William Errington
William Errington (c1832-1894) of Hunt and Opie, Robinson, Thomas and Co and the Phoenix Foundry Co (of Ballarat). Engineer of the Lady Barkly locomotive
1894 Obituary [1]
MR WM. ERRINGTON, C.E., an old Australasian colonist and formerly a well-known resident of Auckland, died yesterday morning, at the age of 62 years, at the residence of his son-in-law, the Hon. Wm. McCullough, M.L.C., Hepburn-street. The funeral took place this afternoon at the Wakitomiti Cemetery.
Mr Errington, who was born in South Shields, Durham, England, served his time as an engineer at Richardson and Co.’s, a branch of the firm of Geo. Stephenson and Co., with which firm Mr Jobson, Inspector of Machinery in Auckland, also served his time.
In the year 1854 Mr Errignton came to Australia, and was associated in the “sixties” with a large iron foundry in Ballarat which firm under Mr Errington’s superintendence built one of the first locomotives in Australia – the Lady Barkly – and erected the principal mining plants on the Ballarat goldfield.
Over 20 years ago Mr Errington supplied the plans and machinery from Ballarat for the Big Pump at the Thanes, and, after carrying out its erection, he was for some years manager of the Pump.
Subsequently, he prepared the plans for the Auckland Graving Dock, and superintended its construction, and he afterwards carried out the Auckland city water supply works, the reservoir and pumps being constructed from his design.
He next supplied the plans for the Calliope Dock, and supervised the construction of that important work.
Some six years ago, Mr Errington went to Victoria, and interested himself in various patents.
Lately he had been in very indifferent health, and recently he had a bad attack of bronchitis. He lately came across to New Zealand, and after visiting his only son in Wellington, he came on to Auckland to visit his daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs McCullough. He reached Auckland about a week ago, and at once took to his bed. He was attended by Dr. King, but he succumbed to his ailment, dropsy, early yesterday morning.
The deceased leaves one son and three daughters, the daughters being Mrs McCullough, Mrs O’Callaghan (wife of the Rev. Dr. O’Callaghan, of the Thames), and Mrs Douslin, of Blenheim.
Mr Errington was an old Freemason, and leaves a large number of friends in Auckland.