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MURRAY, George Thomas (1859 - 1947)
He was born at East Taieri on L November, 1859. He was educated at the
Oamaru Grammar School, of which he was dux in 1876.
He joined the firm of Barr and Oliver as a cadet in 1877 and was trained as a
Civil Engineer and Surveyor. He passed his examination for Authorised Surveyor in
1880, and then went to Scotland for further education and experience, taking
lectures at Edinburgh University under Professors Fleming, Geike and Tait. While
engaged with the firm of Meik and Son he carried out preliminary work in connection
with the Forth Bridge project and many other works. In 1883 he was sent by the firm
of Falkner and Tancred to explore for and prepare a report on the proposed railways
for the Siamese Government. He returned to New Zealand in 1886 and joined the
Mines Department, being employed in the roughest parts of Westland and
Marlborough and Nelson. He surveyed a road over the Gouland Downs from
Collingwood to Karamea, and from Jackson’s Bay to the Hollyford Valley.
In 1889 he was transferred to the Lands and Survey Department and was
employed on road engineering in the Pahiatua and Palmerston North districts. In
1893 he was working under J. T. Stewart for the Wanganui River Trust. The
following year he went on a trip to Europe. In 1901 when the Roads Department
was formed he was transferred to that Department and was responsible for
pioneering the roading of much of the most difficult country in the North Island,
including the Raetihi Upper Wanganui, and Ohura districts, and the wild bush
country between Waimarino and the Taranaki West Coast. This was before the
advent of the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and his local knowledge was of great
assistance towards the selection of the route for this line and also the Stratford-
Taumarunui line.
On the merging of the Roads and Public Works Departments (in 1910) he
controlled the construction of railways, buildings, bridges and other works as well as
roads in Taranaki. In July 1915 he was transferred to Head Office of Public Works
Department at Wellington as Staff Engineer, and the following year became District
Engineer at Auckland. As such he was responsible for the construction of the North
Auckland Railway and the completion of the Waiuku railway. In 1920 he was
promoted to Inspecting Engineer for the Public Works Department. When the Main
Highways Act was passed he was chosen to inaugurate its operation, and most of
his time until his retirement in September, 1925 was devoted to this work. He was
appointed a Member of the first Main Highways Board on 12th June, 1923. He died
in Auckland on 25th July, 1947
He was a foundation member of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors.
ALLOM Albert George (1860 - 1956)
He was born at Thames, the son of Albert J. Allom, who had come to New
Zealand in 1842 as a Survey Cadet to the New Zealand Company.
When fifteen years of age he was sent to England to complete his education
before taking up a survey cadetship in New Zealand. He was trained as a surveyor
at Auckland and after qualifying he joined the Lands and Survey Department and
much of his career was spent in surveying some of the most rugged terrain in the
North Island. In the King Country he assisted in some of the early reconnaissance
surveys for the Taranaki to Taumarunui railway and for the Te Kuiti to New Plymouth
road.
As a young man he was a member of the Thames Volunteers and took part in
the expedition to Parihaka in 1881 to quell incipient trouble with the Taranaki Maoris.
Subsequently, while engaged on triangulation surveys In the Urewera Country, his
party had numerous clashes with the Maoris led by the prophet Rua, who were trying
to hinder the surveys.
Later be visited England and on his return he surveyed the Tripp estate in the
Mackenzie Country of the South Island. He also laid out the Scenic Summit Road
over the Port Hills at Christchurch.
One of his surveys while In the King Country was of the famous Waitomo
Caves which had been discovered by another surveyor, Frederick Mace.
He died at Auckland in July, 1956 aged 96 years.
He became a member of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors in 1889.
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