- John McLachlan
John McLachlan (1840-1915) was a
New Zealand Member of Parliament for Ashburton, in theSouth Island .Member of Parliament
John McLachlan represented the Ashburton electorate in the
New Zealand House of Representatives for twelve years (1893-96; 1899-1908) (Hamer, p.364).Born in
Scotland , McLachlan came toNew Zealand in 1863. He was afarmer atEllesmere (Cyclopedia of NZ, Canterbury Vol.3, 1903, pp.815-6) and colourful character in theNew Zealand Parliament (Hamer, p.197)."The representative of Ashburton", wrote a newspaper reporter, "is about the wildest looking specimen in the Parliamentary collection. But if he is in the rough to gaze on, he can give 'points' to some more ornamental members in the matter of ability and originality of thought and expression. He is a sturdily built, carelessly dressed man, with a large head, made to look larger by the wild disorder of a huge shock of curly hair. He is a farmer and might have stepped out of his market trap into his place in the House. He is, as a rule, a breezy, happy-go-lucky sort of member with a good sense of humour and a fine stock of anecdotes and a great admiration for and acquaintance with the writings of Robert Burns" ("Ashburton Guardian", 12 September 1903).
References
*"The New Zealand Liberals: the years of power, 1891-1912" by David Hamer (1988, Auckland University Press, Auckland)
*"Ashburton" By W.H. Scotter (1972, Ashburton Borough and County Council Publication, Ashburton) see pp.161-2; p.222.
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