OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 11

OBITUARY

Mr. J. B. Mclntyre

VETERAN TRAMWAYMAN Mr. J. B. Mclntyre, Wellington’s oldest tramwayman. died at his home in Dunlop Terrace on Saturday night, at the age of 05} years. Mr. Mclntyre was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England, on January 5, 1841. and worked on the collieries there until 1874, when he sailed for New Zealand in the ship Hawera. He bad intended to make the passage in the barque Kirkpatrick, but fortunately for him he missed that vessel, which was burnt at sea with a loss of 300 lives. About two years after he arrived in Wellington he obtained employment with the company which started a steam tramway service, and Mr. Mclntyre was the man who drove the engine of the first tram in Wellington. “Traffic conditions were very different then from what they are now," Mr. Mclntyre said in a recent interview. “There were no motor-cars, and apart from the trams all vehicles were drawn by horses or oxen. But the steam trams did not last long. They were by no means popular with the ‘cabbies’ ’of those days, and when, after failing financially the company ceased to operate the cab-drivers were naturally pleased. The company put the whole of its plant and privileges up for sale by auction through Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co. There was only one bid, that of Mr. E. W. Mills, for £19,250, which was accepted. Mr. Mills, who had a foundry, sold the engines, but kept the tramcars, and with the assistance of most of the old employees converted the steam service. into a horse-drawn one, which was maintained until the electric trams came along.” Mr. Mclntyre subsequently joined the Armed Constabulary, and was employed in the work of installing the guns at Point Halswell. Mr. J. H. Owen Genuine regret will be expressed in many quarters at the death of Mr. John Hart‘Owen, 52 Ludlam Street, Seatoun, which took place on Sunday. Mr. Owen came out to\ New Zealand from Bristol, England, as a young man. He joined the firm' of Sharland and Co., Ltd., in Auckland in 1888, and for some years travelled the Bay of Plenty and East Coast districts for that firm in tUe days when one had either to travel by coach or horseback (and coaches did not provide a very reliable system). However, Mr. Owen proved to be such a good representative that 1890 saw him appointed manager in Wellington, when the firm occupied premises in Willeston Street. Nine years later Mr. Owen was promoted to be general manager for New Zealand, a position he retained until his retirement in 1912. Ever since then he has been a member of the board of directors. Mr. Owen had many and varied interests. He was very keen on photography, and ag a young man was considered one of the best amateur billiards players in Wellington. He was also a member of the Wellesley Club. In the Seatoun district Mr. Owen was a strong supporter of The boys’ scout movement, and only recently it was announced that he had given a substantial donation to the rebuilding fund of the Anglican church in that suburb. Mr. Owen leaves a wife. The interment will be private, and, by request, friends are asked to refrain from sending flowers. Mr. F. Peterson The death occurred on Sunday of Mr. Frank Leonard Peterson, of 105 Coutts Street, Kilbirnie, who was for many years employed as an engineer on vessels of the Union Company. Mr. Peterson joined the services of the company in 1900, when he was appointed third engineer of the Herald, and he served later on many vessels, being appointed second engineer in 1905. He left the company in 1912, and subsequently was engaged in work ashore. Mr. Peterson joined the Institute of Marine Engineers in 1000, and retired in 1933.