Henry Batson Joyner (1839-1884)
1885 Obituary [1]
HENRY BATSON JOYNER, eldest son of the late Mr. Henry St. John Joyner, of Northwick, Harrow, was born July 9th, 1839.
From 1856 to 1860 he served a pupilage under the late Mr. Charles Nixon, M.Inst. C.E.
In l860 and 1861 he was an Assistant Engineer on the Parsonstown and Portumna Railway under Messrs. Nixon and Dennis.
From 1862 to 1868 he was engaged on the construction of the Cwm-Orthin Railway and on works for the supply of Tunbridge Wells with water, as Resident Engineer, also under Messrs. Nixon and Dennis.
On the completion of the latter, he was retained by the Commissioners of that town as their Resident Engineer till 1870, in which year he left England to take up an appointment under the Imperial Government of Japan, in whose service he remained about seven years-being employed first in the Public Works Department, in the construction of the earliest railway in that empire. On the completion of the first section, namely from Yokohama to Yedo, he was transferred to the Home Department, where his professional ability had a wider field. Among his chief labours were the trigonometrical survey of Japan, and also the survey of the capital, and other works of public utility; and here it may be mentioned specialIy, that it was he who organized and developed in Japan the Imperial Department of Meteorology (himself training and instructing the native students in a thorough knowledge of that science); and laid the solid basis on which the present system has been built up. For this he held testimonials of high praise and thanks from the government.
His great interest in the subject of Meteorology, and the benefit that he felt would accrue to Japan from the development of that science, caused him to write, while still in the Imperial Government service, a non-official pamphlet, entitled, “The Progress and ultimate results of Meteorology, specially considered in reference to Japan.”
Mr. Joyner left Japan in 1877, and after a short stay in England, proceeded at the latter end of 1878 to South America, as Engineer-in-Chief for the planning and construction of the extensive water supply and sewerage system of the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The sewerage scheme for th0 above named city, with its many ramifications and domestic services, is now in full operation, with great benefit to the city. The water-supply is on the gravitation system; the water being conveyed to the city, a distance of 10 miles, through iron pipes from the springs in the hills of the Cantareira Forest, where are two large reservoirs for accumulation, with their accompanying erections, built in solid masonry, hewn and quarried from the surrounding rocks. In the city are two fine service-reservoirs, built in solid brickwork, lined with asphalte.
On the completion of these works in May 1884, Mr. Joyner returned to England, hoping to recruit his somewhat impaired health ; but having taken a severe cold, inflammation of the lungs set in, and he died on the 23rd of November, to the deep grief of all who knew his genial disposition, and respected his straightforward and manly character.
He was elected an Associate Member on the 6th of May, 1879, and was transferred to Member on the 29th of November, 1881. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical and the Royal Meteorological Societies.