N.Z. AVIATION PIONEER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 121, 7 May 1934, Page 7

N.Z. AVIATION PIONEER

—~ -e- - ■— —-- Sir Henry Wigram Dead GENEROUS BENEFACTOR By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. The death occurred early this morning of Sir Henry Francis Wigram after a week’s illness. Sir Henry has been frequently referred to as the father of aviation in New Zealand, and he was also well known in Christchurch as a public man and generous benefactor for public and charitable objects. He was the first Mayor of Greater Christchurch and a member of tho first-elected Tramway Board. Before the war he tried to Interest the Government in aviation for defence, but when the Government did nothing ho established a Canterbury company which trained 180 pilots for

war service overseas. In 1921 the Government purchased an aerodrome and equipment, and Sir Henry gave £lO,OOO towards the purchase price. Eleven years later in 1932 he presented 81 acres more, making the aerodrome, called Wigrain Aerodrome in his honour, one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere. For his services to aviation he was knighted in 1926, and shortly afterwards he presented a Gloster Grebe, a fast fighting machine, to the Government. He was patron and a generous supporter of the Canterbury Aero Club. Sir Henry Wigram was a member of the Legislative Council from 1903 to 1920.

GREAT LOSS TO COMMUNITY 13 v Telegraph—-Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 6. "I am extremely sorry to hear of the death of Sir Henry Wigram, for ho was one of tho most public-spirited men we have had in Christchurch and a man for whom 1 have always had the highest respect,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, when the news of Sir Henry’s death was conveyed to him shortly before he left for Wellington this evening. “His work and his very generous gifts, particularly that of the very fine ground which comprises Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, were indicative of tho great interest he always took in Christchurch and its institutions. Ho could always be relied upon to give generous assistance to any movement for the public good that required support. “His interest in flying showed his vision and recognition of tho need to keep abreast of new movements. Noone in New Zealand has done more to assist in the development of air sense in our people. Sir Henry was one of our best citizens, ami a man of whom Christchurch and New Zealand has every reason to be proud. His death is a great loss to the community, but he leaves behind a very fine record of cjliaen:hip "