regarded as New Zealand's leading authority on Burns. Craigie was an Overseas Vice President of the Robert Burns World Federation. In 1931, Craigie delivered a lecture to the Wellington Burns Club entitled "The Humanity of Robert Burns". Craigie provided funds for the erection in the Timaru Botanic Gardens of a statute of Robert Burns. The statue was unveiled by Craigie before a huge crowd on 28 May 1913. Death James Craigie died at his home Craigilea in Kingsdown, South Canterbury on 17 August 1935 due to “heart weakness”. He is buried in the Craigie Family Plot in Timaru Cemetery. Legacy Craigie was a generous benefactor to his adopted hometown of Timaru. He provided the chimes for the Timaru Town Clock in 1913. This was initially hung in the Chief Post Office but in 1933 it was moved to the Timaru Council Building, which had been constructed during Craigie's tenure as Mayor. Craigie provided the money for the oak trees planted in (what was to become known as) Craigie Avenue, Timaru now part of New Zealand State Highway 1. The double row of trees were planted on 12 October 1905. He also donated ten pounds for the building of the Catholic Sacred Heart Basilica, also located in Craigie Avenue, on 8 February 1910, the day the foundation stone for the church was laid. In 1914 Craigie presented the renowned painting “The Mother” by Thomas Kennington to the South Canterbury Art Society. After his death, the Craigie family donated a C.F. Goldie painting "Memories. The Last of her Tribe” (painted in 1913) to the people of Timaru. Both paintings can be seen at the Aigantighe Art Gallery in Wai-iti Road, Timaru. His descendants planted a tree in his honour in Craigie Avenue at Easter, 1994. Notes References Substance of a lecture delivered at the inaugural meeting of the Wellington Burns Club, in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, Wellington, February 25, 1931. [from Te Puna record]. Craigie was an authority on Burns A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, edited by G.H. Scholefield, Vol. 1, pp. 180–181, 1940, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington 1851 births 1935 deaths New Zealand Liberal Party MPs Independent MPs of New Zealand Members of the New Zealand Legislative Council New Zealand businesspeople New Zealand businesspeople in retailing New Zealand farmers Scottish emigrants to New Zealand People from Timaru Mayors of Timaru Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives