THE NEW MEMBER FOR NEWTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8064, 27 September 1887, Page 6

THE NEW MEMBER FOR NEWTON.

Mr. Edward Withy, who has just successfully contested the Newton seat for the House of Representatives, was born in Bristol in December, 1844, and educated in Somersetshire, ac Sidoot School, belonging to the Society of Friends. In 1858 he passed the Cambridge looal examination held at Bristol, and left school at the end of the following year. In the summer of 1860 he went to Stockton-on-Tees to learn the business of iron shipbuilding at the works ot Messrs. Rijhardson, Duck, and Co., with whom be completed his apprenticeship in December, 1865. During this year and the following one nis employers were engaged upon contracts with the P. and O. SteamBhip Company, and Mr. Withy had been placed by them in charge of this special work. This resulted in his becoming acquainted with the managing directors of the Mail Company, who, upon the completion of the contracts, made him an oifer to enter their service.

In this capacity he made a trip round the Cape to Bombay in 1867, and spent some time in sketching and increasing bis acquaintance with the work required of the steamers. In returning to England tie spent a week on the Isthmus of Suez, inspecting the great canal works, then nearing completion. Early in 1868 he was married to Miss Annie Treadgoid, of Stockton-on-Tees. Daring the remainder of this year he was en* gaged as draughtsman and overlooker at the building of the a.s. Decoan for the P. and O. Company, by Messrs. William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton. In February, 1869, he resigned his appointment in order to become a partner in a new shipbuilding firm at Hartlepool. Until May, 1884, he continued in this businesu, and, besides doing extensive repairs to steamers belonging to his late employers, added 130 cargo and passenger steamers to the mercantile marine. His firm, recognising the advantage of seeking the intelligent cooperation of their employees, auopted a system by which they offered pecuniary "awards "to any who devised plana whien would effect improvements either in the construction of steamers or in methods of manufacture. This has work«d very satisfactorily to all concerned under the wise " adjudications" of the committee appointed.' The firm was always early in the held with improvements that came to the front, and early in 1884 completed the first exclusively cargo iteamer, which had been fitted with " triple - expansion " engines. To the economical results of this vessel, Mr. Withy directed the attention of our Chamber of Commerce when that body was considering the renewal of the San Francisco mail contract. In matters closely allied to his profession Mr. Withy was conitantly occupied, and occasionally read papers dealing with the stability of vessels, their tonnage, meesurement, and the much-debated question of fixing a safe load line. He was several times called upon to give evidence before Royal Commissions appointed to consider such qnestions. Mr. Withy early became, and still remains, a member of several technical societies, including the Institution of .Naval Architects, the Institation of Mechanical Engineers, the Iron and Steel Institute, and the Cleveland Institution of Engineers. Through the annual summer meetings of these bodies he had extensive opportunities of visiting and becoming acquainted with the operations of many of the largest industrial establishments of England and several on the Continent. In politics Mr. Withy was an adherent of the advanced Liberal party, and is an original member of the National Liberal Club, established in 1883. He was one of the undenominational

members of the first School Board eleoted (or West Hartlepool after the passing of the Education Act of 1871. and was for many years a member, and latterly Chairman of, the Local Board of Health for the district in which his works were situated. In thei cause of technical education he was an original promoter, and for two years President of a University Extension Association, which was the means of bringing skilled lecturers from the University of Cambridge. In circuit with three other neighbouring towns, these gentlemen delivered a series of autumn and winter courses of twelve weekly lectures. When visiting England last rammer, he was called upon to distribute the certificates to the successful students of the previous course. The ciroumstanoe that led to Mr. Withy's becoming acquainted with the colonies was one which has become bo common of late years. The strain inseparable from a career of such continual mental aotivity and responsibility induced a state of nervous prostration, and he was ordered to take a long voyage. Melbourne via the Cape was selected, and with his wife and one child half of the year 1873 was spent there and in returning via Suez and through the Continent of Europe. The freer institutions of the colonies impressed him so that from that time he kept the intention of emigrating fully in view. It was not, however, till eleven years later that this hope could be realised ; and having made extensive Inquiries about the colonies, he fixed upon Mew Zealand as the most desirable. Accordingly, be severed his conneclion with business in May. 1884, and in the following August sailed for Auckland via Melbourne and Sydney. His party numbered thirteen souls, which may be looked upon as constituting a pretty considerable stake in the country, as a sufficient motive for wishing to see it well governed, and as warranting him in offering his services to a constituency at the present grave crisis. Last year, as previously mentioned, Mr. Withy, accompanied by bis wife, .took the opportunity of the opening of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition to visit it and his numerous friends in the old country.