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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Auckland Railway Station

Auckland Railway Station.

Auckland Railway Station. The Auckland Railway Station is one of the finest in the Colony. It is mainly of two stories, and presents a fine architectural appearance. There are two extensive platforms, and generally the accommodation is good. The proximity of the station to the wharves and busiest parts of the city, is of immense advantage; Auckland being in this respect far better provided than Wellington or Christchurch. The waiting and refreshment rooms are large, well-ventilated and well-fitted. The departmental offices are chiefly on the upper floor, and are in keeping with those portions of the building more commonly visited by the public. The engine sheds and workshops are contiguous, but the goods she is are inconveniently distant. Incoming parcels are obtainable at the station proper, but should the enquirer find that his package has been considered too large for the parcel office, he is recommended to try the goods shed, more than a quarter of a mile distant. This difficulty is for the present minimised by telephonic communication, and the instrument at the parcel office is so placed that it may be used by the public without inconvenience. Altogether, the Auckland-railway station, offices, sheds and workshops, cover an area of several acres.

Auckland Railway Station.

Auckland Railway Station.

Mr. Robert Buxton, Traffic Manager of the Auckland section of the New Zealand railways, was appointed in January, 1901, to succeed Mr. T. E. Donne, who had been placed in charge of the new Tourist and page 184 Health Resorts Department established by the Government. Mr. Buxton entered the railway service at Christchurch in 1874, and resided at Wanganui as traffic manager of the New Plymouth-Foxton section from March, 1886, till the date of his transfer to Auckland. A sketch of his career is given on page 1382 of the Wellington volume of this work.

Mr. John Bevin, Chief Traffic Clerk of the Auckland section of the New Zealand Railways, was born in Dunedin in 1863. On leaving school he entered the railway service at Dunedin as a cadet, and after rising through the various branches he was transferred to Invercargill in 1892, when he was promoted to the position of chief clerk. In 1897 Mr. Bevin was appointed to his present position. He takes a great interest in musical matters, and at Dunedin and Invercargill he was connected with the orchestral societies.

Mr. Cyril Holm Biss, District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, Auckland district, was born in Dunedin in 1866. He arrived in Auckland at an early age, and was educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School. On passing the Civil Service examinations in 1884 he entered the engineering branch of the New Zealand Railway Department, at Dunedin, as a cadet. He was transferred to the headquarters staff in Wellington in 1887, and was subsequently appointed assistant engineer, in which capacity he gained experience of railway engineering in various parts of the colony. Mr. Biss was a student of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and was elected an associate member in 1892. After being appointed a district engineer he was stationed at Invercargill until the early part of 1897, when he was transferred to the Auckland district.

Mr. George Edwin Bowles, Locomotive Foreman New Zealand Railways, Auckland, was born in Canterbury, Kent, England, in 1857. He was educated at Ashford, and afterwards joined the South Eastern Railway at Ashford, as a telegraphist at Maidstone, and a year later was transferred to the locomotive branch at Cannon Street, London, where he served an apprenticeship of three
Mr. G. E. Bowles.Hanna, photo.

Mr. G. E. Bowles.
Hanna, photo.

years. In 1875, he came to New Zealand, with his parents, in the ship “Douglas,” and joined the service of the New Zealand railways at Christchurch. Mr. Bowles, for a great number of years, was engaged in running the Christchurch-Dunedin express, and the Dunedin-Invercargill express. In 1898 he was promoted to the position of locomotive foreman at East Town, Wanganui division, and a year later was transferred to the position he now holds at Auckland, where he has charge of the whole of the running department. Mr. Bowles is a man of untiring energy, and well suited for the position he occupies. As a Freemason, he is attached to Lodge Christchurch, No. 91. The father of Mr. Bowles was for many years stationmaster at Rangiora, near Christchurch, and his two brothers are also in the New Zealand railway service. Mr. Bowles married a New Zealand lady, and has a family of five children.

Mr. Forester William Styles, Stationmaster of the Auckland Station, was formerly stationmaster at Wellington, and is fully referred as such on page 348 of the Wellington volume of the Cyclopedia of New Zealand.

Mr. John Taylor, Inspector of Carriages and Waggons, Auckland section of New Zealand Railways, has been connected with the railways of the northern capital for more than a quarter of a century. He is a son of the late Mr. John Taylor, railway-carriage
Mr. J. Taylor.

Mr. J. Taylor.

builder, of Oldbury, Worcestershire, was born in 1836 in Enderby, Leicestershire, England, where he was educated, and was apprenticed to the Railway Carriage Company, of Oldbury. In 1862 he arrived at Auckland in the ship “Ida Zeigler,” and, on the discovery of gold at the Thames, went thither, engaging in mining and building. Returning to Auckland after five years of hard work. Mr. Taylor was appointed foreman carriage and wagon builder to the world-famed railway contractors, Messrs. John Brogden and Sons. A year later, when the Provincial Government took over the railways, he was retained in the position for which his experience so well fitted him, and page 185 in 1888 received his present appointment. In the early days Mr. Taylor saw active service in the militia, and had a good deal of the rough experiences commonly met with in young colonies. As a member of the Order of Oddfellows, Mr. Taylor has taken a prominent part; he holds the high rank of past provincial grand master, and is a member of the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, No. 3920. Several times he has passed through the principal chairs of the lodge, and for some years was treasurer for the district. Mr. Taylor was married in 1859 to the youngest daughter of Mr. Arthur Stamp, manager for the late Sir Lucas Chance, a glass manufacturer who employed 2,400 hands. His eldest son, Mr. Ernest Taylor, is Locomotive Inspector on the Goulburn section of the New South Wales Railways, and a daughter is married to Mr. Thomas Taylor, referred to in these pages as Receiver of Land Revenue for the Auckland district. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor lost five children during their short residence at the Thames. The survivors number four sons and four daughters.
Mr. Herbert Pearse, Goods Foreman, Auckland section of New Zealand Railways, was born at Tavistock, Devonshire, and is the son of Mr. William Pearse, of that town. He was educated at the Tavistock Grammar School, and at Amersham Hall, Oxfordshire. After some three years' service as a clerk in the London office of “Lloyds,” and a four years' sojourn in the United States, Mr. Pearse sailed for Auckland in the s.s. “Tongariro” in 1884. For a year he was engaged in surveying for the Public Works Department, and then entered the Railway Department, rising to his present position in 1892. Mr. Pearse is a member of the committee of the Railway Officers' Institute,
Mr. H. Pearse.

Mr. H. Pearse.

and takes great interest in the welfare of that association. In the Old Land, he gave some attention to field sports, being for many years skipper of the football and other teams of his school, and subsequently playing with the renowned “Clapham Rovers” (football). Mr. Pearse married in 1886 Miss Hammond, daughter of Mr. C. Hammond, of Auckland, and has two sons and two daughters.