PATEA'S BENEFACTORS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 241, 12 October 1931, Page 15

PATEA'S BENEFACTORS

THE LATE HUNTER SHAW MONUMENTS TO GENEROSITY Every town has its special benefactor who has left behind him everlasting evidence of unselfishness, generosity and helpfulness. Patea can claim several such men, and among these the name of Hunter Shaw will stand for many, many years to come. During the past two years several corners of Patea have been brightened and improved through the clauses of his will which left a generous estate to be administered on the citizens’ behalf. Known intimately to only a very few, and known by sight to very few more, his life should be of interest to everyone. Romance often shrouds the lite history of these old settlers of New Zealand, and certainly the late Hunter Shaw’s is no exception. Born in the North of Ireland, in 1839, he lived for over ninety years, and often in later life, he would remark that ho thought the i ‘Old man with tho Scythe” had forgotten to mow him down. It was about 1860, or shortly before, that he arrived in New Zealand. He had the wanderlust still, however, and explored tho few parts of New Zealand then opened up. In 1860 he attended the sale of the When iakura Block, tho first land sale to be hold in the Patea district, and purchased, without seeing it, a large area of bush land which he named later “ Crescent Falls,” deriving the designation from the peculiar course the stream took through the property. He camped in the wilds, and his dream of one day conquering the bush held him to a hard task. He served in a cavalry regiment in the troublous times of that period, rising to officered rank. Returning to mufti he entered the social life of Patea. As time went on, however, he withdrew to his books, and dropped out of the knowledge of hosts

and hostesses. One by one, his fellowsoldiers and settlers died, until he was the last left. His brothers and sister, too, all died before him. Only one brother married, but he died without children, so that when Hunter Shaw passed away, the branch of the family in New Zealand died with him. Ho was buried next to his brother John in Auckland. To-day there stand to his memory several buildings in Patea which compare with the best in the Dominion. Ono is the Memorial Building at the north end of tho town, and which houses the Library and the Plunket Rooms and nurses’s residence. Designed by Mr Gummer, of Gummer and Ford, of Auckland, and built by Mr A. G. Bignell, of Wanganui, the building is the finest in the town, and represents a forward step in the progress of Patea. It was officially opened last December by the Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. The Hunter Shaw estate was solely responsible for the building and all its furnishings, the total amount expended being approximately £5OOO. 4 'He is dead, yet speaks to us.” These appropriate words are engraved on the tablet erected to the memory of Patea’s benefactor at the far end of the lobby of the library. Not far removed from the Memorial Building is the Public Hospital where an addition, in tho form of a children’s ward, has been made through the generosity of Mr Shaw as expressed in his will. A long felt want in the district was thus fulfilled. Children have benefited also from, the Hunter Shaw estate through tho provision of a playground. This has been furnished in a. sheltered corner of the Domain with funds he bequeathed to the board. From the estate of nearly £20,000 Patea benefited by almost £lO,OOO. Tho conscientiousness and wisdom shown by the sole executor of the estate, Mr E. F. Warren, of Auckland, in the selection of the institutions and purposes of tho grants should bo greatly admired. He has carried out to the letter the wishes of the late Mr Shaw. These were that the whole of his estate, with the exception of a few small legacies should be left to his trustee "to distribute at his absolute discretion upon charitable trusts, with this provision that no body, having for its chief object, the advancement of education or the teaching of religion should receive benefit.” Bequests authorised by Mr Warren, as executor of the estate, were as follow:—■ Patea: Domain Board, £1300; Hospital Board, £2550; Memorial Building (including all furnishings) £4984; Whenuakura Hall Fund, £5O; Plunket Society (15 branches excluding Patea), £2450; St. John Ambulance and Red Cross, £1150; Homes (12). £1250; Orphanages (10). £900; Charitable Societies, £1175; Hospitals (excluding Patea), £575; Nurses 7 Superannuation Fund, £550; Prisoners’ Aid Societies. £200; Blind Institutes, £200; Girl Guides. £200; Seamen’s Rost. £5O; Wavorley Community Rooms (piano fund), £25.'