diff --git a/numpy/core/_add_newdocs.py b/numpy/core/_add_newdocs.py
index 668aee9352d2..c6e051a04a42 100644
--- a/numpy/core/_add_newdocs.py
+++ b/numpy/core/_add_newdocs.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 """
 from __future__ import division, absolute_import, print_function
 
+import sys
+
 from numpy.core import numerictypes as _numerictypes
 from numpy.core import dtype
 from numpy.core.function_base import add_newdoc
@@ -1461,57 +1463,58 @@ def luf(lamdaexpr, *args, **kwargs):
 
     """)
 
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'newbuffer',
-    """
-    newbuffer(size)
+if sys.version_info.major < 3:
+    add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'newbuffer',
+        """
+        newbuffer(size)
 
-    Return a new uninitialized buffer object.
+        Return a new uninitialized buffer object.
 
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    size : int
-        Size in bytes of returned buffer object.
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        size : int
+            Size in bytes of returned buffer object.
 
-    Returns
-    -------
-    newbuffer : buffer object
-        Returned, uninitialized buffer object of `size` bytes.
+        Returns
+        -------
+        newbuffer : buffer object
+            Returned, uninitialized buffer object of `size` bytes.
 
-    """)
+        """)
 
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'getbuffer',
-    """
-    getbuffer(obj [,offset[, size]])
+    add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'getbuffer',
+        """
+        getbuffer(obj [,offset[, size]])
 
-    Create a buffer object from the given object referencing a slice of
-    length size starting at offset.
+        Create a buffer object from the given object referencing a slice of
+        length size starting at offset.
 
-    Default is the entire buffer. A read-write buffer is attempted followed
-    by a read-only buffer.
+        Default is the entire buffer. A read-write buffer is attempted followed
+        by a read-only buffer.
 
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    obj : object
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        obj : object
 
-    offset : int, optional
+        offset : int, optional
 
-    size : int, optional
+        size : int, optional
 
-    Returns
-    -------
-    buffer_obj : buffer
+        Returns
+        -------
+        buffer_obj : buffer
 
-    Examples
-    --------
-    >>> buf = np.getbuffer(np.ones(5), 1, 3)
-    >>> len(buf)
-    3
-    >>> buf[0]
-    '\\x00'
-    >>> buf
-    <read-write buffer for 0x8af1e70, size 3, offset 1 at 0x8ba4ec0>
+        Examples
+        --------
+        >>> buf = np.getbuffer(np.ones(5), 1, 3)
+        >>> len(buf)
+        3
+        >>> buf[0]
+        '\\x00'
+        >>> buf
+        <read-write buffer for 0x8af1e70, size 3, offset 1 at 0x8ba4ec0>
 
-    """)
+        """)
 
 add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'c_einsum',
     """
@@ -1977,13 +1980,6 @@ def luf(lamdaexpr, *args, **kwargs):
     """Array protocol: C-struct side."""))
 
 
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'ndarray', ('_as_parameter_',
-    """Allow the array to be interpreted as a ctypes object by returning the
-    data-memory location as an integer
-
-    """))
-
-
 add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'ndarray', ('base',
     """
     Base object if memory is from some other object.
@@ -3231,87 +3227,6 @@ def luf(lamdaexpr, *args, **kwargs):
     """))
 
