OBITUARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22528, 7 January 1948, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. T. G. G. BECK BRILLIANT ENGINEER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. The death took place this morning of Mr Thomas George Gordon Beck, deputy Commissioner of Works, after a long illness. Aged 47 years, Mr Beck had had a brilliant career and won meteoric promotion in the Work’s Department after his return in 1933 from the United States, where he carried out advanced engineering studies, particularly in irrigation and river control. He was born in Palmerston, Otago, and joined the Public Works Department in 1919, working in various parts of New' Zealand He was assistant engineer at the Otira tunnel. His most noticeable work in river control was done in Canterbury, particularly in the mid-Canterbury irrigation hydro scheme, which involves the diversion of the Rangitata to the bed of the Rakaia River. He pioneered the use of modern earth-moving machinery in New Zealand. Another big irrigation work in Canterbury was the Downlands water-sup-ply scheme and at the Tekapo hydro development he introduced the shield method of tunnel driving. In 1942 he was transferred to the Wellington head office and rose rapidly to the position he occupied when he was overtaken by illness. He was a very active member of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Board. Mr Beck leaves a widow and four children.