OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 559, 14 July 1909, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR. W. H. HALES. EX-ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF, PUBLIC .., ■ ■" ■ ' WORKS DEPARTMENT.' Mr. W. H. Hales, late Enginoer-in-Chief of the. Public Works Department, and, since his retirement from that position, a member of the Wellington City Council, and one- , of the Wellington Hospital Trustees, died at his residenco, Oriental Bay, at a quarter to two. o'clock yesterday morning, aged '79' years. His demise conies as a shock to tho general,publicj although among/those within

the intimate circle'of his friends and relations, the end. .was .not , altogether* unexpected, as the deceased gentleman had been in failing health for some months past, and had been confined to his i bed for ten' days previous to" his death. ' ' ';"' The late Mr. W. H. 'Hales was one of Wellington's most highly-respected citizens. He was born in New Brunswick in 1830, educated privately; by his father,' a' shipbuilder, and afterwards for the profession of engineering at 1 Liverpool (England). 1n'1853 he ,came out to Australia, and after-three yoars| work as a contracting -engineer- in Victoria, came over to New landing hi Wellington, in 1856. , TJio first 'six .years of hiß citizenship in New Zealand were: spent. in contract- works for. roads and bridges construction; and in ,1861 he entered the.service of- the provincial ; Government as nssistantengineer for roads ,iri tho .Wanganui and Ra-. ngitikei'districts, A.year. later- he was transferred, to' Wellington to supervise the' wharf and 1 harbour works,' and also the roads construction works of the district; The openingup of the country beyond Wanganui necessitated Mr. Hales's tranefer to that 'district to supervise the construction,' commenced in 1864, of the great northern highway, and ho remained; there until- tho; Maori; disturbances, of 1866 put a temporary, stop to the_public works .in that part of the country.: He returned to AVellington and, resumed the, super: vision ■ of. the public'works, under the Provincial Government, continuing his duties until 1863, when 'he-, resigned.' -.-The .following year-saw him. engaged, in the construction of. thejfarewell Spit Lighthouse, and, on the ■wmpletion of that ; important contract,, he; proceeded to. Wanganui to, carry ..out th<3' erection'of the Wanganui Bridge. Ho remained j.at Wanganui until 1875, in .which year-lie returned 'to Wellington to. supervise all public works in the Wellington district. .'Among the important works completed un-der.-his-supervision was tho WellingfonTMas. ter,ton; railway line. :in 1881 Mr. Hales'waß appointed District Engineer at position which he,held for ten years. He became Engineer-in-Chief. to.-: tlio Public. Works Department in 1892, retiring in 1906. In the'year'following his retirement, Mr. Hales was elected to the Wellington City, Council, and represented tho corporation on the Board of Trustees of the .Wellington Hospital. He married, in 1869, Miss WUkinson (daughter of the late Mr. D. N. Wilkinson, of. Oriental Bay), who survives km. The family consists of six sons—viz., Mr. W. H. Hales, of the Railway' Department, Wellington; Mr. D. 0. Hales, of the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington; Mr. E. 0. Hales, of tho Public Trust Office; Mr. E. D.. Hales, of .Now York; Dr. L.'C; Hales, Wellington; and Dr. N. St. Clair Hales, of Philadelphia, who is now on his: way out to Now Zealand. At tho .meeting of the. Hospital Trustees yesterday morning, tho chairman' (Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C.J, referred to their late colleague's demise.- The late Mr. Hales, he said, nad'been ia valued-member- or the trustees. He was a man of sterling character; one who spoke but-seldom, but when he did speak hisobservations had always been of a particularly helpful character. The; technical knowledge possessed by Mr. Hales had been of great value to tho board. He moved a resolution of sympathy and condolence with.the family of the deceased gentleman. Mr. R. C. Kirk seconded the motion, which -was carried in silence.