Mr. T. Duncan,

Oamaru.

Mr. T. Duncan,

Thomas Duncan is an Irishman, born at Eden, Tyrone, in 1837, and is ¡therefore 58 years of age. He possesses, and has shown all through life, the "grit" and tenacity of his race. At the age of 21, having received the education supplied by the Irish National School, he left home in 1858 for the Victorian gold-fields, where he stayed for three years. He came to New Zealand in 1863, and after working for some time gold mining, being possessed of enough means to make a start for himself, he took up land in the North Otago district, near Oamaru. He was induced by his friends to go on to the local bodies, which have proved the training place for so many of New Zealand's most useful politicians. In 1881, Mr. Duncan consented to stand for Waitaki, and was returned, defeating on that occasion Mr. John Reid. In 1890, he retired from Waitaki, which he vacated in favour of the present Minister of Lands (Hon. J. M'Kenzie) and stood for Oamaru, defeating the Hon. T. W. Hislop, Minister of Education in the Atkinson Government. Mr. Duncan is a strong party man, an authority on questions relating to stock, and probably is placed on more committees than any other private member.

Votes recorded, 3108; number on roll, 4142. Women on roll 1227, of whom 994 voted.