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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Kew

Kew.

Kew , is a flag station two miles from Invercargill on the Bluff line of railway. The district is a portion of the borough of South Invercargill, and is in the electoral district of Invercargill. The Government Creosoting Works for sleepers used on New Zealand railways are situated at Kew, where they cover an area of about two acres of land. There are two forty-horse power boilers, and a ten-horse power steam engine, with a superheater and force pumps. The rimu (red pine), kahikatea (white pine) and miro sleepers are treated by being placed in an iron cylinder, which will contain nine trolly loads, or 567 sleepers at one time. When the cylinder is closed, the sleepers are boiled to take out the sap, and when all the sap has been extracted, creosote is forced in by one of the pumps. About 1700 sleepers are treated weekly in this way.

Mr. George Williamson , Engineer in charge of the Government Creosoting Works at Kew, on the Bluff line, was born at Port Molyneux, in 1864, and educated in Dunedin and Invercargill. He served his time at engineering at the establishment of Inglis and Johnston, and the Southland Iron Works, For some years he was fifting, and afterwards spent some time in engine driving at various Southland saw mills, and coal mines. In April, 1902, he entered the Government service, to take charge of the works at Kew, having for three years previously been with Campbell Brothers, the original contractors for this class of work, the plant at that time being at Woodend. Mr. Williamson was sent up to Woodville, in 1903, to start the creosoting works there, and stayed about four months. He is a member of the Murihiki Tent of Rechabites, Invercargill. Mr. Williamson married a daughter of Mr. T. Hughes, gardner, Richmond Grove, in 1886, and has two sons and two daughters.

page 879
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. G. Williamson.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. G. Williamson.