Frank Buckland (politician)

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

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

Buckland was born in 1847 and was a son of William Thorne Buckland. John Channing 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]

He died on 29 December 1915.^[17] His wife had died before him.^[18]

References

1. Scholefield, Guy, ed. (1940). A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : A–L (PDF) I. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. p. 114. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
2. "Franklin North Nominations". Auckland Star XII (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 XIX (6290). 14 January 1882. p. 4. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
6. "Franklin North Election". The New Zealand Herald XIX (6342). 16 March 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
7. "Franklin North Election". The New Zealand Herald XVI (6343). 17 March 1882. p. 6. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
8. "Franklin North Nomination". Auckland Star XIII (3691). 9 June 1882. p. 3. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
9. "Franklin Election". Auckland Star XIII (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. XXVII (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. XVIII (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. Parker, Eris. "Cambridge Borough Mayors - William Francis Buckland". Cambridge Museum. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
18. "Obituary". The New Zealand Herald LII (16114). 31 December 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2014.

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.