OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 7

OBITUARY

SIR HENEY WIGEAM

"FATHER OF- AVIATION"

BENEFACTOR TO- CHRISTCHURCH

A Press Association message from. Christchurck announces the death on Sunday morning of Sir Henry Wigrain. He was 77 years .of age, and his death, wMch took place at his home in Park Terrace, followed a week's illness.

, By Jthe death of Sir; Henry- Francis ■Wigrain, Christchurch has lost one of its most valued . citizens^-rone .who served in the interests' of his: fellowtownsmen when the city was at the most vital stage of its development. He was-rightly termed the father of flying in New Zealand, and for this also his "name will." live long, in the memory; of the people of this Dominion. His services to his country .were recognised by his Majesty the ,King in tie NewYear honours : 6f .1926, but .they were fully .realised by New Zealanders long before that.. -. ■

Sir Henry Wigram was born an London on January; io, 1857, has father being 'William Knox Wigram. Destined for his father's business,, he was educated at the famous public school of Harrow. His health,'however, -was not of the best, and he came to New Zealand in search, of a mqre..kinfily;.climate. After travelling through the Colony, he ,' selected Christchurch as his place of residence,'- and^. it : was '.indeed.', a fortunate choice as far as tie-city-was concerned. Sir Henry arrived in Christ.ehureb. in 1883, ■■ and' ifc~was t'not long beforehe and 'his brother founded the firm-of \ 'Wigram ..Brothers. [Within two years of his making.his home;in Christchurch'Sir Henrys arid'Ms .brother had established brickworks and -a^grainstori at Heatneote. '..-.-• • /[,{, His tnriv^ngbusix. ess "occupied most of Sir-Henry's tune] driringl'.the next few years,^but'hiS.kindly' nature was manifest when he took a' leading part in tte organisation'of patriotic efforts in connection with the departure of the New Zealand contingents for the South. African War. These activities brought Sir Henry before-a grateful public, and he was asked to. take charge of the arrangements for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York (our present King and Queen) in'l9ol. The Eoyal visit was a complete'success, largely due to the efforts of Sir Henry and the Mayor (Mr. A. E/G. Ehodes).Christchnrch :was' then divided into; many'small boroughs, and there was a strong movement afoot for the absorption of these bodies into the city under the title of Greater ChristclLnrch. Sir Henry was strong; in support of the Greater Christchurch movement, and he was elected unopposed to,Ttie Mayors alty in 1902, in : succession;- *to Mr. Rhodes.■■'- ".'-. ''"'■';•:-';' ''_ .".".:~\ MAYOE FOE TWO TEAeS. Sir Henry was Mayor for'only twai years, but they-were years ricHr'in civic attainment, for. during his term Lhe became the first Mayor "of Greater Christchurch. They saw the amalgamation, of St. Albans, Linwood, and Sydenham into ttoe city and a consequent renaming of the belts, after the four superintendents of Canterbury, the establishment of a tramway system, andean unsuccessful first attempt* to raise money to equip the city with a Mgh.-pressurft water system. v ■':..•}■'/'.':■''-i'■..'' The poll for Greater-' ChristehurcK was taken on January-22,19p3."JSyden-ham came in following a further poE on February 4. Sir- Henry was reelecteid Mayor in April. Another urgent; question' then before the municipality;^ was the -proposed inauguration of a system of electric tramways,, and Sir Henry, threw himself .wholeheartedly! into the negotiations. Success, attended; his.efforts and the first tramway board was elected on; January 22, 1903. Sir HenTy,-with the late Mr. G.G. Stead and-Mr; W. Eeece, was elected to represent Christchurch, • Sydenham,' and St.; Albans. Sir Henry was. deputy chair* man/of the board in 1903 and 1904.-

FUHTHJSR HONOURS. ■ Further-honours were to'come tbSir Henry, for in 1903 he was "appointed, to -' the Legislative Council,'remaining! a member until M 3 retirement: in: 1923 £or health reasons. ' In the business world, he was also successful and founded, the Canterbury (N.Z.) Seed Co. He was also' greatly interested ia the "Lyttelton Times" and was: for many years chairman of directors of that company. .;. . ■

' To many,; Sir Henry was best known: as the father of aviation in this country. It was a well-earned distinction. He was one of the first in New Zealand to make an aeroplane flight,, and during the war he' was wholly instrumental in founding the Canterbury Aviation Company, which erected hangars at Sockburn. Here were trained 200 young pilots for service overseas during the Great "War. After the war, the Government, largely through the generosity of Sir Henry, was able to acquire-: the land at Sockburn which: was named the Wigram Aerodrome after its sponsor. ....-.••

Sir Henry continued to take an active interest in flying and thisiwas shown in, a practical manner when he gave aa area of about eighty acres adjacent' M. the original aerodrome, in. order, that the Wigram site might be 'extended. These were not all Sir Henry's interests. He was a. keen supporter or) sport and his name is ml. the Wigram ■ Shield competed for a* nnally by life-saving teams. He wa^ first president of the Canterbury Automobile Association and the Canterbury! head centre of the Eoyal Life-saving Society. ■ '■■';

For the last few years Sir Henry had lived in retirement at his beautiful home in Park .Terrace* enjoying the rest earned by an active and valuable life. Sir Henry is survived by. hi» widow, Lady Agnes Wigram, a'^dau<'X ter of Mr. H. E. Sullivan. ~?. ■ -