Joseph Sparrow, (1842-1/7/1930). "expert knowledge"

OBITUARY

MR JOSEPH SPARROW. 

Mr Joseph Sparrow, a very old and highly respected resident of' Dunedin, passed away at his residence in Inge avenue, St. Clair, about 4 o'clock yesterday morning at the age of 88 years. For a good many years he lived in retirement, and until about a month ago he was able to get about quite well considering his advanced years. He was then overtaken by an illness, which gradually became more serious and reached a critical stage a few days ago. 

Mr Sparrow was born in Dumbartonshire, Scotland, in 1842, and received his education in his native village. After he had left school he decided to become an engineer, and with that object in view he served an apprenticeship in the Leven ship works, belonging to the wellknown firm of Messrs Denny and Co. He then spent a year in Glasgow, after which he went to Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he remained for five years in the service of Messrs Mitchell, Armstrong, and Mitchell. Mr Sparrow gained a great deal of valuable knowledge in all matters relating to the iron shipbuilding industry before he left the Old Country, and this stood him in good stead in later years, when he had made his home in New Zealand. He came out to this country in the ship William Davey in 1869, landing at Port Chalmers, and then coming on to Dunedin. . He worked for Messrs Kincaid and McQueen, and then for Mr R. S. Sparrow for a period of two years, and in 1872 he made up his mind to start in business on his own account, establishing the firm now so well known as Messrs Joseph Sparrow and Sons, Ltd., which has been one of the leading engineering firms in the city for very many years. Mr Sparrow retired from active participation in the business many years ago, and since then it has been carried on by his sons. 

Mr Sparrow came out to this country equipped with expert knowledge which was extremely valuable, especially at a time when a great deal of work required to be done in developing, the country, demanding enterprise, business courage, and foresight. At one time the building of dredges formed an important part of the firm’s operations, and a large number of machines were designed and constructed for work in New Zealand, and even as far away as Siam, Burma, the Philippines, and other countries. After the decline of the dredging industry the firm carried on general and marine engineering with a large measure of success, building up an extensive business. In more recent years Messrs Sparrow and Sons have devoted special attention to structural engineering, which assumed substantial dimensions as a result of the growing favouritism for steel-framed buildings. Large quantities of material have been supplied for such buildings in Dunedin, and the firm’s activities in this direction have extended to almost every part of New Zealand. In his younger days Mr Sparrow took an active part in local affairs. .He was a member of the North-East Valley Borough Council for three years, and subsequently served on the Mornington Borough Council. He was also a member of the Mornington School Committee for many years. On November 28, 1864, Mr Sparrow married Miss Mackay, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the happy, couple celebrated the sixty-fifth anniversary of their wedding on November 28, 1929, on which occasion they were the recipients of congratulations from a wide circle of friends. Mr Sparrow is survived by his widow, four sons, six daughters, 22 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. 

At a meeting of the Otago Ironmasters’ Association, held last evening, the president (Mr J. B. Shacklock), made reference to the death of a pioneer ironfounder in the city in the person of Mr Joseph Sparrow, stating that he had always been held in the highest respect by all members of the engineering industry in Otago. Mr Sparrow had established a business which was a great credit to himself and family. It was decided to tender the association’s sincere sympathy with the widow and family, all the members standing as a mark of respect to a late highly-esteemed fellow member.  -Otago Daily Times, 2/7/1930.

FUNERAL NOTICE

THE Friends of the late Joseph Sparrow (and family) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, 9 Ings avenue, St. Clair, TO-MORROW (Wednesday), the 2nd inst, at 2 p.m.. for the Northern Cemetery. 

R. McLEAN AND SON, Undertakers.  -Evening Star, 1/7/1930.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.