OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18343, 28 March 1925, Page 14

OBITUARY.

MR E, BRITTENDEN. Mr E. Brittenden, whose death oo curred recently at his residence. 73 Shakespeare road, Waltlwm, was one of the best-known figures in the service of the Railway Department. He retired on superannuation in March, 1913, but at the request of the Department rejoined the service during the period of the war. The late Mr Brittenden arrived in Wellington m November. 1874, bv the Star of India. Heojoined the railway service in -November, 1377, at Studholme Junction. He was a guard on the Ashburton section from March, 1879, juul afterwards at Oamaru from l?7i>. He was transferred to Cbristchureh in Octolter, 1883, and from then until his retirement he was a popular officer or. the express service. The late Mr Brittenden was a member of the Navy League and was well known as a maker of model boats. _ His widow and a family of two sons and three daughters survive him. One son, Charles, was kilkd at. Gallipoli. The eldest son, Mr -15. Brittenden, is on the staff of the NewZealand Railway* at Wellington, and the second sou. Mr W. Brittenden, is employed at the Christchnreh branch of the Dunlon Rubber Co. One of the daughters is Mrs Lyes, of King street, Sydenham.

MR WALTER SNEDDON. Yesterday there was buried at the Scottish cemetery, Selwyn street, a man who played a leading part in some of the developments of Canterbury and, in fact, in the development of New Zealand—the late Mr Walter Sneddon. Mr Sneddon came to New Zealand in the early 'sixties and, being a working engineer of' considerable experience, he 1 readily got employment with the late Mr John Anderson, and rapidly took a leading position with the firm, honourably carrying out everything that was the desire of his principals. Probablv his first duties were the installation of boiling-down plants, and his skill and resource soon brought him into prominence with nearly every "squatter" in Canterbury; in fact, it became a condition when ordering a plant that the erection was to be carried out by "Wattie" Sneddon. When boilingdown plants gave way to refrigeration, .is occupation, was gone in that direction, but otner developments were takng place, and he came largely into the harvesting of grain, which was then a very large proportion of the Dominion's exports. He put together the first reaper and binder that came into New Zealand (Woods's wire binder), and advocated its merits to the many visitors to Andersons' foundry, subsequently carrying out public trials and giving an impetus to a new feature that created considerable wealth for the farming community- When the Government of that day decided that the. iron and steel bridges required for the colony were to be constructed in the colony, Mr Sneddon was chosen to carry out some very important work for Andersons—first the Beaumont, bridge across the Molyneux, and then a series of nearly twenty bridges in Otago Central. Returning to the Molyneux, he was engaged in the erection of Miller's Flat bridge when he was approached by the Government to undertake the erection of the Makohine viaduct—the biggest viaduct that the colony had j undertaken at that time. After successfully carrying out this work under many difficulties, Mr Sneddon retired on the land and lived a quiet country life, but was always interested in thje progress of the colony, especially where it pertained to engineering works. Mr Sneddon was of a particularly bright nature, and had all the high qualifications of the Scottish character. Many stories were told of bis quaint replies to criticisms on *his skill and ability from his "squatter" friends- His sterling honesty and cheerfulness won him many friends; in fact, all through his career he had the confidence and goodwill of everybody, and of none more than his employer, the late Mr John Anderson, and his eons and grandsons, who now carry on the business. Mr Sneddon leaves a large family of sons and daughters, all of whom are filling useful positions, one of his sons holding a responsible position in the New Zealand Shipping Company.