The Dunedin Office of the Government Inspectors of Machinery is situated on the first floor over the Castle Street entrance of the Law Courts Buildings, and is under the charge of Mr. A. Walker and Mr. M. Sharp, Inspectors of Machinery and Examiners of Engineers for the district of Otago.

Mr. Archibald Walker , Senior Inspector of Machinery, and Examiner of Engineers, Surveyors, and Engine Drivers, Dunedin, is a son of the late Mr. Peter Walker, who arrived in Dunedin in 1861. He was born in Dunedin, in 1864, and educated at the public school in Dunedin and Queenstown, and was subsequently apprenticed to Mr. Jabez Hay engineer, of Invercargill. On completing his articles in 1883 he removed to Dunedin, and entered the service of the Union Steamship Company, as engineer. He served on various steamers, and left the Company in 1893, as second engineer. Mr. Walker then went to Melbourne, where he was appointed assistant engineer to the Melbourne Corporation Freezing works; but twelve months afterwards he returned to New Zealand, to take charge of the Bluff Harbour Board's machinery. He was appointed to his present position in 1901.

Mr. Matthew Sharp , an Inspector of Machinery, Surveyor of Ships, and Examiner of Marine Engineers and Engine Drivers under the Inspection of Machinery Department, is stationed in Dunedin. He was born in Glasgow in 1856 and educated at St. Enoch's School, in his birthplace. His engineering training was gained as an indentured apprentice at Messrs G. and A. Harvey's works in Glasgow, where he served the full five years. To gain further experience, he afterwards served with Messrs John Elder and Co., the well known engineers and ship builders on the Clyde. In the year 1878 he joined the British and African Steam Navigation Company's service, sailing from the port of Liverpool as fourth engineer, and rising to the position of second engineer. On leaving the African Mail service in 1882, he joined the service of Messrs Raeburn and Verel, as chief engineer, sailing in the Eastern trade, and continued with them until 1888, when he joined Messrs Angier Bros.' fleet sailing out of London as chief engineer for six years. On leaving that service he was appointed supervisor in the construction of the Wellington Steam Ferry Company's steamer “Duchess,” at Glasgow. Mr. Sharp came out in the “Duchess,” as chief engineer, remaining in her for some years, and left the service to join the Wellington and Wanganui Shipping Comapany as chief engineer. While in this service he was appointed to his present position. He was stationed in Wellington for some time after his appointment, and afterwards transferred to Dunedin. Mr. Sharp holds the highest Board of Trade certificate. He is a Freemason, and is very popular amongst the brethren in Otago.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. M. Sharp.

Mr. Henry Wetherilt , formerly Inspector of Machinery for the district of Otago, was born in London in 1847 and taken by his parentsin 1853 to Constantinople, where he was educated, and trained in the Turkish Navy. in 1867, he was promoted to the rank of engineer and appointed to one of H. I. M.'s Ironclads then on active service in quelling the Cretan and Montenegrin insurrections. After sixteen years' service he retired from the Turkish navy and joined the military small arms works, where he continued till 1879, when he resigned and returned to London and entered the Royal carriage department, Woolwich Arsenal; and up to June, 1885, he served as third, second, and chief engineer in the “City,” Monarch,” and “Orient” lines. In October, 1885, he came to New Zealand to manage the Shaw Savill and Albion Company's freezing ship “Edwin Fox,” which he left at Lyttelton in 1891 and joined Nelson Bros., as inspecting engineer till 1892, when he was engaged as engineer for two years and eight months. On the death of Mr. Mouat, chief inspector of machinery, Mr. Wetherilt was transferred to Dunedin as inspector of machinery for Otago and Southland, engineer-surveyor of steamers, and examiner of engineers. Mr. Wetherilt was married to a daughter of Mr. T. Reay, engineer in the Turkish navy, and has three sons. He is now (1904) stationed at Auckland.

Mr. H. Wetherilt.