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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Public Works Department

Public Works Department.

The Public Works Department is situated upstairs in the Post Office Buildings, Cathedral Square, the entrance being from the east side of the buildings. Mr. J. H. Denton is clerk in charge.

Mr. George Swann Ross, J.P., Inspector of Public Works for Canterbury, entered the Government service in 1886, as boilermaker in the Addington railway workshops, and was transferred to the Public Works Department as inspector for Canterbury in 1899. Mr. Ross was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1842, and educated at the public schools. Shortly after leaving school he entered the Government service and was sent out to India, where, under Admiral Young, he saw active service, and subsequently joined the China Expedition in H.M.S. “Thole.” On returning he retired from the Indian service and went Home, but in 1868 took his departure for the Abyssinian Expedition, which he joined under Captain Tryon at Suez, and was placed in charge of the condensers on board one of the exploring vessels, under Mr. Gordon Warden, superintending-engineer of the expedition. He returned to Portsmouth in 1859, and, two years later, proceeded to Calcutta as third engineer on board the steamer “Hindostan.” On his arrival in Calcutta, he was engaged by Mr. Bradford Lesley, superintending engineer at the erection of the Gorahi Bridge over the Gorahi River, near Roostie, 134 miles north of Calcutta. There he remained two years, but returned in 1872 to Glasgow, where he entered the employment of Mr. John Elder, shipbuilder and engineer. In 1877 he left his native land for Sydney, New South Wales, where he entered the railway department of the Government service. In the latter part of 1878 he went to Victoria, where he served as a boilermaker in the railway service until 1882, when he joined the s.s. “Austral” at Sydney. He was on board that vessel when she sank. “When she was again floated he sailed in her to England, and subsequently made several voyages in her across the Western Ocean. Mr. Ross was engaged by the New Zealand Shipping Company in 1884, and remained with it until he entered the Government service in 1886.

Mr. Augustus Schwartz, Inspector of Public Works, Christchurch, was born in Denmark in 1837, and came to New Zealand in 1867. He landed at Oamaru, but went to Dunedin, where he was employed as an architect and builder till 1872, when he settled in Christchurch. Two years later he entered the Provincial Engineers' Office, under. Mr. George Thornton, and remained in it until the abolition of provincial governments, when he was transferred to the Public Works Department of the General Government. In 1889 be was appointed to the office of Inspector of Works for Canterbury. Mr. Schwartz originated the American Order of
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mr. A. Schwartz.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. A. Schwartz.

Oddfellows in Christchurch in 1876. He has for many years been a warden of St. Mary's Church, Addington.

Mr. Thomas Tillman, Inspector of Public Works a for Canterbury District, entered the Government service in 1890, when he was appointed to the position of Inspector of the Lyttelton Harbour Defence Works, and about eighteen months later was transferred to the Public Works Office, Christchurch. In 1894 he was appointed inspector to the Public Works Office, Wellington, but returned to his present office in 1901.

Mr. John Henderson Denton, Clerk in charge of the Public Works Office, Christchurch, was appointed to that position in 1901, as successor to Mr. C. Schofield. Mr. Denton, who is a native of England, came to New Zealand in, 1874, and joined the Public Works Department in 1879.