ALLAN MAGUIRE

NZ Truth, Issue 511, 3 April 1915, Page 3

ALLAN MAGUIRE

4 . — , Old Pioneer Passes m his Checks Mr. Allan Magulre, one of Wellington's best known citizens, is no more. He passed away on Wednesday week, March 26. being 72 years, of ago. He was .born at Ncwby, County Down m the Gum la!<\ He left the Ould Sod m search for health, and judging by his longevity, he did not search" It In vain. He arrived m Auckland with his brother Klllot. Those were the days when ships broke from their moorings and poked their bowspirta through the windows of the houson adjacent to the harbor. Allan trtid his brother tried their luck on the Thames goldflolds, and many a goad Job done by the Magulrd's was blessed. by the miners who enjoyed the benefits therefrom. They had a ■"go" at all those phases of labor which iho immigrant of the early days had to tackle. At one time they would bo WORKING THEIR OWN CLAIMS, at another "working for wages," or contracting at their trade as stonemasons. Thfero wore very few stonemasons In the colony m those days, nnd Allan and Elliot were among the earliest to arrive. The next of Mfo's lessons thoy got on the wild wet West Coast, and, to that band of settlers, of which n remnant is still left, this phase will bo understood. There were laws of Justice and oqulty, rapidly dealt out by honest men In five minutes m thoso dnys that would occupy tho Supremo Court for half a. wook m these. It waft a grand school and the lessons lenrnt helped to build the characters and manhood m i he scholar which became his

hall-mark m after years.' Many of ■ Allan's staunch acquaintances --were, formed m that school of goldflelds* life. After a while he returned to Auckland and successfully carried out many large contraota. He afterwards returned* to the South Island and there completed the mag>* num opus of his contracting career—. the Belgrove tunnel on tfce Mildand; Railway line, Nelson distrlot, ~ His work is always referred to • as a pattern of '* honest and substantial work, performed " UNDER MOST ARDUOUS CONDITIONS. The district engineer who superintended the work was Walter Clifford, CJBV brother of Sir George Clifford. Mr, Maguire's connection with the reclamation work at Te Aro is well remembered by many old Wellington citizens. Everywhere around this city la to be found evidences of Allan's industry and, ability, the Kilbirnie tunnel, Victoria. College, Grand : Hotel and many other works testify. Mr., Maguire was a prominent bus!* ness man apart from his work as & contractor, and had a controlling finger on every New Zealand business of note worth mentioning. He had great faith m Wellington as a- business centre, and, by the success he achieved m the Era. ■pire City, It would appear that his faith was not without foundation. May he I R.I.P.