Newspaper Article 1940 – Death of Businessman and Churchman

Death of Businessman and Churchman

MR. F.W. WILLIAMS

One of Hawke’s Bay’s foremost citizens, who was widely known through New Zealand, Mr Frederick [Frederic] Wanklyn Williams, eldest son of the late Bishop William Leonard Williams, passed away at his home, Te Rawhiti, Napier, on Saturday in his 86th year. The late Mr Williams had wide connections in business circles and was a devoted churchman. During his long life he laboured unceasingly for the Church of England, giving a service for which he will be long and affectionately remembered.

Mr. Williams was born at Whakato, Poverty Bay, on October 13, 1854. He spent his childhood at the Wairangahika Mission Station till 1865, when the Williams family had to leave on account of the Hauhau outbreak. He was educated at St. John’s College, and the Church of England Grammar School in Auckland, and on February 1, 1873, he entered the office of Kinross and Co., of Napier.

In 1880 he started in business on his own account, and a few years later entered into partnership with Mr. N. Kettle, this business being converted in 1891 into the well-known firm of Williams and Kettle Ltd., Mr. Williams being chairman of directors until he retired from the office in 1918, though still remaining a director of the company until his death.

In association with the late Mr E. G Richardson he founded the shipping company, which is now known as Richardson and Co., Ltd., and of which for many years he was chairman. For over 50 years he was a member of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Permanent Building and Investment Society and chairman for 28 years. He was also a member of the Napier Harbour Board and for a period chairman.

He was also a member of committee and chairman for some years of the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society and the Hawke’s Bay Children’s Homes, and for a time served on the Hawke’s Bay Education and High School Boards.

Mr Williams represented Napier on the Napier Harbour Board for 25 years, being chairman from 1901 to 1904.  He was first elected to the board in 1899, when he served for 10 years. He was again elected in the following year for a period of four years. He further served on the board from 1906 to 1911 and from 1913 to 1919.

In 1903 he was elected mayor of Napier and was re-elected without opposition for the following year. For a great number of years he was trustee of the Foster, Nairn and Makarini Trusts, and took a great interest in church matters, having at one time held the positions of superintendent of the Sunday school and churchwarden and vestry-man of St. John’s Anglican Church and was treasurer of the original Cathedral building fund.

He worked for many years on various boards and trusts in the Diocese of Waiapu, being for a long time a member of the Diocesan Synod, and a member of the Auckland and Waiapu Clergy Pension Board, and also of the St. John’s College Trust.

In his youthful days, Mr Williams was one of the original members of the Napier Rowing Club, and he was also a keen rifle shot. He was a constant attendant at the New Zealand Rifle Association meetings and a member of its council, and when in England in 1899 he won the Armourer’s Prize for 900 yards at Bisley. For several years he acted as range officer for the Coleman Shield competitions.

At 80 years of age he began to write a book, “Through Ninety Years,” to which he devoted all his spare time. This book was published last year. He was never unoccupied, retaining all his faculties unimpaired to the last.

He leaves a long record of unostentatious, quiet and faithful work. He was equally trusted, and equally esteemed by all, who recognised in him a man of truth and justice, the soul of honour and integrity. He is survived by his wife and three sons, Messrs. R. W. Williams, P. S. Williams and A. C. Williams.

The funeral took place at the Napier Cemetery this afternoon, following a service at St. John’s Cathedral Church.