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Joseph Dawson

Joseph Dawson

Male 1843 - 1923  (79 years)

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  • Name Joseph Dawson 
    Born 30 Aug 1843  Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1869  Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Emmigrated from Tasmania 
    Residence 1889  Pahiatua, Tararua, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Business Mar 1917  Opiki, Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    New Zealand designer and builder Joseph Dawson of Pahiatua was hired to build the bridge for the Tane Hemp Company. He had studied the stresses and strains of concrete during a long life of experience in building, including 15 suspension bridges. Construction of the bridge began in March 1917.

    The Tane Swing Bridge, as it was known in its early years, was 477 feet (154.39m) long. It was suspended between two reinforced concrete towers that were 48 feet (14.6m) high above ground, and set about 10 feet into the ground. The bridge was 11 feet wide with a 9 foot carriageway. The towers held 16 cables resting upon rollers that topped each tower. These cables were obtained from the Waihi gold mines and had been tested to hold a weight of about 50 tons. They were attached to long, bronzed-steel rods that were anchored into 25 cubic yards of concrete buried 17 feet into the ground.The decking, which was held up by the 16 cables, was made up of 8 x 3 inch planks of black beech timber that had been milled from Akatarawa valley (near Upper Hutt). The decking could not be nailed down because the constant movement of the bridge would have lifted the nails, causing punctured tyres. All the iron work on the bridge was done on-site by the Tane mill blacksmith, Ernest Henderson. The bridge was completed in January 1918 at a cost of £2821.
    Source Opiki Toll Bridge
    click to visit Opiki Toll Bridge wesite 
    Died 13 Aug 1923  Karori, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    • Aged 79 years
    Buried 15 Aug 1923  Karori Cemetery, Karori, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Dawson, Joseph, J.P., Contractor and Bridge Builder, Main Street, Pahiatua. Mr. Dawson was born in Tasmania in 1843, and followed the occupation of a farmer. He came to New Zealand in 1869, and at the age of twenty-six entered as an apprentice to the carpentering trade with the late Mr. D. Reese. Before he had served half his time he became foreman, and carried out many of the large railway station buildings and sheds on the Southbridge and Ashburton lines. Within a few years he became architect and contractor, designing and constructing many of the buildings in East Christchurch, including Ward and Co.'s brewery buildings. After this he removed to Greytown in the North Island, but finally settled in Masterton, where he tendered for some of the most important works and bridges, and carried out all his undertakings to the satisfaction of those concerned. In 1889 he removed to Pahiatua, where he now resides in a very comfortable two-story house in the main street. He is very popular in the district. In public affairs he was chairman of the Pahiatua Town Board for two terms, and was also a member of the Borough Council. He is a member of the Masterton Licensing Committee, and of the Pahiatua Lodge of Freemasons. In his younger days he was for some years champion sculler of New Zealand, and was never beaten until he lowered his colours to Hearn at Kaipoi. He is married and has seven children.
      Source - Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] 1897.
    Person ID I13057  Frost Family
    Last Modified 25 Sep 2015 

    Family Anne Reese,   b. 17 May 1848, Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Apr 1915, Karori, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years) 
    Married Abt 1875  New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Children 
     1. Alexander Dawson,   b. Abt 1879, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Cecilia Dalziel Dawson,   b. Abt 1881, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Gladys Jean Dawson,   b. Abt 1884, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. Baby Dawson,   b. 1885, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1885, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
    +5. Robert Reese Dawson,   b. 11 Oct 1887, Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1953, Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years)
     6. Walter Dawson,   b. Abt 1889, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location
     7. Josephine Dalziel Dawson,   b. 13 Feb 1893, Pahiatua, Tararua, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Aug 1975, Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
    Last Modified 26 Sep 2015 
    Family ID F9619  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 30 Aug 1843 - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - Emmigrated from Tasmania - 1869 - Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Abt 1875 - New Zealand Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1889 - Pahiatua, Tararua, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 13 Aug 1923 - Karori, Wellington City, Wellington, New Zealand Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Joseph Dawson    		Joseph Dawson

  • Sources 
    1. [S293] BDM NZ Historical Records, (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.identityservices.govt.nz/home/), 1923/1591 (Reliability: 2).

    2. [S10] Marriage Register Index , NZ 1875/0611 (Reliability: 3).


  

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