BUCKLEY, GEORGE, was brother-in-law of John and Allan McLean, with whom he was interested in many estates in Canterbury, including the freehold of Waikakahi. Buckley sold his share to his partners in 1875. He was a partner in the firm of Dalgety and Co.

In public life Buckley was a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council for Lyttelton (1862-66) and for Waimate (1866-75); and was in the executive in 1866, 1871 and 1875-76. He was called to the Legislative Council in 1871 and remained till 1885, when he resigned.

A son, WILLIAM FREDERICK McLEAN BUCKLEY (1861-1930) graduated at Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the bar. He farmed at Dunsandel, specialising in wheat growing and breeding draught and harness horses and polo ponies. He was a fine polo player, and a good oarsman. He was some time president of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association and a member of the board of governors of Canterbury Agricultural College (1901-08, 1915-19). Buckley died on 20 Aug 1930.

Another son, GEORGE ALLAN McLEAN BUCKLEY (1866-1937) was educated at Christ's College and Cheltenham, received his commission in the East Lancashire Regiment and served in India with the Hampshire Regiment. He married Mabel Gertrude Warren and returned to New Zealand to look after estates which he had inherited from his uncle, John McLean. He instituted a profit-sharing scheme for the benefit of his employees. A fine horseman, swimmer and sportsman, Buckley accompanied an expedition to Patagonia in 1897. He was an ardent yachtsman; took his master mariner's ticket in 1904, and until over 60 years of age sailed his 30-ton ketch Truant single-handed in north European waters. In 1908 he was in charge of the ponies of Shackleton's expedition. Buckley commanded a battalion of the Leinster Regiment in the war of 1914-18 (D.S.O. 1916; C.B.E. 1919). He died on 10 Nov 1937.

Parlty Record; Canterbury P.C. Proc.; Col. Gent.; Acland; Cycl. N.Z., iii; Christ's Coll. List; The Times (London), 18 Nov 1937; The Press, 22 Aug 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 73

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