OBITUARY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 July 1924, Page 5

OBITUARY.

SIR WALTER BUCHANAN. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) MASTERTON, July 20. The death occurred suddenly on Saturday night, folloiving a motor mishap, of Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.O. Deceased Avas driving a car from his home to toi\ T n during a heavy storm. When turning a! corner hi s hat bleiv off, and in an endeavour to recover it it the car swerved into a ditch. He left the car and Avent to an adjacent house to communicate for assistance; and Avhen he returned to the ear he apparently dropped dead. He was found a feAV minutes afteiwards by a friend avlio had come to Iris assist, ance. A doctor ivas. summoned, but could only confirm that Sir Walter Avas dead. The funeral takes place at Olareville cemetery at noon on Tuesday, Leaving the residence at Masterton at 11 a.m. Deceased Avas born at Glendarvel, Scotland, on June 20, . 1838, being a •son of Baron Donald Buchanan, of Auchenbeck. He was educated at the parish school at Glendarvel and later at Greenock Academy. When 18 years of age lie emigrated to Australia, and lie followed the occupation of . a stockman in Victoria, for six years. He joined the stream to the goldfields in Otago in 1863, and a, year or tAvo later lie leased a farm in Canterbury and engaged in cattle dealing betiveen the two islands. In 1871 he came to the Wairarapa, Avhere he purchased the original Tupurunimi station of 13,090 acres, ivhich he Ava.s farming at the time of his death. He established an English Leicester stud and specialised in Lincoln sheep and Shorthorn cattle. For more than 40 years Sir Walter was conspicuous in the Parliamentary life of New Zealand. He first became member for Wairarapa South in 1881 and represented the district till 1887, then being member for Wairarapa till 1889. He lost the seat to Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, and regained it in 1902. He lost it again to Mr. Hornsby in 1905 and regained it in 1908, holding, it till 1914. He Avas appointed to the Upper House in 1915. In 1912 he Avas knighted. In 1881 he assisted in the flotation of the Wellington Meat Export Company, and was the first chairman of directors. He assisted with the establishment of the GreytoAvn and Clareville dairy factories and took an interest in fruit-growing. Among his benefactions is the Buchanan home for incurables at Greytown. He recently cndoAved a. chair of agriculture at Victoria University, and he Ava.s a liberal donor to patriotic funds during the war. He took a great interest in education and for 30 years was Wairarapa. member of the Wellington Fdncation Board. He Avas a past president and latterlv patron of the Wairarapa and East Coast P. and A. Society, and a prominent member of the Cvmeil of Agriculture and the Roval Agricultural Society. One of his latest interests Avas in the establishment of Flock House for the training of British hoys.

Sir Walter leaves tAvo nephews at Masterton and tAvo nieces in. HaAvorn.