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Robert Holmes (engineer)

Robert West Holmes was a New Zealand civil engineer. He was born on 25 September 1856 in London.

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Robert West Holmes ISO (25 September 1856 – 8 February 1936) was a New Zealand civil engineer. He was born on 25 September 1856 in London.1

In the Public Works Department he was responsible for the construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway from 1891 to 1899, during which he completed the gap in the middle of the North Island with the Raurimu Spiral. He retired in 1920, having been Engineer-in-Chief of the department from 1907 to 1920 (and Undersecretary for a period in 1920).2

References

References

  1. Lowe, Peter. "Robert West Holmes". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  2. Noonan, Rosslyn J. (1975). By Design: A brief history of the Public Works Department Ministry of Works 1870–1970. Well;ington: Crown (copyright). pp. 68, 314.