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Jas J Niven & Co

August 21, 2023

Jas J Niven & Co Limited later Niven Engineering, was a New Zealand engineering business based in Wellington with operations throughout the country. The foundry that became Niven's business was established in Napier in 1866.

Jas J Niven & Co
TypePublic Listed Company
Industryengineering
Founded1866[citation needed]
FoundersJames Just Niven and Charles Scott Galloway
HeadquartersWellington
Number of locations
Wellington and throughout New Zealand
The Spit, Napier circa 1886
30 km² of Ahuriri Lagoon were emptied by the 1931 earthquake

It was taken over by Brierley Investments in the 1970s and its business components and its property sold off.

History

 
Employees, late 19th century

The business that became Niven Engineering began at The Spit, Napier in the later half of the 19th century as Hawke's Bay Foundry. Hawkes Bay Foundry provided engineering and blacksmith services for the local fishing, shipping and farming industries. The Spit was on the eastern side of the entrance to Ahuriri Lagoon and until the 1931 earthquake attached only to Bluff Hill from where it was accessed by Waghorne Street which ran its length.

Galloway and Niven

In 1882, the year of the first successful shipment of refrigerated meat from New Zealand to London, engineers Charles Scott Galloway and James Just Niven (1856–1913) in Glasgow, Scotland, decided they would do better for themselves by starting their own business on the far side of the world in New Zealand. They came to New Zealand, Niven was for some years with William Cable & Company's foundry in Wellington as engineer's foreman[1] and in 1886[2] bought Hawkes Bay Foundry from Hodgson, Bowler and Co, said Niven, for "nothing".[3][4][5] This year, 1886, saw the move of the port about a mile east from the western end of The Spit to the new harbour now Port of Napier sheltered from the open Pacific by no more than its new purpose-built breakwater.

C S Galloway

Niven left the business in 1889 for Galloway to resume alone and went to work for Nelson Brothers Limited which had embarked on a programme of major expansion of its various freezing works. Nelson Brothers operated the freezing works at Tomoana then 12 miles from a rapidly growing Napier.[3]

Jas J Niven and Company

 
James Niven, with pipe, injects carbonic gas into fire in a ship's hold

When Galloway retired in October 1893 he returned to Scotland.[6][7] Admitted a full member of The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland in December 1894[8] he was last reported in British Columbia in 1897.[9]

James Niven now along with another engineer, George Nelson (1871–1964) MIMechE (1906),[10] bought Galloway's business naming it Jas J Niven and Co.[11] The second engineer, George Nelson, was a son of one of the founders of Nelson Brothers Limited.

By 1900 Jas J Niven and Co had a major factory with foundry, machine shop, boiler shop and a showroom.[12] James Niven retired in 1903[note 1] leaving George Nelson as chairman and managing director.[3] He became a borough councillor and member of the Napier Licensing Committee and took on the management of the Napier Fish Supply Company.[13][note 2] James Niven died in August 1913 aged 57. Among his pallbearers were George and Lionel Nelson[14]

Jas J Niven & Co Limited

In 1908 a limited liability company was incorporated[note 3] and the business transferred to the new company's ownership.[15] Many of the shareholders were the employees of the firm. Branches were opened in London and Christchurch in 1906, Gisborne 1907, Wellington 1910, Auckland, Palmerston North and Hamilton 1911 and Wairoa in 1912. Those with engineering works were at Napier, Gisborne, Hamilton and Palmerston North.[3]

George Nelson retired from the managing directorship in 1913 and his younger half-brother, Lionel Nelson (1885–1937) who was already a director was appointed company secretary.[3] Lionel Nelson would eventually be appointed managing director. The same year Luke's Foundry was bought and the administration of Jas J Niven Limited was moved to Luke's premises in Wellington.[16]

In 1910 a fire was not fully covered by insurance.[17] However, work continued and by 1912 the company had a wide range of contracts around the country[7] and capital was increased to £300,000.[15] Up to at least 1969, Jas J. Niven was in Waghorne St, Ahuriri, now a housing estate[18] The company advertised as Niven Engineering in 1971.[19]

Brierley

Jas J Niven was taken over by R. A. Brierley Investments and its businesses and assets were sold during the 1970s.[20]

Napier Machinery Installation Ltd was formed in 1974 and liquidated in 1993.[21] In 1976 MacEwans Machinery and Napier Machinery merged, forming what is now known as Napier Engineering and Contracting Ltd[12] and their subsidiary,[22] Niven Abattoir Equipment.[23]

Niven Industries

At the beginning of the final quarter of the 20th century Niven Industries Limited, its Head Office now in Auckland, owned:

Niven Engineering Hamilton
Niven Engineering Palmerston North
Niven Bearings
Niven Process Engineering
Kidd Garrett

and was associated with:

Niven Compressed Air — trading as Compair
Southern Cross Engineering[20]

Businesses spun off

Niven Industries was unbundled and the following businesses were at one time components: (this list is incomplete)

Napier Engineering and Contracting
Southern Cross Engineering — previously Southern Cross Niven Engineering — previously Niven Manufacturing (Waikato)
DoubleA Industrial Engineering — previously Kidd Garret (Taranaki) — previously Niven Compressed Air
J J Niven Engineering — previously owned by Niven Engineering Palmerston North

J J Niven Engineering Limited, Palmerston North

J J Niven Engineering Limited owns an engineering business in Palmerston North New Zealand. Their wide range of engineering includes pressure vessels, gantry cranes, scissor and stage lifts, conveyors, timber handling equipment, wool presses, hydraulics, pneumatics, pipework, water and solid and liquid waste treatment, machinery installation and maintenance and fabrication and machining of boiler plate, stainless and mild steels.[24] The present private company was registered on 11 September 1996.[25]

