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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Seagar, Edward

Seagar, Edward, Iron and Brass-Founder, Engineer and Boilermaker, Iron Shipbuilder, etc., Victoria foundry, Manners and Victoria Streets, Wellington. Telegraphic and cable address, “Seagar, Wellington.” Telephone 397. Bankers, Colonial Bank of New Zealand. Private residence. Ohiro Road. Mr. Seagar was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, and learned his business in his native town, completing his apprenticeship 1861. As soon as this was accomplished he turned his face to the Colony, arriving in Wellington per ship “Asterope” the same year. After working at Edward Seagar his trade in Wellington for some years, Mr. Seagar accepted the position of manager for Mr. E. W. Mills at the Lion Foundry. While filling this responsible situation, in which he frequently had from 100 to 120 men under his control, Mr. Seagar added largely to his experience. After five years the subject of this notice decided to commence business on his own account, and in the year 1878 the Victoria Foundry was established. The premises are well situated, with frontages to Manners and Victoria Streets. The buildings, which are of wood and iron, and were erected from Mr. Seagar's own designs and under his personal direction, afford ample accommodation for the trade. The boilermaking department contains two large shearing and punching machines, a plate-bending roll, and a drilling machine. These are all heavy machines, and are supplemented by various other smaller appliances. In the smith's shop there are five forges, besides a steam hammer, and all necessary gear and tools. The moulding shop is fitted with a large three-ton crane; there are also two cupolas, as well as a brass foundry. The woodturning lathes are in the patternmakers' department, which is supplied with all needful plant. In addition to the machines already named, there are many others in the fitting shop, including five lathes, the largest of which will turn up to twenty-two feet long by five feet six inches in diameter; a large planing machine which will finish a piece of iron six feet by two feet square; the radio drill, an exceptionally fine implement; there are three fixed drills, and shaping and screwing machinery. The motive power is furnished by a compound horizontal steam-engine of ten-horse-power, which was made at the works. Mr. Seagar has done a great deal of shipbuilding in his time, many of the old-fashioned boats having been reconstructed and fitted with high-pressure boilers, etc. The tug “Westland,” which is 105 feet long by twenty feet beam, was built and supplied with boilers at the Victoria Foundry. In mining machinery Mr. Seagar has done good work; he supplied the pumps, etc., for the Golden Gate, Alice Fell, and Hibernian mines at Mahakipawa. The machinery for the New Zealand Candle Company at Kaiwarra, and many other plants, have been turned out at his works, where from thirty to sixty hands are page 683 employed. Mr. Seagar is one of the proprietors of the antimony mine at Endeavour Inlet, and acts as engineer for the Company. A splendid furnace has been invented and patented by him which has been found very effective. Mr. Seagar is a director of Messrs. E. W. Mills and Company, Limited, and holds a similar position in the New Zealand Candle Company, the Opera House Company, and the Mokihinui Coal Company. He is well known and highly esteemed as a citizen, and is a successful colonist.