HON. DR. McNAB.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1917, Page 6

HON. DR. McNAB.

A USEFUL LIFE. Tlqc late Hdn. Dr. Robt. McNab, M.P., was born in Southland in 1804. He was the eldest son of the late Alexander McNab, who arrived in Australia in 18-10, and came to Southland in 1855, where ho was afterwards Speaker of the Provincial Council. The late Dr. McNab was educated at Invercargill Grammar School, and entered Otago University in 1&S0, matriculating and gaining his B.A, degree in 188.1, takinf also senior mathematical scholarship of New Zealand University. In 188-1 he took his M.A. degree with lienors in mathematics and mathematical physics. Two years later he entered the office of Messrs Smith, Chapman, Sinclair and White, and was admitted to (he bar in 18S9. Next year he removed to Invercargill, where he began the practice of his profession, but he gave up legal practice to follow farming pursuits at Mataura. Dr. McNab took a keen interest in education, and was a member of the Southland Education Hoard and Board of Governors of the High School, and devoted considerable time to the establishment of Saturday trrining classes for teachers and others in Invercargill. He was. also keenly interested in rifle-shootingf and was i'or a time in command of the North Dunedin Rifles, ami won the champion belt of his company in 1889. WORK IN PARLIAMENT. He was returned to Parliament for Mataura in 1893, and was twice offered a portfolio in the Seddon Ministry, but declined. On the reconstruction of the Ministry, following the death of Mr. Seddon, he accepted the portfolios of Lands and Agriculture, and during his first session as a Minister introduced his Land Bill which modified the system of land tenure. In connection with this he carried on a very active campaign. In 190S he was defeated by Mr. G. J. Anderson for the Mataura seat. In 1911 he contested the Palmerston North seat against Mr. D. Buick, but was defeated. He subI sequently devoted himself entirely to hi? literary labors, and pursued his reI searches into the history of New Zealand in Australia, Europe, and Amertca, where he. visited many libraries in search of documents to assist him in writing his historical works. In 1914, in recognition of his literary work, Dr. McNab received the degree of Doctor of Literature froiu the University of New Zealand, and in the same year he stood for the Hawke's Bay seat, and was returned.

When the National Cabinet was formed in August, 1915, Dr. McNab was included as one of the Liberal members, being placed in charge of Marine, Justice, Stamps, Tourist, and Health Resort.-. Oi. the rearrangement of portfolios when Mr. Msssey and Sir Joseph Ward left for London, Dr. McNab became also Post-master-General and Minister-in-Charge of Public Trust Office and Government Lift Insurance Department. Recently it was deemed advisable to distribute his departments among the other Ministers, though it was hoped that this, would be only/a temporary measure, in the form of relief from responsibility during his recuperation. Mr. Herdman took over Justice and Stamps, Mr. Hemes Marine, departments which these Ministers had previously controlled during the regime of the Mass'ey Government; Mr. Mac Donald took Tourist and Health Resorts, Mr. Frasor Posts and Telegraphs, Mr Myers Public Trust and Government Life Insurance.

The deceased gentleman was not married, and his only relatives in New Zealand are an uncle, Mr. John McQueen, of Invercargill, and three cousin.-; Mr. Percy Dalmnplc, of Waianiwa, near Invcvesirgijl; Mrs. Irving, of Woodlands, Southland; and Mrs. J. D. Hunter, of Waimate. One of his brothers was killed at the front in 1011—Dr. Angus McNab, a London eye specialist who was attached to the London Scottish. An other brother, Lance-Corporal Alex. McNab, is now at the front with the Royal Fusiliei's, and a third brother >rMr. Duncan McNab, whose present address is unknown here. Dr Robert McNab owned the farm at Knapdalc previously held by his father and had also a house property in Paimerston North. He formerly was th« possessor of an extensive library, but seme time ago he gave all his books relating to New Zealand to the Free Library, Dimedin, where they now constitute' the McNab Collection. DR. McNAB'S WRITINGS. The late Dr. McNab was a writer who acquired a more than local fame by the assiduity and thoroughness with which lie pursued his 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 we.t, painstakingly gathered by Dr. McNab. tie. spared no expense in pursuing his investigations, and travelled all over the world, examining documents in European and American libraries to complete his well-known works. His literary labors oxtend over a period of 24 years, his first, cfiort being a pamphlet entitled ''Outlook for our Secondary Schoqls." In 1803 he published a pamphlet, "Forestry in Relation to Farming," and the year later sav. the first edition of his well-known work "Murihiku," which was published at Gore. He subsequently withdrew this edition, and had the book republished in' 1005. In 1007 an edition was published at Invercargill, and in 100S a final edition containing new matter was issued at Wellington. In 1013 Dr. McNab published "The Old Whaling Days." In the year following he published "An Open Letter on Pro.portioiial Representation," and also his last book entitled "From Tasman to Marsdcn." This deals with the history of the North Island, the previous historical works of Dr. McNab having dealt with the South Island. He was engaged in a continuation of this work at the time of his death. He was also the editor o,f "Historical Records of New Zealand." published by the Governiuen:. Dr McNab spared no expense in gathering the data for his historical works, which attracted world-wide notice. His work as a historical writer will keep his memory green, and be of immense value to those who essay the task in future years of writing the history of New Zealand.