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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Sparrow, Joseph

Sparrow, Joseph , Engineer and Iron Founder, Victoria Ironworks, Rattray Street, Dunedin. Telephones: Office, 762; Private residence (Mornington), 1203 and 1615. In March, 1879, the foundation was laid from which has developed the large business conducted by Mr. Sparrow, opposite the wharves and shipping. The site occupied comprises an acre and a half of freehold, and one eighth of an acre of leasehold land. The original building—an iron lean-to—now only
Manufactured by J. Sparrow.Dredging Machinery (Waikaia Gold Dredging Company).

Manufactured by J. Sparrow.
Dredging Machinery (Waikaia Gold Dredging Company).

forms a part of the engine house and coal shed; the boiler is of thirty horse power, and the engine of twenty horse power. The blacksmith's part of the works is to be found in a brick building of one storey, which was added in 1882. Among the appliances for manufacturing purposes there are twelve forges worked by blasts, an eight-and-a-half-hundred weight steam hammer, eleven turning lathes, four radial and four vertical drilling machines, together with three bolt and nut screwing machines, emery wheels, and sixteen fitters' vices, and benches. An iron building 160 by 100 feet, is devoted to boiler making, and the machinery includes two patent lever rivetting machines for fluming, with forges attached, three plate furnaces, drilling, punching, planing, and
Twenty Horse Power Tubular Engine.

Twenty Horse Power Tubular Engine.

page 327 shearing machinery, with angle iron and plate-shears, a special machine for drilling steel boilers, and large and small sets of plate bending rollers. A large building, the pattern shop, contains wood turning lathes, and other tools required in the department. The large new moulding shop, which is built of iron, is fitted with a three ton travelling crane, and contains two cupolas, mortar mill, and other plant. The cupolas have a capacity equal to two and a half tons. Mr. Sparrow has recently erected a store for patterns, and for steel and iron,
Mr. J. Sparrow.

Mr. J. Sparrow.

large racks having been constructed which contain over 160 tons of bars. In the yard is a large tar bath for fluming, and four derrick cranes. From the Victoria Ironworks, a great deal of mining machinery, including dredges, is turned out, and a considerable shipping and general trade is done. The founder, who was born in 1842 in Dumbartonshire, where he was educated, served his apprenticeship in the Leven Ship Yards, belonging to Messrs Denny and Co. After a year in Glasgow, Mr. Sparrow spent five years at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the yards of Messrs Mitchell. Armstrong and Mitchell. Having gained general experience in iron ship building, he came out to Port Chalmers in the ship “William Davey” in 1869, and was employed at Messrs Kincaid and McQueen's and Mr. R. S. Sparrow's establishments till starting business on his own account. Mr. Sparrow was a member of the North East Valley Borough Council for three years, and has since been elected to the Mornington Borough Council; he holds a seat on the Mornington school committee, of which he has been a member for many years.