OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1247, 2 October 1911, Page 6

OBITUARY.

ME. A. MACDOUGAIU Mr. Alexander Macdougall, a well-known and highly respected citizen 'of Wellington, died on Saturday morning at his residence, Brougham House, Eliico afreet. His health h.ad been indifferent for a considerable time, and about three; montns ago ,he ontered a privalo hospital ■ and was operated upon ior an internal complaiht. Tlio deceased gentleman was born til) years ago at Locnmaddy, Inverness shire, Scotland, and was educated at Glasgow University, earning his fees, liko other Scotch students, by teaching during tlw vacation, llis mother had destined hiiri tor a minister, but when he was freo to chooso for himself ho docided otherwise and obtained a position in a Glasgow bank. Ho retained, howover, a sincere attachment to tho Church of his fathers, and was, in later years, a prominent 'member of St. John's, Wellington. Ho cainc out to New iicalaild in 1878 and married, two years later, Miss Margaret Gray, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire. ( Mr. 'dacdougal entered tho Government scrvicc in connection with valuation work, but left to take up a responsible position with tho Gear Meat Company, Ltd. Afterwards becoming attached by tho outlook of tho coal milling industry, ho acquired leases over some 4000 acros of land near Groymouth aud formed a prospecting syndicate. Ho went to England a interest financiers in tho scheme, and in spite of an unlavourablo report by an expert, he did not lose his laith in the West Coast. Ho becamo solo owner of tho Cobden Railway and Coal Company, and at towards iormed the Greymoutiifoint Elizabeth Coal Company. This company purchased tho Brunuer mine, which was subsequently tho scene of the teniblo explosion of Ib'JG, when GO lives were lost. Law-suits lollowed, and tho company had to pay hoavy damages, which crippled its finances, and tho liuno was shut aown. Mr. Macdougall went to England again to raise capital and reconstruct tho company, but eventually it was wound up. Tho i'oint Elizabeth property passed into tho hands of tho Government and became the State coal mine, ill-. Macdougall was appointod to bo tho first manager of tho Stato Coal Department, and ho retained that position until four years ago, when ho reached tho ago limit and was accordingly retired. Mr. Macdougall leaves no children, but he adopted two nephews, who grew up under his roof. One is Mr. Allan Macdougall, now at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and tho other is Mr. Alister Mncdonald, who is in Scotland. Mrs. Macdougall also survives Mm. Tho funeral lakes placo this morning. A short Ecrvico will be held at tho residence at 9 o'clock by tho Revs. J. Kennedy Elliott and W. Douglas, and tho cortogo will then leave for tho lvarori Cemetery. Among tho number of beautiful floral tributes which havo been received is a wreath from tho staff of tho ■Stato Coal 'Department.