A PIONEER BANKER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 22 (Supplement)

A PIONEER BANKER

MR. YV. G. WHITE, HAWERA Mr. William George White may be described as a pioneer banker of ITawera. He was" ;:ie first manager of tlie Bank of New Zealand when it opened its doors for business in the vear 1877. He was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1840, ami is the son of the late Mr. Theopiiilus AVbite, of New Plymouth, who for many years was provincial treasurer oi: this province. Educated at New Plymouth he joined the Bank there in 1866 and field appointments subsequently in Auckland, Nelson, Hokitika, Greymouth, ’Westport, .1 .yell, AVanganui and I’atoa. He took charge at Hawera in 1877 and remained as manager of the Bank untii his retirement about the year IUO->. As

manager lie gained and held the confidence" and esteem o 1 trio clientele of the Bank and of Ihc general public throughout, that long period. He aas intensely loyal to this district, reUmjug offered promotion by the Bank many times. Mr. While, lent- valuable

aid to almost every j»i l l> 1 i<* enterprise, o importance, and many movements were initiated by him. He it was. in the initial year of his residence, who set. on foot the ITawcra Cricket Club in September, 1877. He was associated with the Hawera Institute and Public Library, Hawera Horticultural Society, Taranaki Rugby Union, Hawera Town Hall ( 0.. Lin.. Hawera Gas Co., Ltd., and many other associations and activities. He is, iiappilv, fine ot tin* tew let t who began to blaze the trail, and at present, enjoys his days in travel.