FORMER BANK MANAGER ATTAINS 106th BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27664, 21 May 1955, Page 2

FORMER BANK MANAGER ATTAINS 106th BIRTHDAY

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAWERA, May 20. The oldest superannuitant in the history of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr W. G. White, of Cameron street. Hawera, celebrated his one hundred and sixth birthday today. Mr White, who retired in 1907, has drawn a pension for six years more than he spent in the bank’s service. He now lives very quietly. He is no longer able to move about much, but he gets up for five or six hours each day and enjoys sitting outside in sunny weather. Mr White arrived in New Zealand from England with his parents as a child of four. The family landed on the beach at. New Plymouth in 1853, when the present city was still a garrison town. His parents began farming near New Plymouth, but were forced to leave their holding during the Maori wars. All their household goods, hidden in a saw pit, were found and destroyed by the Maoris, who also burned their home.

Before coming to New Zealand, Mr White’s father had served with the Bank of England. Mr White joined the staff of the Bank of New Zealand after leaving school at the age of 16. In 1869, he was transferred to Auckland, and a year later to Nelson. From there, he went to Hokitika. Greymouth, and Westport. When gold was struck near Lyell, up the Buller river, he was sent to open a branch of the bank there.

Mr White chuckled as he recalled the roaring days of the gold rush. “They had good whisky on the West Coast in the old days,” he said. “I

used to drink a bottle a day. Men would come into the bank to do business, and the first thing they said would be, “Come and have a drink.” In 1877, Mr White came to Hawera to open a branch of the bank. He remained there until his retirement in 1907. He then travelled extensively overseas. While abroad, he began what was to become a notable collection of Worcester and Chelsea China. In 1949, he deposited most of his collection in the Auckland Museum, but there are still several exquisite pieces in his home. Many congratulatory telegrams, including one from the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir Willoughby Norrie), arrived at Mr White’s home today.