OBITUARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 2 December 1912, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR DUNCAN McCRECOR, SEN.

It is with sincere regret that we record; the deatli of Mr Duncan McGregor, sen., one of the oldest .jid most-respected settlors.in the Wai.arapa district, which occurred at his"residence on the Upper Plain, at 4 '3O p.m., on Saturday last. The deceased had been apparently in good health until a few weeks back, when he as seized with violent and persistent internal pains. He proceeded to Wellington, and took the very best medical advice, only to learn that lie was suffering from a dreadful malady from which there was no hope of recovery. The announcement of his condition came as a shock to his relatives and friends, but lie displayed .he pretest fortitude hiinseif, and accepted, the inevitable with a resignation that would be impossible in other th;vu «i man of supreme moral courage

late as Thursday last, he motored out to Wangaohu to see his brother (Mr James McGregor), who had met with, a painful accident a few days previously. On Friday night alar 11ing .symptoms presented "hemselvs, and he passed peacefully away, n the presence of his family, at the hour stated above.

The late Mr McGregor, who was six-ty-six years of age, was born in Stir- I lingshiro, in February, TH-fO.' j When seven years of age, be went i with bis parents and family to Victoria, where, fcr thirteen years. be, was on the goldiields. His brother Robert came to Master ton in JBC6, an.l was so impressed with the possibilities for the future, that he sent io Victoria for his parents and brothers. Messrs Duncan and James McGregor arrived at Masterton shortly after- | wards. They were at first engaged in sawpits and subsequently established a sawmill at the Manaia, which developed into a very large concern. Afterwards they transferred their [plant to the, Upper Plain, where they j were engaged 'sawmiiling for a period j of ten years. Since that time the i deceased bad been engaged in farming ] pursuits, which he followed success- j fully to the timet f his death; | The late Mr McGregor took a keen interest in the public life of the district in the early days. A man of high intellectual attainments and keen perspective powers, lie quickly ; [became associated with tbe ndminis- ' tration of local bodies. He was a j | member of the old Highway Board, i and was for years chairman of the Wai- ' rarapa East County Council. In the,' | latter capacity, be rendered yeoman s [service. The construction of the main arterial roads was in those days entrusted to tbe County Councils, and i Mr McGregor, with the late Mr j Pharazyn, fought bard for Govern- | ! inent assistance in prosecuting the i construction in a proper manner of the road through the Forty-Mile .Bush.. As a County Councillor he did a great deal to open up tbe district. When Masterton was constituted a borough in 1877,.Mr McGregor was elected to the first Borough Council ■ The late Mr R. G. Williams was Mayor, and the Council was composed of Messrs H. Bannister, R, Wyllie, D. Donald. Job Vile. E. Feist. W. W McCardle, D. McGicgor,. Farquhai Cray and W. Perry. Of this number, all have gone to their long rest I with the exception of Messrs McCardle Feist, and Perry. The early days of civic life were a tended with much anxiety. The borough was one of ; no largest in New Zealand, and the task i of constructing and maintaining the streets out of a restricted revenue was by no means easy. The late Mr Me- ! Gregor displayed so keen an interest in borough matters that in ISBO r-c was elected to succeed tbe late Mr R. G. Williams as Mayor. This position lie occupied with credit to himself and advantage to tbe town. Tbe deceased was a prominent member of the Masterton A. and P. Association .for a number of years, and also belonged to tbe original Farm-

ers' Club. In later years ho became an enthusiastic worker in acclimatisation matters, and had for some veins occupied a seat on the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Scciety. It was largely through his instrumentality that the fishponds were brought to Masterton, and it is certainly through h's persistent advocacy of the claims of the district that these ponds have been retained in Masterton. He also tobk a keen interest in scholastic matters, and was for a number of years chairman of the Fernridge School Committee.

It was in church and social matter.*, however, that the late Mr McGregor was conspicuous for neatly the whole of his life. He was one of tbo«c who were responsible for the founding ■ f the Presbyterian Church in Masterton. Ho was closely associated with the late Rev. John Ross in the ca'lv days, and. received his education and taste for literature from that gentleman. The late Mr McGregor ;leveloped into an ardent student of ike best writers, and was a particular admirer of Carlisle, whose writings be

was never tired of quoting. F r many years he was. with his brotl i-r James,' a pillar of the Presbyterian Church, and was an active worker for the church up till the time ot his death. He ' started: the Sihbath school at the Taratahi, which ho conducted for a considerable period. In later years he had been conducting services in connection with the church in the outfields of the district, and his sermons were always of a vigorous, inspiring character. . He was an ardent worker in the No-license movement, and before the last election iu.d delivered spirited addresses at Nap:ei\ Dannevirke. and elsewhere.

The late Mi" McGregor took an active interest in general politics, ju.cl lie was a staunch supporter of the present Government. His advice was freely accepted by politicians, as it was by neighbours and friends. Mr McGregor was married to a daughter of the late Mr Alfred Feist, and was a brother-in-law of Mr Frank Feist, Mayor of Carterton. He leaves a widow and throe daughters (Mrs W. V.. Chamberlain, and Misses Jessie avid Helen McGregor), audi two son ;- -Robert and Gordon. These will have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in the sad bereavement that has befallen them.

Tn the course of his sermon in ibe Presbyterian Church last event ljr, lln* Rov. A.T. Thompson, 8.A., 8.D., made short, but feeling reference to the deceased, the great work hn lis-d done for the- church, and the irreparable loss sustained through hi* de-

mise. It was announced that «■ memorial service would be- held :r ibe church on next Sabbath morivosz". The funeral of the deceased will lerave his late residence on the Fp;.»er Plain at two o'clock this afternoon.