Frank Buckland (politician)

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1884–1887 9th Franklin North Independent
1890–1893 11th Manukau Independent

William Francis Buckland (8 August 1847 – 29 December 1915) was a 19th-century Member of Parliament in New Zealand, an independent conservative MP and cricketer.

W. F. Buckland

Life and career edit

Buckland was born in Auckland in 1847, a son of William Buckland. John Buckland was an elder brother.[1] Frank Buckland received private tuition, and attended Parnell Grammar School and St John's College. He trained as a civil engineer and was employed by the engineer's department of the Auckland Provincial Council, before joining the Colonial Survey as a surveyor. He then became mine manager in Thames.[1] He also trained in law and was called to the bar in 1884.[1]

Buckland held various public offices in Remuera between 1873 and 1880.[1] Buckland was one of four candidates who contested the Franklin North electorate in the 1881 election.[2] He was beaten by Captain Benjamin Harris, who had since 1879 been one of the two members of the Franklin electorate, by just two votes.[3][4] Early in 1882, Buckland petitioned to the courts against the election on various grounds.[5] The case was heard by the Chief Justice, James Prendergast, and Justice Gillies, who declared the election void.[6][7] Buckland and Harris contested the resulting 1882 by-election,[8] which was won by Harris by 529 votes to 499.[9] In the 1884 election, Buckland defeated Harris in Franklin North.[10] In the 1887 election, Buckland was defeated by the liberal politician Frank Lawry.[11] Buckland then represented the Manukau electorate from 1890, when he defeated long-term MP Maurice O'Rorke. In 1893, O'Rorke defeated him in turn.[12] He again contested the Manukau electorate in the 1896 election, but could not beat the incumbent, Sir Maurice O'Rorke.[13] He tried again in 1899, when four candidates contested the electorate, but O'Rorke remained successful.[14][15]

He was mayor of Cambridge 1898–1903 and 1905–1910.[16][17] He practised law in Cambridge.[18]

Buckland also played seven first-class cricket matches for Auckland between 1873 and 1883.[19][20] In 1873 he organised the first tour by a New Zealand provincial team, when over three weeks in November and December Auckland played in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Nelson, winning all four matches.[21] At the time he was described as a batsman with "a true eye and capital nerve" and a destructive fast bowler with "good lasting powers".[22]

He died on 29 December 1915 at his son's house "Mona Vale" in Cambridge.[17][23] His wife had died before him.[18]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF). Vol. I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. p. 114. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Franklin North Nominations". Auckland Star. Vol. XII, no. 3532. 1 December 1881. p. 3. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. ^ Wilson 1985, p. 203.
  4. ^ Cooper, G. S. (1882). Votes Recorded for Each Candidate. Government Printer. p. 1. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Untitled". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XIX, no. 6290. 14 January 1882. p. 4. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Franklin North Election". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XIX, no. 6342. 16 March 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Franklin North Election". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. XVI, no. 6343. 17 March 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Franklin North Nomination". Auckland Star. Vol. XIII, no. 3691. 9 June 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Franklin Election". Auckland Star. Vol. XIII, no. 3702. 22 June 1882. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  10. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 186, 203.
  11. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 186, 212.
  12. ^ Wilson 1985, pp. 186, 225.
  13. ^ "The General Election". Auckland Star. Vol. XXVII, no. 305. 23 December 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  14. ^ "The General Election, 1899". Wellington: Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives. 19 June 1900. p. 1. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Electoral District of Manukau". Observer. Vol. XVIII, no. 1094. 16 December 1899. p. 19. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  16. ^ Good, Craig (17 March 2010). "The Bucklands of Waikato". Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  17. ^ a b Parker, Eris. "Cambridge Borough Mayors – William Francis Buckland". Cambridge Museum. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  18. ^ a b "Obituary". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LII, no. 16114. 31 December 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Frank Buckland". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  20. ^ "Frank Buckland". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  21. ^ T. W. Reese, New Zealand Cricket: 1841–1914, Simpson & Williams, Christchurch, 1927, pp. 29, 39, 169–72.
  22. ^ "The Auckland Inter-Provincial Cricket Team". Auckland Star: 2. 6 November 1873.
  23. ^ "Mr. W. F. Buckland Dead". Auckland Star. Vol. XLVI, no. 310. 30 December 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
Sources
  • Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First published in 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 154283103.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Franklin North
1884–1887
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Manukau
1890–1893
Succeeded by
Maurice O'Rorke