RUNCIMAN, JAMES (1829-99), who was born in the south of Scotland, came to New Zealand by the Nimrod in 1839 with his parents, who settled in Whangarei. Driven off by the Maoris in 1845, they bought land at Drury. During the Waikato war, James joined Nixon's light horse, in which he rose to the rank of captain. For six years he served on the Waikato county council, and for 19 years he was chairman of the Tamahere road board. As a pioneer of the dairy industry, Runciman was making cheese on his own farm in 1879, and in 1882 was one of the first to import dairy-factory machinery from America. Later he stressed the importance of suitable containers for butter and cheese. He also advocated the introduction of sugar beet into New Zealand. He died in 1899.

Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); Philpott.

Reference: Volume 2, page 134

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