LATE WILLIAM EVANS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18510, 6 March 1930, Page 12

LATE WILLIAM EVANS.

TRIBUTES TO PIONEER. Tribute was yesterday paid to the late Mr Evans by several leading citizens. “Timaru can ill afford to lose citizens of the calibre of the late Mr Evans,” said the Mayor (Mr W. Angland), in paying tribute to the memory of one of the town’s Oldest and most respected citizens. “The late Mr Evans ever had the welfare of the town and district at heart, and but for his far-sighted-ness and determination, I can safely say that Timaru to-day would not possess the splendid harbour it does. In his early endeavours to improve the chipping facilities he for a long time played a lone hand, but the opposition he encountered only served to increase his determination, and the will to succeed, which was one of his outstanding characteristics, in the long run enabled him to triumph, to the ultimate advantage of many generations to come.” The deceased, as chairman of the Board, carried out his policy, and thus the safety of the port was safeguarded by the protecting arm of the Eastern Extension.

After his retirement from the Harbour Board, continued the Mayor, the late Mr Evans was always keenly interested in harbour matters, and it was his opinion always that the tram lines should be kept in a good state of repair, and that the Board should continue to build up the extension. Some years ago the Board then in office sold two of the three sets of tram lines on the extension, thereby weakening the superstructure. If these tram lines had not been torn up and the extension had been further strengthened, the ratepayers would have been saved thousands of pounds. This was the opinion of the late Mr Evans, and it was also held by the speaker. In other matters, too, deceased was a useful citizen. He was always ready to assist anything for the advancement of the town, and as a private citizen gave readily to those who w r ere not in a position to help themselves.

“The late Mr William Evans possessed one of the strongest personalities among business men in New Zealand,” said Mr J. W. Fair, managing director of Evans and Co., “He was a big man with wide views, and having once decided on a course of action, put the whole of his immense energy into his work to finalise the matter he had in view. Timaru should be grateful to him. for he was a power for good in affairs affecting the welfare of the town and district. In business he was keen, but always willing to take a sporting risk. During the past four years I have been very closely associated with him in connection with the Company he founded and so successfully guided through many ups and downs in the years gone by. The name of Evans and Company stands on a high plane in commercial and financial circles, not only in Timaru, but throughout the Dominion. Although a keen business man his was a likeable personality, and hosts of friends throughout the country will regret that one of our oldest pioneers has gone to his long rest. He was a worker all his life, and practically died in harness. He will not be soon for- ! gotten.”

“No one who has had to do with Harbour matters, or indeed with any public affairs, can fail to have been struck by the character and personality of William Evans,” stated Mr F. J. Rolleston. “He was one of those strong men who at times arise in a community, and by sheer determination and force of character break down all opposition. These were the characteristics that William Evans showed when as chairman of the Harbour Board he carried through the proposal to build the Eastern Extension Mole, and in so doing laid the town and district under an eternal debt of gratitude to him. But apart from his association with the Harbour Board, Mr Evans was a generous and publicspirited citizen. No good cause ever appealed to him in vain for support, and in his private capacity he will be remembered for many acts of generosity. Timaru has lost its most notable citizen, but his name is writ large in the history of South Canterbury.”

“My acquaintance with the late Mr William Evans dates from my arrival in Timaru 21 years ago. which, compared with the fulness of years enjoyed by him, appears a short time indeed,” said Mr G. T. Dawson (chairman of the Harbour Board). “In business, I came closely in touch with him, and found in him a keen, shrewd business men, withal generous and largehearted, with a clear, broad outlook for that which made for the welfare of the community. His death comes as a loss to the commercial, industrial, and public life of Timaru, and the community is poorer to-day because of the death of one of its worthiest pioneers. Hardship, trial and adversity form a hard school, and it is only a man strong in body, mind and wall that will win through and surmount the difficulties. The late Mr Evans was one who graduated in this school, and it stood him in good stead in later yeans, jln public life, Mr Evans directed his j energies mainly to secure a port for Timaru. The difficulties which beset ] shipping on the open beach, when he first came to Timaru, can only be imagined by those who did not experience it. This was the foundation of a determined resolve to see a harbour established on the then open seaboard, and how strongly and tenaciously he fought right through is best evidenced by the result. His foresight, courage and determination to overcome any and every obstacle, combined with the far vision of a broad mind, culminated in the present fine harbour, which will ever stand, a fitting memorial to his good work, and may w f ell be regarded as a legacy to future generations. On 6th March, 1879, Mr Evans attended i his first meeting of the Board, having been appointed by the Chamber of Commerce, and continued a member | until 21st February, 1883. He was again elected on 19th August. 1891, on ; the death of Captain Woollcombe, remaining in office until April 1904, when he resigned. He held the position of chairman from 1899 to 1904. Even after he ceased to take an active part in the management of the port, Mr Evans continued to take a keen interest in its affairs. Up till the last he was strongly in favour of improving the harbour, and was particularly anxious to see the Eastern Mole—his special scheme—built up to completion. He was always impatient of what he termed the ‘wait and see’ policy of , the Board, and his pfen was not slow to express his mind on the matter. The town of Timaru and the wide agricultural and pastoral districts surrounding it, owe a debt of gratitude to one who saw it in its comparative infancy, and fulfilled his full share in the development and advancement of town and country alike.”

“Having known the late Mr Evans ever since my arrival in Timaru in 1879, and having been associated with him in various ways, I would like to add my tribute to those of my fellowcitizens and South Canterbury generally, to the sterling worth of his character and his whole-hearted support of anything which would advance Timaru, also to his generosity in helping those who were not fortunate,” said Mr J. Hole. "His chief work was, of course, the Harbour, and as I, like himself, was a non-shingle shifted I

know how he worked to attain his end. The result everyone knows. Not only do we possess a safe harbour, but there are acres of reclaimed land bringing in a good revenue to the town. In addition to this, there is the silting up of sand on the Bay. making that the greatest attraction of the town. His memory will ever be green in Timaru.”

Mr Howard Tripp "writes of the late Mr Evans, as follows:—“I have known the late Mr William Evans for nearly forty years, and I never met a more kindly, thorough, good-hearted, hospitable friend. He possessed excellent judgment, and it seemed a great wrench to him last month when he retired from the position of managingdirector of the company he had started, built up to its present strong financial position, and was the very life and soul of. He had felt his age for some time past, and often during the last few years had spoken of retiring. but his co-directors and friends had persuaded him to carry on. However, last month he handed in his resignation, which he had written out before the directors’ meeting, and declined to listen to any arguments, so it had to be accepted. The general meeting held ten days ago was the first meeting ever held at "which he was not chairman. Mr Evans was thoroughly imbued with the wellknown West Coast freemasonry, and it used to be a great pleasure to listen to his tales of the West Coasters, who seemed to have faced their pioneer hardships with marvellous good humour, good fellowship, and unselfish consideration. Timaru has a lot to be thankful for in having had so many far-seeing, honest, enterprising citizens, but the most prominent has been the late Mr Evans.”

“The late Mr William Evans was a man for whom I had the greatest respect and admiration, both as a public man and a private citizen,” said Mr G. J. Wallace. “Though he was a very keen business man. I found him always ready and willing to help any good cause, whether of a public or private nature. As a public man, I consider Mr Evans was one of the outstanding men of this district. It is impossible to estimate the value of his public service during the early history of this town and district. His keen business ability, combined with his strength of character, were given to I the full for the general welfare. His work on the Harbour Board alone, will always stand as a monument to the of his service.”