Worthy Examples.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 28 April 1890, Page 2

Worthy Examples.

• '■■■+ The honors conferred by her , ( Majeaiy on the occasion of the opening of the Forth Bridge afford ftii interesting illustration of the way in which the English titled olassJM are now recruited. First of all Mr Matthew William Thompson* Chairman of the Forth Bridge Company, and Midland Bailway Company, was created a Baronet. Mr Thompson graduated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar After practising for about ten years he married a lady; through whom he acquit ed a substantial interest in (a large brewery. He also became owner of two worsted millg, amassed great wealth, and finally at* tamed to a prominent < share in the managoruent of the Midland Railway Company, the Glasgow and SouthWestern Railway Company, and the Forth Bridge Company. A baro* netcy was also conferred upon Sir John Fowler, the _ Engineer-in Chief of the bridge. This gentleman (t bpgan life" as an engineer, and gradually worked ; li is way to* the highest eminence in. his profession. Mr Benjamin Baker, 1 Sir John Fowler's colleague in the engineer ing of the bridge, wa3 created a Knight-Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Ho. it appears, commenced life at adnid'iron* works in South Wales. Then he was engaged in the constructing of locomotives and marine engines, and next came to London, and was for tunnte enough to enter the off We* of. Sir John Fowler. There he soou found out his specialty. Twenty three years ago he wrote a series of articles on long span badges, and noon began to bt consulted" «n the

construction of brio ges all over the j world Lastly we have the case of Mr William Arrol, the contractor for the bnpge, c« whom the honour of knighthood had been conferred. Mr Anol was apprenticed to a blacksmith at the age of thirteen. In time he became foreman of the midge and boilti departments at the works of Messrs Laid! aw and Sons, of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Twenty years ago, with £85 which he had saved, he started in business for himself ns a contractor and repairing engineer. He devoted him. self especially to bridges, and soon had a number of most important con* tracts entrusted, winding up with that for the reconstruction of tht Tay bridge, and finally hiß magnum cpui which had just been successfully ppeneiL It ,saay be said that Sir Matthew Thompson owta bis posr tion in some degree to his marriage, and the wealth ii brought. The other three cases, .however, are indisputable illustrations of the way in which ability, energy and per severance are bound to make their way in Ufa.— Exchange.