Mr. Richard Artis Cruickshank , Engineer-in-charge of the Southland Frozen Meat Company's works at the Bluff, was born in Southland in 1869, and is the sixth son of Mr. Adnm Cruickshank, an old identity, residing near Gore. He was educated in Invercargill, and was apprenticed to the trade of a mechanical engineer at Messrs Johnston and Sons' Vulcan Foundry. In 1891 he went to Scotland, where he completed his training with the celebrated page 889 firm of Messrs Kincaid and Co., of Greenock. On returning to Southland in 1893, he accepted an appointment as third engineer at the Southland Frozen Meat Company's works, and was promoted to be engineer in charge in 1896. After taking charge of the works, Mr. Cruickshank erected an ammonia compressed refrigerator, to be worked in conjunction with the compressed air machine.