DEATH OF MR. J. MAY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1935, Page 4

DEATH OF MR. J. MAY

VETERAN OF THE RAILWAYS. R. G. MAY, NEW PLYMOUTH, A SON. One of the early stationmasters in the New Zealand railway services, Mr. John May, died at his residence, 16 Albert Road, Devonport, on Monday, at the age of 91. Mr. May, who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1843 and arrived in New Zealand in the ship St. Lawrence in 1874, lived for some years in Taranaki.

On landing at Lyttelton he secured a position as stationmaster, as he had been in the 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 Eltham, where he resided for about 16 years. Just prior to the termination of the wax* he disposed of his property at Eltham and went to Devonport, where he lived in retirement. Mr. May enjoyed an active old age and was keenly interested in his garden. Throughout his life he was a noncmoker and a total abstainer. Until advancing age restricted his activities he was prominently associated with the Masonic movement.

Mrs. May died about five years ago at the age of 80. Mr. May is survived by nine children. There are four sons, Messrs. A. J. May, of Te Atatu, Mr. F. C. May, manager of the Farmers’ Cooperative Society at Timaru, Mr. R. G. May, chief postmaster at New Plymouth, and Mr. D. May, farmer, of Eltham. The five daughters are Mrs. W. Glanville, of Timaru, Mrs. A. R. Brewer, of Christchurch, Mrs. J. Capper, of Otahuhu, and the Misses W. and J. May, of Devonport.