RONAYNE, THOMAS (1849-1925) was born at Youghal, County Cork, Ireland, and received his elementary education there, afterwards proceeding to school at Wakefield, Yorkshire. He was with Smith, Knight and Co., who were building the Doncaster-Wakefield railway, and afterwards served his apprenticeship to the Great Southern and Western Railway Co. in Dublin. After a few years in the Atlas locomotive works at Manchester he came to New Zealand in 1875 and was in charge of the railway construction works at Helensville and later at Greymouth. In 1886 he became locomotive and resident engineer at Wellington and in 1888 at Addington; in 1890 organized the Grey-Brunner line, and in 1895 became general manager of railways, which the government had resumed from the commissioners. He retired in 1914, receiving the I.S.O. Ronayne was killed on 7 Sep 1925.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Cycl. N.Z., i (p)

Reference: Volume 2, page 129

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