THE LATE MR W. F. BUCKLAND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 128, 5 January 1916, Page 2

THE LATE MR W. F. BUCKLAND.

Early Days in Pukekohe.

Mr W F Auckland, who paesed away on Wednesday of last week, at hia residence at Monovale, near Cambridge, at ihe age of 6y year?, was actively associated with I'ukekohe's early day?, whil9t he also sat in Parliament a3 member tor Franklin from 1884 to 1887 mid for Manukau trom 1890 to 1893. The deceased gentleman was the son ot the late Mr William Thorn Buckland, the litter ben g a brother of the late Mr Alfred Buckland, the > founder of the auctioneering firm of Alfred Buckland and Sons. He commenced his career as a youth in the Auckland branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and subsequently studying engineering and surveying he pro--eeeded to the Thames distt ict on the outburst of tha gold boom there as manager for his father of two batteries. Whilst at the Thames he married Miss Elizabeth Jane Shipherd, a sister of Mr Charles Shipherd, now of Puni. After leaving the Thames he took up hi 3 residence at Remuera, and while there he qualified as a barrister and Eolicitor. About the same time he purchased a property, consisting of some 5000 acres, then dense bush land, situated in the f'uni district, extending from the settlement known as Cameron Town about four miles along the Waikato river towards the Heads. After negotiating tbij purchase he entered into partnership with Mr Charles Shipherd and the firm of Buckland and Shipherd was Btarted, their fame as sawmill owners being soon known practically throughout the Dominion. Puriri limber was supplied trom the bush by the firm for bridge-building for as far south as Invercargill, and limu and kahikatea were also despatched in huge quantities, the timber either beinu sent up river from the mill at Cameron Town or conveyed intj Pukekohe by means of bullock drays and Iheie rail-d. The mill cont.nued in operation tor about twenty years, and th6n the partnership was dissolved, the property being divided between the t*o owners. It is an interesting fact that most of the older buildings in Pukekohe were all erected from the products ol Messrs Buckland and b'bipherd's mill. Jn the meantim?, Mr Buckland resided on the larm at Cameron Town for about a couple ol years and he left thb district to practice as a barrister and solicitor at Cambridge, where a few years ago he retired trom the I gal profession and then practically devoted all his time to his hobby as an enthusiastic horticulturist.

As Mayor of Cambridge for several years he carried out a progressive policy, with thu result thai the town can lay claim to many up to date facilities enjoyed by few municipalities cf u Bimilar size. Tfn deceased is survived by one sou, Mr (J Channing Ruck land, of Cambridge, and one daughter, Mrs J Phillips, of Ipoh, Straits Settlement. Mrs Buckland, senr,, died some three years ago.