST CITIZEN
Before the business of the Palmerston North Hospital was commenced yesterday afternoon, the chairman Sir James Wilson, made feeling reference to the death of Sir Walter Buchanan. The deceased gentleman, said Sir James, was a model of great public spirit, who had been a generous supporter of hospital work and who had built an old people's home at Carterton very similar to that at Awapuni. Sir Walter's energy and capacity for work had been an example to everyone and he had given freely to all charitable institutions. The speaker had entered Parliament with the deceased gentleman in 1881 and since then had been associated with him on many bodies, as a result of which Sit James could say that the Dominion had lost one of its foremost citizens. At the request of Sir James all present stood in silence as a tribute to the memory of the deceased.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
The House met at 2.30 but adjourned until 7.30 when the Prime Minister moved that the House record its high sense of the distinguished services rendered to the country by Sir Walter Buchanan.
Mr Massey characterised him as a remarkable man who had left behind a record for thrift, hard work and loyalty, which future generations could well emulate. He deplored the loss of a great personal friends.
Sir Thomas Mason Wilford said friends and opponents alike, would regret Sir Walter's passing. He had done much to advance the interests of New Zealand. He suggested that the Wairarapa people should erect a monument to deceased's memory on the Rimutaka overlooking the Wairarapa.
Sir Sidney George Holland said Sir Walter was a courteous kindly gentleman who never allowed political feelings to interfere with his personal friendships.
A number of other members also spoke and the House adjourned out of respect to deceased's memory.
REGRET OF THE FARMERS
The death of Sir Walter Buchanan was referred to at the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union. The following motion, proposed by Mr G. I. Marshall (Marton) and seconded by Mr H. B. Stuckey (Dannevirke), was carried:- "That the Dominion Farmers' Union expresses it deepest regret at the sudden demise of Sir Walter Buchanan, a valued member of the union and a staunch supporter of the great need for the improvement of the agricultural conditions in the Dominion." It was decided to send a wreath and that Mr W. B. Matheson, of Eketahuna, should officially represent the union at the funeral to-day.
WELLINGTON PRESS TRIBUTES
All three Wellington papers pay tribute to the character and life work of Sit Walter Buchanan
The New Zealand Times says: For years past everyone in New Zealand has known him as a man greatly respected in the country he helped to make. Honest as the day, straight as a gun barrel, patriotism and the advancement of the people were his high ideals. His name will go down to posterity on the roll of the great pioneers who founded and made New Zealand. The widespread sorrow for his death will carry with it the general wish that there may be more men in the future like Sir Walter to push New Zealand along.
The Dominion says: Measured merely by individual achievements his life was remarkable, but it stands also to his credit that during the period of over 60 years he spent in this country he built up such a record of disinterested public service as few indeed have been able to emulate. It is the simple truth that the qualities of tremendous industry, energy, courage and foresight with which he was so well endowed, were nowhere displayed more successfully or to better advantage than in his single-hearted and unselfish efforts on behalf of the body of primary producers. It is one of the outstanding facts of the late Sir Walter Buchanan's career that he took a bold and leading part in co-operative and other enterprises at a time when only those endowed in an exceptional degree with courage and vision were able to perceive what these enterprises would ultimately mean to the farming community and to the Dominion.
The Post says: Though Sir Walter Buchanan never held Cabinet rank he was a more notable figure in politics than many of the Ministers of his time. But the political was but one side of his career. His interests were many and varied and in every field of activity which he entered his influence was great. This is not explained wholly by the breadth of his experience and the soundness of his judgment. It is certainly not accounted for by eloquence or persuasive powers, for Sir Walter was not a man greatly given to words. Rather the explanation is to be found in the fact that his ripe experience and wide knowledge carried conviction because of his great reputation for honesty. Through a long political career he never sought to achieve popularity by modifying his views to suit the passing popular fancy and in consequence he suffered a temporary defeat at times, but in the end his honesty of purpose, steadfastness and courage, were recognised and his opponents stated that though Sir Walter Buchanan was a man they did not agree with he was also a mane they could rely on.
At LOWER HUTT
At the Borough Council meeting a motion of condolence was carried in the death of Sit Walter Buchanan. The Mayor stated Sit Walter Buchanan was a strong man in the country. No one could help admiring his strength of character. All classes would mourn the passing away of a truly great man. The Public Service Association Council which commenced its annual conference in Wellington this morning, expressed regret at the death of the Hon Sir Walter Buchanan and passed a motion of sympathy with the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, in the loss of a friend and colleague in the person of the deceased.
ROTARY CLUB
The death of Sir Walter Buchanan was referred to at to-day's luncheon of the Rotary Club. The chairman, Rotarian Ewen. said the loss was a national one and was the passing away of one of the old stalwarts. Rotarians stood in silence out of respect to the deceased.
KORERO ADJOURNED
On receipt of the news of Sir Walter Buchanan's death, the Masterton Savage Club adjourned its fortnightly korero out of respect to the deceased.
FUNERAL PREPARATIONS
PARLIAMENTARY ARRANGEMENTS . Cabinet met this morning and discussed what should be done respecting the death of Sit Walter Buchanan. The result is that the delivery of the financial statement has been postponed till Wednesday. A special train will run to Clareville to-morrow morning, conveying the Parliamentary Party to the funeral and will return in the afternoon. The house will formally sit in the afternoon at the ordinary time, but as most of the members will be absent, it will adjourn immediately till the evening. At the evening sitting, references to Sir Walter will be made and the House will adjourn till Wednesday afternoon.
THE FUNERAL
CARTERTON, 22 July 1924 - Although the weather was bitterly cold and stormy the largest number of people ever gathered in this district assembled to accord the last honour to their deceased fellow settler, at Clareville Cemetery at noon to-day, where the interment of the late Sir Walter Buchanan, K.B., M.L.C., took place.
The main cortege started from the late residence of the deceased at Lansdowne, Masterton and was joined all along the road by units from outlying neighbourhood of Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough and the Lower Valley, with which portion of the district Sir Walter had been more closely associated during the greater portion of his life, met and joined the procession at Clareville corner.
Immediately following the hearse were the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Hon. A. D. McLeod, M.P., for Wairarapa and members of the Cabinet, the Mayors of all the Wairarapa boroughs, chairmen of all the local bodies, together with members of the councils, hundreds of cars, vehicles and cycles and in the presence of a great concourse of people the remains of the late Sir Walter Buchanan, who had so strenuously, usefully and gallantly fought the battle of life, were reverently laid to rest. The Presbyterian funeral service was impressively carried through by the Revs G. King (Lansdowne) of the Presbyterian Church and Rev J. Davie, Knox Church, Masterton.
HEADSTONE PHOTO
of Sir Walter Clarke Buchanan
Plot 125, Clareville Cemetery, Carterton.
ERECTED BY HIS
Nephews & Nieces
In Memory Of
WALTER CLARK BUCHANAN
Died July 19 1924 Aged 86
Kindly taken by Marijke Bullians on 24 March 2016
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