DEATH OF MR. W. A. MCGREGOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13011, 31 October 1905, Page 4

DEATH OF MR. W. A. MCGREGOR.

Mr. William Alexander McGfjsgob, -' managing director of the late McGregor Steamship Company, and a director of fcbe . Settlers' Steamship Company, died :at Tonga on Monday, the 23rd inst. The sad - news, although death took place eight days ago, was only received in Auckland yes-' terday afternoon by cable from Levuka. The deceased gentleman, who died at <•_ i the early ago of 45 years, was a son of the late Captain A. M. McGregor, founder g| of the Northern Steamship Company,' and was born in Auckland. After being ed»< '• '* cated at the Grammar School, Mr. Mc- , Gregor served his time with Messrs. Frasec , and Tinne, engineers, Stanley-street, Auckland, and subsequently . qualified for the position of marine engineer. About 20 years ago he was sent to Glasgow by.tiw Northern Steamship Company to superiu* | tend the construction, of the well-known % steamers Gairloch and Clansman, which j t had been ordered by the company. • fie l returned to the colony, and about eight years ago was commissioned to proceed to Scotland to superintend the construc- „§§ tion of the Kia Oxa for the McGregor - Steamship Company, of which his father, the late Captain A. McGregor, was man- \ aging director. The deceased gentleman remained in the service of the McGregorSteamship Company until his father's j|j death, when lie.became managing director. He carried on the business-of the company until August last, when the company amal-1 1 gamated with the Coastal Steamship Con* ||||| .pany, under the name of " the ' Settlers •'•{V? Steamship Company, of which he became one of the directors. The deceased suffered ' from ill-health, • but he improved considerably towards the beginning of last month, and decided, upon the'advice qf his medical attendant, to pay a month's visit to the Islands. He left for Tonga upon the 2.Bth ' inst., his wife.: accompanying him. It , & P"4ll!|e pears, however, that he became rapidly worse,, and death occurred shortly after landing at Tonga, on October 23. Steps were immediately taken by; the bereaved widow, with ' whom the utmost sympathy - is felt, to communicate, the news to Mr. McGregor's relatives and friends at Auckland, the delay being caused by the fact, S| that Levuka is the nearest cable station in the Pacific to Tonga. The deceased's . body will be brought to Auckland by the ( Manapouri, which is expected to arrive onVyU'Hjl November 9 ■. ,' The deceased leaves a wife and tbireegs« children, two sisters, and Mi. M. G. McGregor (his only brother), for whom great sympathy is felt in their bereavement.' ■ The deceased was highly respected, and : very popular with all' who knew him, and , the announcement of his death will be re-" ;ceived with'; doep -regret Iby i; a | wide circle of friends, and by the' shipping conunuaitj,, generally. . .