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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Galbraith, D. R. Shirreff

Galbraith, D. R. Shirreff, F.I.C., Analytical and Consulting Chemist and Assayer, Palmerston Buildings, Queen Street, Auckland. Mr. Galbraith was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the year 1852, his father being a timber merchant in that city. Left an orphan at an early age, he was brought up by his grandparents, receiving his primary education at a private academy in the Scottish Capital; later on he studied chemistry under Professor Stevenson Macadam, carrying off first class honours. For a short period he worked under Professor Alexander Crum-Brown, of Edinburgh University, and, on his recommendation and that of Professor Macadam and three other chemical lecturers of high standing, he was, at a later period, elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society, London. In addition to his chemical knowledge, Mr. Galbraith possesses considerable geological ability, having studied geology under the well-known lecturer and writer, Dr. Robert Brown. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland—the status required by the Imperial Government. After practising for some years in Edinburgh as analytical and consulting chemist, Mr. Galbraith, who had never been possessed of very robust health, emigrated to New Zealand in search of a more congenial climate, and settled down in Auckland in the year 1885. Ever since that time he has been associated with the gold mining industry of the North Island, and has had better opportunities than most men of forming an estimate of its possibilities in that section of the Colony. Descended from two old Scottish families—the Shirreffs and Maltlands of East Lothian, the latter related to the ducal house of Lauderdale—he has had the tenacity of purpose characteristic of Scottish blood, and is now beginning to reap the reward of his faith in the Northern Goldfields, being engaged as chemist and assayer by leading mining engineering firms, lately arrived from England for the purpose of “exploring” the Colony. Mr. Galbraith has devoted many years to the study of the metallurgy of gold and silver, and in the year 1887 patented a “Gas Shaft-Furnace” for the treatment of gold and silver ores by water-gas. Owing, however, to the dullness in everything connected with mining in the Colony, hitherto, this furnace never came into use. He has page 471 since patented several other inventions bearing upon gold and silver extraction, which all seem in a fair way of being tested, now that capital is forthcoming for the mining industry. It may be mentioned that the “ironsands” of the Colony early attracted his attention, and he is fully persuaded that these can be profitably wrought into mild steel at one operation. Careless and indifferent regarding money matters, Mr. Galbraith has experienced many hardships during his career in New Zealand. Although inclined to be cynical in talking of the colonies, owing to the “contemptible injustice” met with, he yet has better and more endearing things to say in the main, having found many “friends indeed” in all classes of the community. Mr. Galbraith was married shortly before leaving the Old Country.