XXVI. NORMAN SELFE. 



Our consideration of pioneer mechanical engineers may be 

 concluded for the present with the names of John Struth, William 

 Orr, and the members of the firm of P. N. Russell & Co. 



John Struth was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, on the 1st of 

 January, 1804. He served an apprenticship as an engineer with 

 Messrs. Murray of Chester-le-street, remaining with the firm until 

 1832, when he sailed for Sydney in the barque " Mountaineer," 

 arriving in September of that year after a sea passage of nearly 

 nine months. He was first in the employ of Thomas Barker, but 

 after seven years he started, on his own account, a flour mill in 

 Sussex-street. In 1840 he purchased a large block of land abutting 

 on Darling Harbour — known for many years as Struth's Wharf — 

 now the site of W. Howard Smith & Sons' southern wharf, and 

 afterwards until the year 1855 he carried on large engine 

 works there for fifteen years. On his retirement, the business 

 was continued by the Messrs. Napier. As far back as 1836 the 

 Sydney Gazette records the boring out of the " Sophia Jane's " 

 40 in. cylinder at Mr. Struth's establishment. The thirty horse 

 power engine of the steamer " Kangaroo " was made at his works 

 in 1840, and during the same year he fitted the engines of eighty 

 horse power in the colonial steamer "Victoria," built on the 

 Hunter River by Mr. J. KorfF. He contracted to keep several 

 of the colonial steamers in repair, and also had contracts with the 

 Municipal Council for water pipes. He cut in two and lengthened 

 a steamer and initiated the North Shore Steam Ferry. Mr. Struth 

 amassed a competency and gave with a liberal hand ; among other 

 sums £1,000 to the Presbyterian Church Sustentation, £1,000 to 

 Prince Alfred Hospital, £1,000 to St. Andrew's College, and to 

 found a University Scholarship £1,000 ; he died in Phillip-street 

 on January 12th, 1886, aged 82 years ; his family motto was 

 " Ero quod eram." 



William Orr commenced business in 1840, he made land and 

 marine engines at his shop in Sussex-street, and in December 1846 

 he moved to Grose's Wharf at the foot of Bathurst-street which 

 he had purchased. Messrs. Young andJMather appear to have 



