Richard McVilly

Richard William McVilly LVO (1862 – 6 April 1949) was the General Manager of New Zealand Railways from 1919 to 1924.[1]

McVilly c. 1912

Biography

Early life and career

Born in Otago and educated in Dunedin and Invercargill, he joined the railways department in 1879.

He was a lawyer and acted in court for the railways department, e.g. in 1909 before the North Island Railway Appeal Board.[2]

During World War I his predecessor E. H. Hiley was serving in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, so McVilly was acting General Manager.[1]

In 1919 he was appointed as General Manager.[3][4] and retired in 1924.[5][6][7][8]

He was made a member of the Victorian Order in the 1920 New Zealand Royal Visit Honours. After retiring he was Managing Director of Black and White Cabs in Wellington.[1]

Political career

He was elected a Wellington City Councillor in 1927.[9] Although councillors were rarely given a committee chairmanship during their first term, McVilly was made chairman of the council staff committee.[10] Elected on the Citizens League ticket he was defeated at the 1929 election standing as an independent.[11] He made another attempt at standing for the city council in 1938 bit was unsuccessful.[12]

Other activities

He was a keen sportsman, was president of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for 15 years and the first honorary life member)[13] presented the McVilly Cup, was Chairman of the New Zealand Rowing Association, and was a member of the New Zealand and Wellington Rowing Associations.[14][15]

References
  1. "Obituary: Mr R W McVilly". Otago Daily Times. No. 27050. 7 April 1949.
  2. *"Railway Appeal Board (1909)". National Library (NZ). 2023.
  3. "Manager of Railways - Mr R. W. McVilly Appointed". King Country Chronicle. Vol. XII, no. 1172. 11 February 1919. p. 5.
  4. "The Railway Cut". The Press. Vol. LV, no. 16598. 11 August 1919. p. 6.
  5. "Railway Improvements". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LVII, no. 17527. 20 July 1920. p. 6.
  6. "South a Burden". Manawatu Times. Vol. XLVIII, no. 2403. 23 June 1924. p. 4.
  7. "Mr McVilly to retire". Auckland Star. Vol. LV, no. 282. 27 November 1924. p. 4.
  8. "Costly South Island". Auckland Star. Vol. LV, no. 147. 23 June 1924. p. 13.
  9. "Councillor McVilly". The Dominion. Vol. 20, no. 184. 3 May 1927. p. 10.
  10. Betts, George (1970). Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. p. 204. ISBN 0-589-00469-7.
  11. "City Council". The Evening Post. Vol. CVII, no. 81. 9 April 1929. p. 10.
  12. "Wellington City Council". The Evening Post. Vol. CXXV, no. 115. 18 May 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  13. "R W McVilly". NZETC. 1940.
  14. "Preominent Amateur Athletics Officials (photo)". National Library of New Zealand. 1933.
  15. "Amateur Athletics". Waikato Times. Vol. 102, no. 17259. 22 November 1927. p. 2.
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