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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

House Department

House Department.

Captain William Henry Hennah, Chief Messenger and Housekeeper of the Government Buildings, was born at Williamstown, Victoria, in which colony he was educated. In the early “seventies” he visited New Zealand, and had some experience on the West Coast goldfields, but soon returned to Australia, settling in Ballarat. For thirteen years Captain Hennah was connected with the Ballarat City Fire Brigade as captain and superintendent. During his residence in the district the subject of this notice was associated with the volunteer movement, and was raised to the rank of captain and adjutant of the Third Battalion Victorian Regiment, on the 28th of October, 1887. On leaving Victoria to settle in Wellington on the 24th of October, 1893, he was the recipient of an elegantly illuminated address couched in the following language:—“Dear Sir, We, the undersigned, on behalf of the citizens of Ballarat, have great pleasure in presenting you with the accompanying souvenir on the eve of your departure from this city, where you have identified yourself with our public institutions. As captain and superintendent of the Ballarat City Fire Brigade for the past thirteen years, you have exercised your authority for the best interests of a purely voluntary and unselfish organization which has earned for itself the gratitude of every enlightened citizen of this community. As captain and adjutant of the Third Battalion Victorian Regiment, you have, by your genuine and gentlemanly conduct, both to your fellow officers and subordinates, established a precedent which will be emulated by your successor, and which will go far to raise the status of an honourable and patriotic organisation. If any further proof page 188 were wanting to show the estimation in which you are held by your fellow citizens it will be found in the fact that you have been elected a life governor of three of our most noble philanthropic institutions. In. conclusion, we sincerely wish you all possible health and happiness wherever your lot may hereafter be cast. Signed on behalf of the citizens of Ballarat by the Mayors of Ballarat and East Ballarat, and the chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the committee.” The institutions referred to above are the Ballarat District Hospital, the Ballarat Benevolent Asylum, and the Ballarat Orphan Asylum. Captain Hennah holds the Army certificate for signalling, from the Imperial Military School, and is duly qualified to instruct in Flag Heliograph and Lamp Signalling from the Victorian Military School of Instruction. In 1871 Captain Hennah was married to Miss Catherine, daughter of Captain John Stuart Spotswood, of Williamstown, Victoria, and has two daughters and three sons. As a Mason he joined the Ballarat Lodge, I.C., which was changed to the Victorian Constitution, and is a Past Master.

Assistant Housekeeper—Jesse Huett.

Messengers—Thomas Malley, Michael O'Connor, Julius Holz, Louis Mueller, James Sandbrook, William Burkett Goldsmith, Matthew West, Andrew Eyre Sampson, William White, George Wm. Stuart, James Joseph O'Galligan, Alfred Pennifold, George Ford, Thomas Redmond, Charles Henry Burgess, Maurice Sullivan, Wm. Hunter, Wm. Gore, George Asplin, Henry Mason, S. Townsend, Maurice Cashion.

Nightwatchmen—Owen Naughton, James Longton, James Madigan.

Mr. Hercules Davidson, Chief Clerk in the Accountant's Department of New Zealand Railways, was born in 1853 in Montrose, Scotland, and was educated at Dundee and Edinburgh. On leaving school Mr. Davidson entered the service of the Scottish North Eastern Railway at Arbroath, where he remained till after that Company amalgamated with the Caledonian Railway, in whose serve he Continued for several years. Subsequently he removed to South Wales under engagement to the Llanelly Railway and Dock Company, and after some time he was transferred to London on his Company becoming merged in the Great Western Railway of England. Mr. Davidson gained considerable experience in Railway management during his service in the Old Country, first at stations and afterwards in the Accountant's office at Paddington Station. Dissatisfied, however, with life in England, he embarked on the ship “May Queen,” for Port Chalmers, where he landed on the 1st of January, 1877. Immediately on arrival in the Colony, Mr. Davidson found congenial employment as Stationmaster at Waihao, Canterbury, from which he was transferred to the Accountant's office, Christchurch, being appointed chief clerk in 1878. On the amalgamation of the offices of the North and Middle Islands in December, 1880, he was promoted to Wellington. For many years Mr. Davidson has been a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, as superintendent of St. James' Sunday school, Newtown, and as an elder. He was married in January, 1878, to Miss Taylor, daughter of Mr. David Taylor, of Arbroath, Scotland, and has four daughters and two sons. (For other officers of this Department see pp. 152-155.)

Mr. Frederic Samuel, Clerk of Titles of the Lands and Survey Department, is a son of the late Rev. J. Samuel, D.D., LL.D., who for twenty-five years was a missionary in India, and who was head of the Church of England mission in India, Persia, and Arabia. Born in Jersey in 1848, Mr. F. Samuel landed in New Plymouth at the age of five, per ship “Joseph Fletcher.” He was educated in Taranaki, and in September, 1873, entered the Civil Service as Clerk of Titles, in Wellington, which position he still holds. Mr. Samuel was married in 1883 to Miss Eva Harding, daughter of Mr. Frederick Harding, one of the Chief District Surveyors of Melbourne, and has one son. Mr. Samuel is a brother of Mr. O. Samuel, solicitor, of New Plymouth, and lately M.H.R. for that constituency. (For other officers of this Department see pp. 180–86.)

Mr. H. J. H. Eliott, Under-Secretary for Mines. (See page 173).

Black and white printer's ornament

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