OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 6

OBITUARY

HR ISAAC STEVENSON MAPE PORT CHALMERS FAMOUS FOR SHIP REPAIRS At the age of 93 years, Mr Isaac Stevenson died at .his residence, St. Leonards, yesterday. He was oyer a long period a principal of the engineering and shipbuilding firm of Messrs Stevenson and Cook, Port Chalmers, retiring from active participation in the business , some, years ago. Mr Stevenson was born in Maybole, Ayrshire, and when three years of age went with his parents to Geelong, Victoria, the family eventually settling at Ballarat. Mr Stevenson was educated in Ballarat and served his apprenticeship as a boilermaker there. He came to Dunedin when lie was 21, and worked with the engineering firm of Messrs Kincaid and McQueen, and later with Messrs Morgan and Cable at Port Chalmers. In 1882 he joined the firm then known as Messrs Morgan and MacGregor.. When Mr Morgan died and Mr Cable retired Mr Stevenson was left as the sole proprietor of the firm, and in May, 1902, Mr John Cook resigned his position as superintendent of the Union Steam Ship Company and entered into partnership with Mr Stevenson to form the firm of Stevenson and Cook. The firm had a notable career as ship repairers and builders, and also constructed a large number of bucket dredges for use on the goldfields of Otago and Australia. The construction of the bucket dredges played a revolutionary part in gold-winning operations, and contributed more than anything to the prosperity and the stability of the industry. • Mr Stevenson took d keen interest in the gold dredging industry, and, being an extremely capable business man as well as a first-class engineer. his ventures were generally highly successful.

When Dunedin was the headquarters of the Union Steam Ship Company Mr Stevenson’s firm was naturally kept busy with ship engineering repairs, and the concern earned a well-deserved reputation throughout the . Dominion and Australia which stood it in good stead during the period of both world wars, when it carried out many important undertakings which earned the highest praise from the British Admiralty. Mr Stevenson was mayor of Fort Chalmers for a period, and always took the greatest interest in the welfare of the borough. Some years ago be built the Pioneer Hall at his own expense for the use of the borough, and placed it under the trusteeship of the borough council.

About .30 years ago Mr'Stevenson acquired the Mount Royal estate, Palmerston, for his son, Mr Alexander Stevenson, who later died. "Another son, John, was in charge of the firm’s business until his death. Mrs Stevenson died about 15 years ago, and there are k three daughters—-Mrs N, G, Buchanan (St. Leonards), Mrs Theo Walker (Stoke, Nelson), and Miss A; E. Stevenson (St. Leonards), Mr Stevenson had 4 been living for some years in retirement at St. Leonards, but he still retained a number of business interests in Australia.

“Mr Stevenson has been a worthy citizen of the borough,” the mayor of Port Chalmers, Mr H. S. Watson, said last night. “He was always anxious to give a helping hand, to every worthy causey and the borough will always be indebted to his many acts; of; generosity over a long period of years.”;.