KIRKBRIDE, MATTHEW MIDDLEWOOD (1848-1906) was born at Ulleskelf, Yorkshire, educated there and came to New Zealand in the Portland (1863). He was first employed by Alfred Buckland in connection with the landing of cattle for the troops in the Waikato, and then settled with his people on a bush farm at Little Omaha, moving in 1872 to Mangere. He married in 1874 Grace, daughter of Alexander Bruce (Mahurangi) and took up a bush section near Ashhurst, Manawatu. Five years later he returned to the north and purchased a farm at Mangere. He was chairman of the Mangere road board and school committee, and a member of the cemetery and domain boards and the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association (president two years). In the Farmers' Union he was president of the Auckland province and delegate to the annual conference (1901).

In 1902 Kirkbride defeated O'Rorke for the parliamentary representation of Manukau, which he represented till his death (on 4 Nov 1906). In his first session he secured the passage of his own farmers' mutual fire insurance bill. He was a member of the federation commission (1900).

N.Z.P.D., 27 Jun 1907; N.Z. Herald, 5 Nov 1906. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 252

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