THE NEW ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 10 April 1907, Page 2

THE NEW ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF.

' Mr. Kobert West Holmes, M. Insl. '< C.H., Superintending Engineer for the co- ' lony, who has been appointed Engineer-in-Chief for the colony, vice Mr. P. S. Hay, deceased, has been in the service of the '• Public Works Department for thirty-live ■ years. He was born in London in IMSO. and received his education at a private school there. In 1871 he came lo Wel--1 lington with his father, and worked at ■ the Government Printing Olliee as a ■ clerk for a few months. In the follow- } ing year he joined the Public Works Dei part'inent as n cadet, serving on the 1 West Canst of the South Island. He was ' promoted to the position of AssistantEngineer in 1870, and took charge of the railway works in the Mauawatu district in that year. When those works were completed, he surveyed the line between Bunnytborpe anl the Mauawatu Gorge. > lie was appointed Resident Engineer in ehnrg-3 of the Taranaki district in 1870, a position he held until the Taranaki . and Wanganui districts were anialgaina- : ted in 1883. He then took charge of the . Hawi:e.s Hay district for a. few months, 1 and left there to supervise (he explora. (ion surveys in connection with the Taranaki trunk railway route. He next located the Woodville to Eketahuna railway loute, and .subsequently made detailed railway route surveys in Taranaki, and did some important surveys in the Lake districts of Otago. Mr. Holmes was next appointed Resident Engineer in Wellington. (11 ISO 3he was engaged in the Hanterville district, and made detailed surveys of Hie trunk line in that part ->f the'.North Island. About seven years ago he was appointed inspecting Engineer, and on Mr. Hay's appointment lo the position of Engineer-in-Chief last year, he became Superintending Engineer. In his younger days Mr. Holmes was :: volunteer in the Greymoutli Rangers, the 'taranaki Mounted Ritles, and Xo 1 Company of Taranaki Ritles. He was elected an Associate member of of (he Institute of Civil Engineers (England) in 1880.