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Tales of Banks Peninsula

No. 39.—Mr. Hugh Buchanan

page 260

No. 39.—Mr. Hugh Buchanan.

Mr. Hugh Buchanan was one of the early settlers on Banks Peninsula. He was born at Kinloch Mhor, in Argyleshire, Scotland, where his father leased extensive pastoral farms from the Earls of Breadalbane and the Stewarts of Appin. After being privately educated, he leased the Argyleshire property called "Blarcreen," where he farmed up to 1848. In that year he sailed for Melbourne, but, finding the heat too trying, came on to New Zealand. He was farming first at Motunau, but in 1851 took up land at Little River. There he bought out the property of Mr. Henry Smith, who had arrived by the Monarch in 1850. Mr. Smith had a run and a few sheep and cattle, Mr. Buchanan naming the run Kinloch after his home in Scotland. Early in the fifties he bought out Mr Joseph Price's Ikoraki estate. He took up his residence in Ikoraki, so that he could ship his wool by water, there being no easy means of getting his produce away from Little River. He carried on whaling for a few years afc Ikoraki after he bought Mr. Price out, but found it very unprofitable. Mr. Buchanan settled down to farming, and built up a fine estate. When communication was opened to Little River, he built a fine house at Kinloch, and lived there. He acquired a good estate of 14,000 acres, which was sold by his sons to the Government for closer settlement. Mr. Buchanan took a keen interest in all public matters, being a member for Wainui in the Canterbury Provincial Chamber till the abolition of the Provincial Government. He was also Chairman of the Little River Road Board, being a very regular at tendant at all meetings. Mr. Buchanan did much to promote the dairying industry and farming interests generally during his long term as President of the old Banks Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Apart from his keen interest in public affairs, Mr. Buchanan had a wide reputation for hospitality, and for doing many acts of kindness. He died in September, 1877, leaving a widow, two sons and three daughters, Mr. Buchanan page 261was married twice, and both his sons, Messrs Hugh and J, F. Buchanan, have been intimately connected with the progress of the Little River district.