OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 12 February 1927, Page 17

OBITUARY.

MR ANDREW ANDERSON. Ib-re passe,] ; ,„ a y yesterday morn'"S one r| t),,. pioneers of Canterbury, .M, Andrew Anderson, sc<..)ii.| . 011 0 | t | lc | at „ Mr Join. Anderson, the lonnder ol the. vrll-kttmm engineering and foundry business, ii.jrt known a a Aii.lcisuiis, l.iunifii, an.l luviilioi ol iiu- I'liairmun ol Uiicciois 01 (|„. || llni Ml .) o |,n Andcrsou.

•>ll .uiuiv •, An.iei -on i.a> one ol lilt 111-al fill uleii 00111 in 1 in.- einoiyo Lily >.f (. tniMcliunii j,Hei- lue ;.i;.*al ol

•lhe rir.it 10,11 .snips. .\i, .John All- - Hi, liiii.M-, LH-iifd In, lirst loip: at ilie -in- Known as "I Ho lin K-, on i!i._- -.oiiHi-ueslein side ol the pre.-eiil I a o:.Joe, >,rc.L and u w.:., iheie on Uclober |..i,|.. IS jI. Liiiu .M,. Aliilivw All-der.-oi. was n'.i 11 He i-eteiwd ln.s early eduealioii al i;,. : S.-ol t i.sli lligli Sellooi, ( lilisieli.ll-tli. Inil when lotllleen years ol uiji' he we;ii lo Scotland, and,* like his elder brother, attended the Mcrcliist<ni Castle .School, After his tilm-aliim there, .Mr Anderson was articled to .Messrs iilvth and Cunninjliain, one of the principal linns in Scotland, who were, nt lhe .lime, carrying out a lai-RC amount of norl; for the railway, in :i.l,lition to other important undertaking. He remained wifli this firm for some timo after his articles were completed, and also studied engineering at the Edinburgh University under the distinguished Professor FlecmiiiK Jonkin. On Mr Anderson's return to New Zca'and lie joined (lie Government service and assisted in carrying out both railway a.n.l road development works. Afterwards he became assistant engineer to Mr Napier Bell during the construction of the original drainage works for the City of Ciiristehiircli. On retiring from that position lie joined his father and his brother in their engineering and foundry business, and took up th© civil engineering branch of it. One of Mr Anderson's first works was the construction of the Jiakaia-Ashhurton Forks railway, 22 miles 20 chains, which was built for the Rnkaia and Ashburton Forks District Bailway Company, and which was opened for traffic in 1885. Other important constructional works with which Mr Anderson was connected, and which were done by th© firm, were tho Beaumont bridge over the Molyneux. and cantilever road-bridge over tho Upper Waiati river, tho Lyell bridge over the Buller river, and a, succession of bridges comprising the first of the Otngo Central Bailway bridge contracts. He was also connected with tho construction of the Spring-field-Patterson's Creek section of the Midland railway, and with several of the largo viaducts on the North Island Main Trunk line, notably the Makatote—to date, the largest viaduct in the Dominion.

Of a retiring nature, Mr Anderson, though deeply interested in publio affairs, did not take any active part in them. To the last ho read widely, and maintained a keen interest in all matters pertaining to engineering. The carrying out of the big constructional works already mentioned called for the exercise of great administrative and organising qualities, and these Mr Anderson possessed and exercised in a highly successful manner. As an employer, he was most just and fair in his dealings, and to young men embarking oh their life's work he was always encouraging. Much of the success which attended the big undertakings with which he was connected he attributed to the loyal service given by every member of the staff. He was devoted to hi's family, and also took a lively interest in everything relating to the early days of Christchurch and Cnntcrbtiry. From boyhood Mr Anderson suffered from heart trouble, but throughout his long, and busy life, and di'ring his 'ast illness, lie bore his sufferings with great fortitude and cheerfulness.