OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 13949, 4 January 1906, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR NAPIER BELL. Much regret was felt in Christchurch yesterday when news was received of the death of Mr G. Napier Bell, the eminent civil engineer, who passed away at Derby, Tasmania. He was well-known in this city, and indeed in nearly all parts of tills colony, where many important public works are the result of his abilities and professional skill. He was a man of great versatility as far as his profession was concerned. Ho commenced a onstinguisned career in 1857, when, as a pupil of Messrs Bell and Millar, hydraulic engineers, of Glasgow, he conducted town surveys in Edinburgh and Glasgow, surveys for the Fishery Commission on the Tay, trigonometrical construction of new streets and sewers in Edinburgh, surveys and plans of the railway between Peebles and Innerleithen, the construction of a graving dock at Glasgow, and other works. Between 1860 and 1866 he was engaged in exploration, location and a survey of about forty miles of the San Paulo -railway, Brazil, and was resident engineer there for a time. Later on he prepared surveys, plans and estimates' in connection with other Brazilian railways, the Rio Grande waterworks, and the harbour at Buenos Ayres. It was at this time, between 1866 and 1869, that he was admitted as a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers. He was then engaged as engineer by the contractors for the construction of the Baxtel on Weed railway from Holland to Prussia, and prepared plans for gas and waterworks for the town of Bereditcheff, in South Russia. It was about 1871 when he first came to New Zealand. He was appointed engineer over the railway contracts of Messrs John Bro-gden and Sons, in both the North and South Islands. In 1875 he was appointed engineer to the Christchurch Drainage Board, and carried out the drainage scheme devised by Mr J. CaiTuthers and remodelled by Mr W. Clarke. He held that position until 1882, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Mr E. Cuthberfc, the present engineer. From March, io7B, bo March, 1885, he was engineer to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and when in that position he designed and constructed the graving dock, patent slip, and the principal wharves, jetties and buildings. After relinquishing hie, office under the Harbour Board, he spent th© reel of his time in the colonies, going to and from New Zealand to Australia as his engagements called him. He reported on the breakwaters at Napier, Gisborne, Westport, Dunedin, Timaru and New Plymouth. He was engineer to the Westport Harbour Board, and constructed the breakwater there, and also the bridge over the Buller and other works in that district. At one time he was chief resident engineer of the- Midland Railway. Amongst other New Zealand works with which he was connected were: Survey and general design for the extension and improvement of Wellington Harbour, including a graving dock and patent slip; engineering member of the Royal Commission appointed to examine and report on the various passes through the mountains for the Midland Railway; survey of the line recommended by the Commission through Arthur’s Pass and the Otira; design for sewerage at Hastings; report on sewerage and waterworks at Westport; report- on means to secure Timaru Harbour from drift shingle; plans to improve the entrance to the Napier breakwater and secure the breakwater from the effects of storms; report on improvements to the Westport Harbour; report on the irrigation of the upper plains and water supply of Masterton; appointed by the Government to inspect and report on the condition of the works, permanent way, and rolling stock of the whole of the colony’s railways; design for the railway bridge over the Grey River. In Australia, he designed or constructed works at Davenport (Tasmania), Townsville, Fitzroy River, Burnett River, Brisbane River, Rockhampton, Adelaide, Emu Bay, Perth and Fremantle.