Mr. Robert Scott Watson, Chief Engineer of the Christchurch Meat Company's Islington Freezing Works, was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, and learned engineering with the firm of Munroe and Co., of Arbroath, and at Palmer and Co.'s ship building and engineering works at Jarrow-on-Tyne, two leading engineering firms in Great Britain in their own particular lines of business. After considerable experience in his profession in some of the large engineering workshops in England, Scotland, and Ireland, Mr. Watson came to New Zealand by the ship “Janet Court” in 1874, when he entered the service of Messrs A. and T. Burt, engineers, Dunedin. He remained in that firm's employment for some time, and then went to Australia to gain further experience. While thus engaged he worked for about three years in New South Wales and Queensland, most of the time with the Government of the latter colony. Having accepted an engagement in the Government railway workshops in Tasmania he remained in that country for some time, and returned to New Zealand in 1880. After a short engagement with a firm in Timaru he went into business on his own account as an engineer and contractor, and, amongst other work, carried out several important contracts for the Timaru Borough Council on their water supply scheme. On the initiation of the South Canterbury Refrigerating Company, he was engaged by that company to prospect for water on its property, and remained in its employment and that of the Christchurch Meat Company there, until 1900, when he was appointed to his present position. As a Freemason Mr. Watson is a member of Lodge Caledonian, Timaru. He is married, and has a family of three children.