OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1941, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR JOHN McCALMONT. SENR. The death occurred in Masterton last night of Mr John McCalmont, Senr., at the age of 89 years. The late Mr McCalmont was actively associated, on the engineering side, with the development of the district and by his death another link with the pioneering days has been severed. His life was devoted to hard work, a characteristic of his day. Mr McCalmont was born at Eyre, Scotland, in 1852. He arrived in New Zealand by the ship Chile in 1874. For some time he wgs engaged in prospecting and mining pursuits. He subsequently worked on the Rimutaka railway project and supervised tunl nelling work. He was associated with the formation of the line from Waingawa and laying the lines in the Masterton railway station yards. About sixty years ago he took up a bush section at Rangitumau, which he. leased after clearing away the bush. Mr McCalmont was county overseer for a period of three years under the late engineer, Mr Bremner, when the Wairarapa North County, as it then existed, embraced the present Akitio County. He was engaged in contracting work for many years and was responsible for tunnelling work at Tiraumea. Thirty-three years ago he went to England and visited his native land. As an instance of his hardiness, on occasions he walked from Eketahuna to Masterton after having completed a hard day’s work. Mr McCalmont, who lived too busy a life to take an active part in local body administration, was a member of the Masonic Lodge for many years. He is stated to be the Second oldest member of the Mastert'on Foresters’ Lodge. His wife predeceased him 16 years ago. For the past 20 years he had been living in retirement. He was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

He is survived by three sons, Messrs W. D. McCalmont, John McCalmont (Masterton), and H. J. McCalmont (Brisbane) and three daughters, Mesdames F. Dohnt (Masterton), Gillanders (Whakatane) and N. Jackson (Napier). There are 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. The funeral will leave the Chapel of Hyde’s Funeral Service, Ltd., tomorrow, following a service at 2 p.m., for the Masterton Cemetery.