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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Railway Department

Railway Department.

Mr. H. H. Jackson, who is mentioned on page 346 as Locomotive Engineer for New Zealand Railways, was transferred to a similar position on the Wanganui Section in February, 1897.

Mr. Thomas Alexander Peterkin, Locomotive Engineer for the Wellington Section of New Zealand Government Railways, was born in 1839 in London, and was educated at Aylesbury Grammar School. He commenced his railway career on the London and North Western Railway, under Messrs. McConnell and Ramsbottom, and became a lending hand. In 1869 Mr. Peterkin landed in Victoria, being appointed manager of the Vulcan Foundry at Geelong, a position he occupied for three years. Subsequently he went to Rockhampton, Queensland, where he was superintending engineer at the building of the Sir Charles Nicholson Meat Preserving Company's works. Mr. Peterkin afterwards established a foundry in that town, which he worked for seven years. He became engineer of the s.s. “Edinburgh,” engaged on special work to pick up the broken English cable. Leaving the vessel at Singapore he brought the s.s. “Agnes” to New Zealand, and soon afterwards settled in the Colony, being appointed in July, 1876, as railway manager at Westport. After periods of service as manager of the Christchurch Tramways and on the Addington and Hillside Workshops successively, he returned to his former position at Westport, remaining for seven-and-a-half years, being transferred in February, 1897, to the position indicated above. Mr. Peterkin is married, and has two sons and a daughter.