THE LATE ME P. S. HAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 7

THE LATE ME P. S. HAY.

(Frou Our Own Cokkeseohmht.) WELLINGTON, March 20. The loss to the colony through tho death of Peter Scton Ilay is very great. 110 was a most able and conscientious officer, and but Eor his extreme modesty would probably have occupied a much higher position in the engineering world. He was born in Glasgow, and arrived at Port, Cimlmets in the ship Storm Cloud in 1860, when only eight, years of age. He went through the public schools, and then attended the Otago University, where he gamed his B.A. degree in 1877, and his M.A., with first-class honours in mathematics and mathematical physics, in 1878. Three years previous to this Mr Hay had entered the Government service, as a-cadet in the Public Works Department. His undoubted ability soon came to be recognised, and only four years later he was appointed to the post of assistant-engineer in Dunedin. After carrying out those duties for a. period of iive years, during which time ho was associated with a ntim■l>or of important works, be was transferred to Wellington in 1884. Two years after ho joined (he staff of the Public Works Department in the capital cily he was promoted to the position of Resident Engineer. In this capacity deceased laboured for 10 years, and' then came further promotion with his appointment- as Superintending Engineer for the whole colony. His elevation to the highest position in the engineering branch of the service was brought about when Mr W. IT, Hales retired from the position of Enginecr-in-Chicf at the beginning of last year.