OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 155, 27 March 1922, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR. W. M. HANNAY

The news of the death on Saturday morning in a private hospital of Mr. W. M. Hannay on; of Wellington’s most esteemed residents, will come as a shock to very many in the community. Up till quite recently Mr. Hannay enjoyed ■ good health and w as a daily visitor to the city in connection with his many interests. Five weeks ago ho underwent an operation, and though it was considered successful, the effect lowered his vitality, and he sank gradually until his death, which will be widely lamented. The late Mr. Hannay, who was 76 vears of age, was one of the sturdy band of Scotchmen who came to New Zealand half a century ago and made Wellington their homo. He was born at Castle Douglas, in the vicinity of Glasgow, in 1848, and after leaving school entered tho service of one of the hig Glasgow railway companies, where he acquired at first-hand a splendid all-round knowledge of railways. Arriving in New Zealand in 1875, he was very soon appointed district manager of railways for South Canterbury. His ability - and knowledge were at once made manifest, and he was promoted to the position of assistant general manager at Wellington. When the Government of the day decided to try commissioner control, he. with Messrs. J. McKicrow and J. P. Maxwell, were appointed commissioners of New Zealand railways. Then, in 1894, the swing of the pendulum brought about a change in the system of management and commissioner control went by the board. When Mr. John Wallace resigned the position of general manager of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company—which controlled the west coast line between Wellington and Longburn—Mr. Hannay was appointed to the post, and carried out with marked ability, until the company’s interests were acquired by the Government. Mr. Hannay then re-, tired from railway work, but found plenty of scope for his activities, in the local commercial world, becoming a director in several companies, all ot which have benefited by his acumen and enterprise. These included, the Waipa Railway and Collieries Ltd.. Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., Dental ana Medical Supplies Company, Commercial Union Assurance Company, Metropolitan Building and Investment Company, Golden Bay Cement Company (of which he was for years the managing director), Manson and Barr, Dtd., (Palmerston North). Victoria Laundry Company, and Wellington Automatic Bakeries. . ... From its inception he was a pillar of the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church, of which he was an elder lor many years. -, • The late Mr. Hannay leaves a widow, two sons, and three daughters. lhe sons are Messrs. Alex. Hannay (manarming director of Manson and Barr. Palmerston North), K. B. Hannay (of Dalgotv’s and Company’s staff. Wellington). The daughters are Mrs. 1. C. Widdop. of We’lington; Mrs. (Dr.) Forrest, of Palmerston North, and Miss J. Hannay. of Wellington. / The funeral will take place this a One" Tthose most closely associated with the late Mr. Hannay was the Rev. Dr. J. Kennedy Elliott, and last evening he preached at the Kent Terrace Presbtyerian Church on The Best Human Friend He Ever Had, and the Noblest Man He Had Ever Met ” He said that he had never been in contact with Mr. Hannay without realising that he certainly resembled some, of the Saints whose lines were written in the New Testament. He resembled Stephen, in that he was a man of faith, a man of prayer, mighty in the Scriptures; a man of wisdom or sanctified common sense. He had an extraordinary decree of shrewdness, prudence, and caution, and the preacher did not remember the kirk session ever, regretting taking his advice. So far as he knew, Mr. Hannay had not a single enemy, and those who made no profession of religion respected him for his integrity and straightforwardness. His death was a distressing loss to the congregation. He was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years, and did all he could to increase the church membership. He had filled most of the important positions in the church, and took an active and intelligent interest in the social service work. He was ever ready to co-operate with all who loved religion. His death was a loss to the church, a loss to the community, a loss to thci TS Truly he loved, and a groat personal loss to the preacher himself, as he had always esteemed it an honour and a privilege to be the friend of such a man. rhe “Funeral March” an/1 the “Dead March” were played on the organ, and the choir sang “Crossing the Bar.” The Rev. J. Baird also made suitable reference to the. late Mr. Hannay at the morning service.