DEATH OF MR. W. SRAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 70, 23 March 1907, Page 5

DEATH OF MR. W. SRAY.

FORTY YEARS A PUBLIC SERVANT. One of the most prominent and best known public officials in New Zealand, Mr. W. Gray, Secretary of the General Post and Telegraph Department, passed away at midnight last night after a protracted illness, at his residence on Wel-lington-terrace. The late Mr. Wm. Gray had been connected with the department of which he was secretary for over forty years, and was one of the best-known figures in official life in Wellington. Born in Aberdeen in 1844, he came to the colony with his parents when quite a boy, and completed his education at New Plymouth, where the family landed. In 1858 he entered on a newspaper career in the Tarunaki News office, and later on went on to the Examiner at Nelson, where he remained until 1864. Early in that year he decided to enter into the service of the colonr, and accordingly joined the Postal Department, his first appointment being that of junior clerk in the Dunedin Post Office The following year ho was appointed to a clerkship in the dead-letter office in the Wellington General Post Office, and from 1866 to 1868 he filled the position of mail agent on tho Panama, line. In that year the Panama service was discontinued, and Mr. Gray fUled^a similar position between New Zealand and Melbourne until the San Francisco service was inaugurated in 1870. He was then appointed clerk in the secretary's branch, of the General Post Office ; on 20th May, 1872, he was promoted to the position "of chief cleTk of the General Post Office, and two years later he was appointed to the position of Sscretaiy ol the Postal Department. When the Postal and Telegraph Departments were amalgamated in January, 1881, Mr- Gray was made secretary of the combined services. Mr. Gray's history since he attained to "that responsible positic-n is really the history of the department, and to some extent of the colony. Postmasteis-Gene-ral have come and gone, but for over a. quarter of a century Mr. Gray has held the responsible position of executive head of one of the biggest and most important departments of the public service. Statistics cc-uld easily be quoted to show the phenomenal growth of both branches of the service. It is apparent to the most casual observer that a business of such magnitude could only nave made the progress it has by "the application of powers of organisation and an ability to grasp the smallest details and ramifications that ar»" seldom exercised continuously by one man over such a> long number of years. It is interesting to note in this connection that Mr. Gray's father was at c-ne time Secretary of the Postal Department, and from him he may have received come of those qualities which enabled him to tise in t£e_ brief period of ten years from the position ol junior clerk to that of Secretary of the Department. Mr. GTay was never in the habit of talking about his own work in the department, but those who were competent to judge spoke highly of his capacity and organising ability, and the steadfast manner in which he carried out his important duties even when in a poor j state of health. As a matter of- fact his health had been failing for some time, but it was hoped that he would derive considerable benefit from his trip to Rome witii the Pcetmaster-GeneTal (Sir J. G. Ward),' to attend the Postal Con« ference, and -his subsequent • visit, to .ths Old Country. That anticipation, however, was not rcrJised. Soon after his arrival in New Zealand, at the conclusion of the journey, it vras seen that his health was by no means satisfactory, and in spite of rest and attention ho passed away as above. As a private citizen Mr. Gray was poThaps best known as a bowler, although in previous yeaTS he was in tho first flight of cricketers, and was ono of Wellington's champion oarsmen. He -was one of the founders of the Wellington Bowling Club, of which he had more than once been president, and a member of the Board of Directors. He was besides a skilful bowler and a genial and kindly man "on the green," and his popularity and the esteem in which he was held were fully evidenced by the club prior to his departure for Europe. The deceased wag of an upright and amiable disposition, and his death will be deeply regretted bj a large circle of friends and acquaintances in all parts of the colony. The deceased kaves a family of five sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Mj. W. A. Gray, is on the Union Com- i pany's Wellington staff; Mr. C. Giay is a dentist at New Plymouth ; and Mossrs. P. and H. F. Gray are on the Eastern Extension Company's staff at; Adelaide and Port Darwin respectively. Mr. Gco. Gray, until accountant at the G.P.0., is a biother of the dlceased. ! The funeral will take place at 9 o'clock on Monday morning. The flags at the General Post Office and other Government buildings were flown at half-mast to-day, out of respect to the j memory, of the deceased.