Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. Archibald Kelly, Chief Engineer of the s.s. “Kahu,” and President of the Australian Institute of Marine Engineers (Wellington Branch), has been in the colonies for over forty years. Born in the Isle of Bute, Scotland, in 1836, he served his apprenticeship as an engineer in Glasgow. In 1854 Mr. Kelly came out to Australia per s.s. “Stormbird,” landing in Melbourne, and crossed over to Auckland in the s.s. “Wonga Wonga.” After spending three years in New Zealand he returned to Australia where he was engaged in quartz mining some four years. Returning to this Colony in 1862 Mr. Kelly became chief engineer of one of Messrs. Miles and Co.'s steamers. Two years later, during the native troubles, he accepted a position as engineer under the Government on the Waikato River. Subsequently he successively served the Panama Company for four years, the New Zealand Shipping Company on the s.s. “Rangatira” for four years; Messrs. Johnston and Co. for eight years, and Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. for six years. In 1889 Mr. Kelly was appointed to the position he now holds on the s.s. “Kahu.”