VETERAN STATIONMASTER

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 8

VETERAN STATIONMASTER

DEATH OF AIR JOHN MAY. FORMER TARANAKI RESIDENT. One of the early stationmasters in the New Zealand railway services, Air John Alay, died at his residence, 16 Albert Road, Devonport, on Alonday, at the age of 91. Air Alay w r as born in Cornwall, England, in 1843 and arrived in New Zealand in the ship St. Lawrence in. 1874.

On landing at Lyttelton he secured a position as stationmaster, as he had been in railway service in England. He was with the Railway Department in the South Island for 26 years. He opened the Lincoln station and was later stationed at Burnham and Orari. In 1901 he was transferred to Hawera as stationmaster. After a year or two there he left the service and engaged in farming at Eltliam, w r here he resided for about 16 years. Just prior to the termination of the Avar he disposed of his property at Eltham and came to Devonport, where he had lived in retirement.

.Afr Alay enjoyed art active old age and was keenly interested, in his garden. Throughout his life he was a nonsmoker and a total abstainer. Until advancing ago restricted his activities, he was prominently associated with the Alasonic movement. Airs Alay died about five years ago at the age of SO. Mr Alay is survived by nine children. There are four sons, Alcssrs A. J. Alay, of To Atatn, Air F. C. Alay, manager of the Farmers’ Co-operative Society at Timnru, Air R, G. Alay, chief postmaster at New Plymouth, and Air D. Alay, farmer, of Eltham. The five daughters are Airs W. Glanville, of Timaru, Airs A. R-. Brewer, of Christchurch, lAlrs J. Capper, of Otahuhu, and the Alisses AY. and J. Alav, of Devonport.