Mr. Walter Clarke Buchanan,
Member of the House of Representatives for the Wairarapa, belongs to what is known in political parlance as the Conservative Party. Mr. Buchanan, who is a Scotchman and a bachelor, was born in Argyleshire in 1838. Educated in his native shire, and at the parish school of Greenock, he decided to emigrate to the eclonies while still in his teens. Arriving in Melbourne in 1857, he turned bis attention to the country, and for six years gained experience of Victorian station life. In 1863 Mr. Buchanan landed in Otago, and after a short time settled on the Canterbury Plains, where he for some time rented a farm. After spending some eight years in the South Island, the subject of this notice purchased land in the South Wairarapa, where he has lived since that time. His station, which is known as Tupurupuru, consists of 13,000 acres, and is fully improved, all the original bush having been cleared, with the exception of suitable clumps left for shelter and ornament. As a farmer, Mr. Buchanan goes in for turnip culture and for both sheep and cattle of the Lincoln and shorthorn varieties respectively. He has gained large experience in respect thereof, and is considered an authority on stock and land. Mr. Buchanan has ever taken a keen interest in matters affecting the general advancement of the district with which he is so closely identified. For many years he has been a member of the South Wairarapa County Council, and for years he has been and still is president of the Wairarapa and East Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He has also long held a seat on the Wellington Education Board. The Wellington Meat Export Company was promoted principally by Mr. Buchanan, who was for several years its chairman, and is still a director. Mr. Buchanan has been a Justice of the Peace for the last twelve years. His political history dates from 1881, when he was first returned for the constituency which he still represents. Five times has the honourable
page 901
gentleman contested the seat, and on each occasion he was successful, beirg returned by substantial majorities. Being a consistent Freetrader Mr. Buchanan took a prominent part in opposing the protective tariff introduced by the late Sir H. A. Atkinson in 1888, at which time he detached himself from the Party, with Captain Russell and others. He is still a member of Her Majesty's Opposition.
Mr. Charles Rooking Carter,
who represented the electoral district of Wairarapa from 1860 to 1864 in the General Assembly, and was for many years a prominent citizen of the Wairarapa, died in Wellington on the 22nd of July, 1896. He did much to advance the interests of Carterton, and is still held in grateful remembrance by the residents of that town. Born in England in 1842, he was brought up to the building trade, and came to New Zealand about forty years ago. He commenced business in Wellington as a building contractor, and soon took a leading part in his trade. The Parliamentary Buildings and the original offices of the Union Bank of Australia were among his undertakings. He subsequently took up a large area of land in the Wairarapa, near Carterton, which town was named after him. From the beginning he took a warm interest in politics, and for several years represented the Wairarapa in the Provincial Council. His business affairs prospered, and about twenty years ago he retired from active life and went to England. A few years ago his wife died, and he returned to New Zealand. Mr. Carter endeared himself to all classes, and it was largely through his generosity that the Carterton public library and other institutions of that town are in their present flourishing condition.
.jpg)
.jpg)