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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Mr. John D. Stuart

Mr. John D. Stuart, Chief Engineer of the Northern Union Steamship Company's s.s. “Aotea,” was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1867 by the s.s “Midge,” owned and commanded by his father, the late Captain Stuart. After being with the “Midge” in the coastal service, Mr. Stuart was apprenticed to the well-known Auckland firm of engineers, Messrs Fraser and Tinne. On the expiration of his indentures he entered the service of the French Government at Tahiti, but finding the island life uncongenial, he returned to Auckland and joined the late Auckland Steam Packet Company, as assistant engineer. On the sale of the vessel in which he was employed, Mr. Stuart joined the Anchor Steamship Company at Nelson, and remained with it for some time. He then went to Sydney, and joined the Eastern and Australian Mail Steamship Company, trading to India and China. Not liking the trade. Mr. Stuart returned to Auckland in 1876, and rejoined the Auckland Steam Packet Company as chief engineer of the pioneer inter-island steamer “Star of the South,” trading to Fiji. In 1887, he was appointed chief engineer at the Waitara Freezing Works, but left some time afterwards to embark in a venture which ended in the total loss of the steamer. Mr. Stuart was for many years popularly known as the chief engineer in Messrs Donald and Edenborough's island steamer “Richmond,” and was the first New Zealand bred engineer to receive a sea-going engineer's certificate as a second and, also, as a first-class engineer.