PIONEER PASSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 39, 2 March 1937, Page 7

PIONEER PASSES

MR W. MONTGOMERY Oue of Hawke's Bay's oldest pioneers, Mr. William Montgomery, of Battery road, Napier, passed away at the age of 97i years. This much respected citizen, who came to New Zealand from Scotland 77 years ago, was a prominent figure in the coaching days of Hawke's Bay's yesterdays, and will long be remeoibered for his services to the provinee as coach-driver on the Napier- Waipawa highway and to the town of Napier as a carriage proprietor, in both of which capacities he earned the deep respeet of all with whom he used to come in contaet. With the death of Mr, Montgomery, another link is severed between the old days of coaches and horses and the present days o'f steam and njachinery. After having carried mails between Napier and Waipawa for several years in his earlier days, he became a carriage proprietor, which business occupied his full attention until he retired some years ago. From then until the time of his death, he lived in retirement, but took a keen interest m the public affiairs of Napier and the Hawke's Bay provinee. He was born in Banffshire, Scotland, on September 1839, and came to New Zealand at the age of 20 to satisfy the craving for adventure. After travelling up and down the country for some time ha came to Napier, in 1866, where he oiade his home in Battery road and lived there until the time of his death. As a raeonteur, the late Mr. Montgomery was a most interesting speaker, and many times would he entertain his friends by xeminiscences of his days of coach-driving on the Nagier-Wiu-pawa road, long before the advent of the xailway. Napier 's older residents remecnber him chiefly as a carriage proprietor^ He was a familiar figure on the roads of the town, driving his landeau and pair mostly between the Port and xailway etation. Of a quiet, unassuming personality, he was highly esteemed by all who knew him. • Until quite recently, Mr. Montgomery e^joyed splendid health despite his great age. But a fortnight ago his strength began to fail him, and he passed away peacefully— the end of a useful life of service to his. town and provinee. He leaves behind him his widow, Mrs W. Montgomery, of Napier; three daughters, Mrs. J. Williamson, Taradale, Mias M- Montgomery, Napier, Mrs. B. Goss, Napier; and oue son, Mr. W. J. Montgomery, Greenmeadows. At his fuueral at the Park Island Cemetery this afternoon there were many people present to participate in the final tribute to ao beloved a citizen.