 
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'shares_memory',
-    """
-    shares_memory(a, b, max_work=None)
-
-    Determine if two arrays share memory
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    a, b : ndarray
-        Input arrays
-    max_work : int, optional
-        Effort to spend on solving the overlap problem (maximum number
-        of candidate solutions to consider). The following special
-        values are recognized:
-
-        max_work=MAY_SHARE_EXACT  (default)
-            The problem is solved exactly. In this case, the function returns
-            True only if there is an element shared between the arrays.
-        max_work=MAY_SHARE_BOUNDS
-            Only the memory bounds of a and b are checked.
-
-    Raises
-    ------
-    numpy.TooHardError
-        Exceeded max_work.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    out : bool
-
-    See Also
-    --------
-    may_share_memory
-
-    Examples
-    --------
-    >>> np.may_share_memory(np.array([1,2]), np.array([5,8,9]))
-    False
-
-    """)
-
-
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'may_share_memory',
-    """
-    may_share_memory(a, b, max_work=None)
-
-    Determine if two arrays might share memory
-
-    A return of True does not necessarily mean that the two arrays
-    share any element.  It just means that they *might*.
-
-    Only the memory bounds of a and b are checked by default.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    a, b : ndarray
-        Input arrays
-    max_work : int, optional
-        Effort to spend on solving the overlap problem.  See
-        `shares_memory` for details.  Default for ``may_share_memory``
-        is to do a bounds check.
-
-    Returns
-    -------
-    out : bool
-
-    See Also
-    --------
-    shares_memory
-
-    Examples
-    --------
-    >>> np.may_share_memory(np.array([1,2]), np.array([5,8,9]))
-    False
-    >>> x = np.zeros([3, 4])
-    >>> np.may_share_memory(x[:,0], x[:,1])
-    True
-
-    """)
-
-
 add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'ndarray', ('newbyteorder',
     """
     arr.newbyteorder(new_order='S')
@@ -3413,81 +3328,6 @@ def luf(lamdaexpr, *args, **kwargs):
 
     """))
 
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'copyto',
-    """
-    copyto(dst, src, casting='same_kind', where=True)
-
-    Copies values from one array to another, broadcasting as necessary.
-
-    Raises a TypeError if the `casting` rule is violated, and if
-    `where` is provided, it selects which elements to copy.
-
-    .. versionadded:: 1.7.0
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    dst : ndarray
-        The array into which values are copied.
-    src : array_like
-        The array from which values are copied.
-    casting : {'no', 'equiv', 'safe', 'same_kind', 'unsafe'}, optional
-        Controls what kind of data casting may occur when copying.
-
-          * 'no' means the data types should not be cast at all.
-          * 'equiv' means only byte-order changes are allowed.
-          * 'safe' means only casts which can preserve values are allowed.
-          * 'same_kind' means only safe casts or casts within a kind,
-            like float64 to float32, are allowed.
-          * 'unsafe' means any data conversions may be done.
-    where : array_like of bool, optional
-        A boolean array which is broadcasted to match the dimensions
-        of `dst`, and selects elements to copy from `src` to `dst`
-        wherever it contains the value True.
-
-    """)
-
-add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'putmask',
-    """
-    putmask(a, mask, values)
-
-    Changes elements of an array based on conditional and input values.
-
-    Sets ``a.flat[n] = values[n]`` for each n where ``mask.flat[n]==True``.
-
-    If `values` is not the same size as `a` and `mask` then it will repeat.
-    This gives behavior different from ``a[mask] = values``.
-
-    Parameters
-    ----------
-    a : array_like
-        Target array.
-    mask : array_like
-        Boolean mask array. It has to be the same shape as `a`.
-    values : array_like
-        Values to put into `a` where `mask` is True. If `values` is smaller
-        than `a` it will be repeated.
-
-    See Also
-    --------
-    place, put, take, copyto
-
-    Examples
-    --------
-    >>> x = np.arange(6).reshape(2, 3)
-    >>> np.putmask(x, x>2, x**2)
-    >>> x
-    array([[ 0,  1,  2],
-           [ 9, 16, 25]])
-
-    If `values` is smaller than `a` it is repeated:
-
-    >>> x = np.arange(5)
-    >>> np.putmask(x, x>1, [-33, -44])
-    >>> x
-    array([  0,   1, -33, -44, -33])
-
-    """)
-
 
 add_newdoc('numpy.core.multiarray', 'ndarray', ('ravel',
     """
diff --git a/numpy/core/function_base.py b/numpy/core/function_base.py
index b68fd4068995..a7700bb7395c 100644
--- a/numpy/core/function_base.py
+++ b/numpy/core/function_base.py
@@ -428,6 +428,13 @@ def geomspace(start, stop, num=50, endpoint=True, dtype=None, axis=0):
 
