BARR, GEORGE MORRISON (1837-1907) was born in Glasgow and received his education in that city, passing out of the University with two firsts (engineering and mechanics). He served his articles with Thomas Kyle and remained with him as assistant for three years before taking up his residence in Edinburgh in the service of Charles Jopp, A.M.I.C.E., consulting engineer to the North British Railway Co., for whom he surveyed several branch lines in the south and east of Scotland. He arrived at Port Chalmers in the Jura in 1862 and took up his duties in the provincial survey department. In 1866 he transferred to the general government and was chief engineer of public works (1869-72). During this time he had charge of all roads, buildings and public works. Resigning in 1872 to enter private practice, he was appointed in 1882 engineer to the Otago harbour board. Until loans ceased in 1888 he carried out all the harbour works, including the opening of the Victoria channel. In private practice he executed harbour works at Wanganui and waterworks at New Plymouth, Queenstown, Cromwell, Palmerston South, Mornington and Roslyn. He was two years a member of the City Council and four years of the harbour board; was one of the first members (and sometime chairman) of the Mornington school committee. Barr became a member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1882 and received the Telford premium for a report on Otago harbour (1892). He was vice-president of the N.Z. Institute of Surveyors and a member of the first board of examiners. At the time of his death (27 Apr 1907) he was the only surviving foundation member of the Glasgow Geological Society. He married in 1871 a daughter of Thomas Oliver, of Kaikorai.

Evening Star, 29 Apr 1907.

Reference: Volume 1, page 37

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