OBITUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1671, 6 February 1917, Page 3

OBITUARY.

HON. DR. M’NAB. The Hon. Dr. Robert M’Nah, M.P. for Hawke’s Bay, and Minister for Justice and Marine in the National Cabinet, died in the Bowen Street private hospital, at Wellington, on Saturday night, in his fitty-ililh year.

Dr. .M’Nah was born in Southland in 1804. He was the eldest son of the late Alexander M’Nah. who arrived in Australia in 1840 and came lo Southland in 1835, where he was aflerwards Speaker of the Provincial (’mined. ’I he late Dr. MNah was educated at Invercargill Grammar School, and entered Otago Pniversily in 1880, matriculating and gaining his B.A. degree in 1883. taking also senior inallienintica! scholarship of New Zealand Universitv. In JBB4 lie look his M.A. degree, with honours in mathematics and mathematical physics. He was returned lo Parliament for Matanra in 1.81)3, and was twice offered a port lotto in the Seddon Ministry, iml declined. On the reconstruction of ihe Ministry, iallowing the death of Mr Seddou, he accepted Ihe portfolios of Lands and Agriculture, and during his first session as a Minister introduced his Land Puff which modified the system of land tenure. In connection with this he carried on a very active campaign. In .11)08 he was defeated hy Mr G. Anderson for the Mat aura seat. In 11)11 he contested the Palmerston North seal against Mr D. Buick, but was defeated. He subsequently devoted himself entirely to Ids literary labours, and pursued his researches into the history of New Zealand and Australia, Europe, and America, where he visited many libraries in search of documents to assist him in writing his historical works. In 11)1.4, in recognilion of bis literary work, Dr. McNab received Hie degree of Doctor of Literature from the University of New Zealand, and in (lie same year he stood for Ihe Hawke’s Bay seal and was returned.

When the Xntionul Cnbinot was j'drmcvl in August ,1013, Hr. MeXab was included as one nf the Liberal members, being placed in charge oi‘ .Marine, Justice, Stamps, Tourist, and Health Resorts. The deceased gentleman was not married, and Ids only relatives in Xcw Zealand are an uncle, Mr John McQueen, ol' Invercargill, and three cousins —Mr Percy Palrymple, o)' W’aianiwa. near Invercargill; Mi’s Irving, ol Woodlands, Southlands; and Mrs J. 1). Hauler, of Waimale. One of Ids brothers was killed at the I'ronl in 11)15 —Dr. Angus McXah, a London eye specialist who was attached to the London Scottish. Another brother, LanceCorporal Alex. MeXab, is now at the I'ronl with the Royal Fusiliers; and a third brother is Air Dunean iMcXab.

DR. McNAB’S WRITINGS. The late Dr. MeNab was a writer who acquired a more than local fame by the assiduity and thoroughness with which he pursued Hits researches into the early history of New Zealand. He was one of the pioneer historians of the Dominion, and it is to his books that future recorders of New Zealand history will go for authentic records of the past, which were painstakingly gathered by Dr. iMcNuh. lie spared no expense in pursuing his mve.--ligations, and travelled all over the world, examining’ documents in European and American libraries lo complete his well-known works. His literary labours extend over a period of 2-1 years, his .first effort being a pamphlet entitled “Outlook of our (Secondary’ (Schools." In 1893 he published a pamphlet, “Forestry in Relation to Banning," and the year later saw the first edition of his well-known work “Muriliiku," which was published at Gore. He subsequentJy withdrew this edition, ami had the hook republished in 1903. In .1907 an edition was published at Invercargill, and in 1908 a final edition containing new mutter was issued at Wellington. in 1913 Dr. McNab published “The Old Whaling Days." In the year following he published “An Open Letter on Proportional Representation," ami also his last book entitled “From Tasman to Marsden.” This deals with the history of the North Island, the previous historical work’s of Dr. MeNab having dealt with the South Island. He was engaged in a continuation of this work at the time of his death, lie was also the editor of ‘‘Historical Records of New Zealand,” published by tho Govern,meut.