 
 #always succeed
+def _add_docstring(obj, doc):
+    try:
+        add_docstring(obj, doc)
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+
 def add_newdoc(place, obj, doc):
     """
     Adds documentation to obj which is in module place.
@@ -442,21 +449,19 @@ def add_newdoc(place, obj, doc):
        sequence of length two --> [(method1, docstring1),
        (method2, docstring2), ...]
 
-    This routine never raises an error.
+    This routine never raises an error if the docstring can't be written, but
+    will raise an error if the object being documented does not exist.
 
     This routine cannot modify read-only docstrings, as appear
     in new-style classes or built-in functions. Because this
     routine never raises an error the caller must check manually
     that the docstrings were changed.
     """
-    try:
-        new = getattr(__import__(place, globals(), {}, [obj]), obj)
-        if isinstance(doc, str):
-            add_docstring(new, doc.strip())
-        elif isinstance(doc, tuple):
-            add_docstring(getattr(new, doc[0]), doc[1].strip())
-        elif isinstance(doc, list):
-            for val in doc:
-                add_docstring(getattr(new, val[0]), val[1].strip())
-    except Exception:
-        pass
+    new = getattr(__import__(place, globals(), {}, [obj]), obj)
+    if isinstance(doc, str):
+        _add_docstring(new, doc.strip())
+    elif isinstance(doc, tuple):
+        _add_docstring(getattr(new, doc[0]), doc[1].strip())
+    elif isinstance(doc, list):
+        for val in doc:
+            _add_docstring(getattr(new, val[0]), val[1].strip())
diff --git a/numpy/core/multiarray.py b/numpy/core/multiarray.py
index df0ed2df4658..f468532aa2c0 100644
--- a/numpy/core/multiarray.py
+++ b/numpy/core/multiarray.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """
 
 import functools
+import sys
 import warnings
 
 from . import overrides
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@
 from numpy.core._multiarray_umath import *
 from numpy.core._multiarray_umath import (
     _fastCopyAndTranspose, _flagdict, _insert, _reconstruct, _vec_string,
-    _ARRAY_API, _monotonicity
+    _ARRAY_API, _monotonicity, _get_ndarray_c_version
     )
 
 __all__ = [
@@ -30,15 +31,17 @@
     'count_nonzero', 'c_einsum', 'datetime_as_string', 'datetime_data',
     'digitize', 'dot', 'dragon4_positional', 'dragon4_scientific', 'dtype',
     'empty', 'empty_like', 'error', 'flagsobj', 'flatiter', 'format_longfloat',
-    'frombuffer', 'fromfile', 'fromiter', 'fromstring', 'getbuffer', 'inner',
+    'frombuffer', 'fromfile', 'fromiter', 'fromstring', 'inner',
     'int_asbuffer', 'interp', 'interp_complex', 'is_busday', 'lexsort',
     'matmul', 'may_share_memory', 'min_scalar_type', 'ndarray', 'nditer',
-    'nested_iters', 'newbuffer', 'normalize_axis_index', 'packbits',
+    'nested_iters', 'normalize_axis_index', 'packbits',
     'promote_types', 'putmask', 'ravel_multi_index', 'result_type', 'scalar',
     'set_datetimeparse_function', 'set_legacy_print_mode', 'set_numeric_ops',
     'set_string_function', 'set_typeDict', 'shares_memory', 'test_interrupt',
     'tracemalloc_domain', 'typeinfo', 'unpackbits', 'unravel_index', 'vdot',
     'where', 'zeros']
+if sys.version_info.major < 3:
+    __all__ += ['newbuffer', 'getbuffer']
 
 
 arange.__module__ = 'numpy'