Obituary. 91 



showed themselves when a boy, and he took up ardently the 

 subject of chemistry, to which he applied himself with much 

 enthusiasm, and eventually adopted as his occupation that of a 

 manufacturing chemist. His connection with the Royal Society 

 brought him into much congenial companionship, and when, two 

 years ago, it was desired to revive Section A, this reorganisation 

 of the departmental proceedings of the Society evoked from him 

 such a marked expression of interest that he was appointed 

 honorary secretary. The earnest manner in which he subsequently 

 performed the duties of this office made it certain that if he had 

 lived, he would have done much to aid in developing the usefulness 

 of this section. 



He died at Emerald Hill on the 7th February, 1881, aged 

 twenty-six. 



MR THOMAS HIGINBOTHAM, M.I.C.E. 



Mr. Higinbotham was a native of Dublin. He learned the 

 rudiments of his profession in the Royal Dublin Society House, 

 and, about the year 1838-39, he went to London and entered the 

 office of Sir William Cubitt. In 1853 his brother, now Mr. 

 Justice Higinbotham, came out to this colony, and he followed 

 him in 1857, 



In January, 1858, he was appointed by Captain Clarke, C.E., 

 Inspector-General of Roads for the colony. 



All our lines of railways from 1860 to 1878 were made under 

 Mr. Higinbotham's supervision, the value of whose ability became 

 more and more apparent as time rolled away. Under his regime 

 the cost of constructing railways was reduced to less than .£5000 

 per mile. He played a part in the inquiry with regard to the 

 efficiency of the Malmsbury Reservoir, and it will be remembered 

 that this terminated in the dismissal of the other engineers 

 employed. 



He always opposed any effort to alter the gauge of our railways. 

 He carried his point, and afterwards he received the thanks of all 

 persons concerned. In 1874 he left the colony to inspect the 

 British, Continental, and American railways, and on returning, 

 after two years, he presented a valuable report on the construction 

 of cheap lines. On the 8th of February he was dismissed, with 

 other victims of Black Wednesday. He was, however, restored 

 to his position of Engineer-in-Chief on the occasion of the Service 



