Obituary MR W. H. MONTGOMERY, OF LITTLE RIVER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28649, 28 July 1958, Page 12

Obituary MR W. H. MONTGOMERY, OF LITTLE RIVER

A Parliamentary contemporary of Sir George Grey. Mr William Hugh Montgomery, C.8.E.. died at his home, “Wairewa,” Little River, yesterday. He was 91. The lifetimes of Sir George Grey and Mr Montgomery span the whole history of the New Zealand Par liament, for Sir George Grey wa.Governor of New Zealand when it became a self-governing colony and later served in Parliament and as Premier. Mr Montgomery was the oldest sur viving member of a New Zealand Parliament. Mr Montgomery was born ai Opawa in 1866, and was the eldesi son of the Hon William Montgomery, M.L.C. He received nib primary education at Baker’s school, French Farm, and later attended Christ’s College and the Christchurch Boys’ High School. Tn 1885 he entered Balliol College, Oxford, from where he graduated in 1887, with his B.A. degree with first-class honours in jurisprudence. He was a first day pupi] at Christchurch Boys’ High School and his name is the first on the school’s roll Mr Montgomery was called to the bar in London, and in 1896 returned to Christchurch. He entered the firm of Messrs Garrick, Cowlishaw and Fisher soon after his return and in 1891 was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand Shortly afterwards

he retired from professional lite and took up the management of his father’s estate at Little River He was elected to the House ot Representatives as a member for Ellesmere in 1893, defeating the Hon. W Rolleston at the Genera; Election. He was re-elected m 1896, his opponent being Mr Fred erick Anson. In 1899 he was defeated by Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, who held the seat for some years after. Mr Montgomery was a member of the Canterbury College Boara of Governors for a period ano also served on the North Can terbury Hospital Board During the war of 1914-18 he was assistant director of Base Records and in 1919 was awarded the C.B.E In 1930 he was appointed Metropolitan Commissioner for Boy Scouts. He was a member of the old Little River Road Board and served on the Wairewa Countv Council, which was constituted in 1910. up to 1944. For many years he was chairman of the finance committee of the council. Mont gomery Park, a fine area of nativbush on the Summit road al the Hill Top. was given by Mr Montgomery to the county council io be preserved for future ktenerations. The area has been se curely fenced and protected by belts of imported trees Last yeai the Youth Hostel Association was granted permission to a hostel in the park and most of the money towards the building, which was opened late last yeai was £lOOO given by Mr Monr gomery. While a member of the council. Mr Montgomery supervised rhe planting of the Cenienniat Memorial avenue of lime tree.* along the main highway at Cooptown As chairman of the Littl* River Domain Board he planned and supervised the planting of the Awa Iti Domain in its now notable trees. Mr Montgomery’s interest in tree planting, and especially in

the native bush, came from his experience of Banks Peninsula in the early days. He recalled walking over the bush tracks to visit friends at Okains Bay. He regretted the passing of the native bush, which once clothed the hills, and the native birds which passed with it. He founded the Banks Peninsula Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1909 and was president of the assciation until 1913. The establishment of the Little River Show on its -presen. sound footing was largely his work Mr Montgomery was keenly in terested in art, having studied painting in London and Paris In 1902, Mr Montgomery married Miss Edina Mary Allen, eldest daughter of Mr James Allen, the member of the House of Representatives for the Bruce electorate in Central Otago. He had two daughters, Iris (Mrs Ramondt), and Hilda (Mrs Latham), who survives him.