Agencies

As well as making their own products, Nivens were New Zealand agents for many other companies. By 1907 Jas. J. Niven were sole agents for Linde British freezing machines, National gas and petrol engines and suction gas plants, Gwynnes pumps, Blackman Ventilating fans, Brown and May steam engines, Electromotors Ltd and Unbreakable Pulley and Mill Gearing Co.[26] In 1913 the head office moved to Wellington, but the Napier works was expanded.[27] Later they were also agents for Bosch, R.B.F. Ball Bearings, Schebler Carburettors, Nelsons Patent Steel Fencing, Permutit.and A S Refrigerators.[28] By 1924 they'd added Bruce Peebles' motors, Cambridge Scientific Instruments, Hopkinson's valves, Venner time switches, Broadbent & Sons hydro extractors and Atlas metals.[29]

13 November 1914 Messrs J. J. Niven and Co. had a nice display of threshing mill requirements, also samples of lubricating oils.[30]

29 January 1916 government commandeered part of Napier ironworks for repairing freezing equipment.[31]

In 1922 Jas. J. Niven was the only New Zealand manufacturer of freezing equipment, which they had been building from 1915.[32]

Branches

The company had several offices and factories. At various times they included -

Gisborne – James Brown Ltd, founded in 1887 as a blacksmiths, was taken over in 1902 and in 1904 moved to Kaiti.[33] In 1918 4 men were injured when making a casting for a dredge.[34] In the late 1950s the workshop was sold and renamed Gisborne Engineering. In the 1970s it moved to Parkinson St. In 1991 Max Carruthers, bought the company to expand his sheet metal business, Endeavour Sheetmetals Ltd,[35] which was renamed Gisborne Engineering Ltd in 1995.[36]

Palmerston North works were built in 1903.[37] In 1915 the company was in Church St in the centre of town.[38] In 1987 the former Nivens Engineering workshop in Pitt St was sold.[39] The present company is in the north east of the city.[24]

London – office address on Institution of Mechanical Engineers list in 1906[40] and mentioned in 1912 advert.[37]

Dunedin branch was open by 1907.[41]

Auckland After the 1908 incorporation, an office was opened.[15] Jas. J. Niven & Co. Ltd's building, refrigerating engineers, Parnell Rise area, Auckland. 1940s. Before they moved to 63 Customs St West?[42]


Hamilton – H. Upton Engineer had premises built in 1902 and 1907.[37] They were taken over by Jas J Niven & Co. Ltd in 1911.[43] Fires in 1919[44] and 1924 caused some damage.[45] Nivens were still in the centre of town in 1939,[46] but moved to Frankton in 1960[47] and, in 1980, joined with WSM Industries Ltd to form Niven Process Engineering (NZ) Ltd.[48] That company was deregistered in 1991.[49] A 1984 advert showed Niven Manufacturing Waikato Ltd.[50] That company was registered from 1983 to 1992, when it was renamed,[51] though it didn't appear in the local phone book after 1990.[52]

Christchurch Needham, Niven & Co. Ltd was a subsidiary.[37] In 1909 it was in Hereford St,[53] but the 1922 phone directory showed it at 562 Colombo Street[54] and 1968 - 72 adverts as Jas. J. Niven & Co Ltd. at 558 Colombo St.[55]

Wairoa – a 1920 report mentions a branch established before 1912.

Nelson – an undated photo indicates there was a branch.[33] In 1911 Nelson Steam Laundry bought a boiler and engine from S. Luke and Sons.[56]

Wellington Until 1912 the firm had a small rented office.[37] Then S Luke & Co was acquired[15] and, in 1913,[27] Wellington became the head office of Jas. J. Niven & Co Ltd, remaining so[19] until the firm moved out in 1973.[57] In 1968 there was a branch in Lower Hutt.[55]

S Luke & Co Ltd

 
S Luke and Sons in Manners St, Wellington in 1895 from Alexander Turnbull Library postcard

Gilchrist and Waters founded a Wellington engineering company in 1876 on part of what became the company's 1+1⁄2 acres (0.61 ha) Manners St site in Te Aro, on the edge of the harbour. It was bought by Luke and Son in 1879,[58] when it already had 5 forges, a steam engine and a 21-year lease from 1878.[59]

In the early days the firm struggled, but revived with opening of freezing works, W. Coast coal mines and building, or enlarging, several steamers (until reclamation left the shipyard landlocked)[60] -

  • 1883[61] s.s. Weka 90 tons[62] able to cruise at 9 kn (17 km/h);[63]
  • 1885 s.s. Matai 300 tons for the Black Diamond Line, believed to be the first ship built of mild steel in the southern hemisphere.[60] She had been taken over by Union Steam Ship[64] when wrecked in 1889 near Red Mercury Island,[65] then being valued at £8,000;[66]
  • s.s. Wakatu 90 tons, of about 1879,[67] was lengthened 30 feet[27] (or 35 ft),[60] being shown as 115 tons in 1895,[68] and had a new boiler and her hull raised.[60]

In 1895, the name was changed to S. Luke and Co. Ltd, with directors Samuel Luke, Charles M. Luke,[58] and John P. Luke (1882–1935).[69] Products included 11 hydraulic cranes for Wellington Harbour Board, 1897 equipment for the Cape Palliser lighthouse, dairy machines, boilers, cooking ranges, (for which they held a patent)[58] and gold dredges.[27] One of the firm's 30 hp (22 kW) engines powered its machinery. Staff numbers ranged from 80 to 150.[58]

In 1913 Jas. J. Niven and Co. Ltd. took over Luke and Co.[60] John P Luke moved to politics, but his sons and his brother's remained managers[70] and owner, George Nelson, was resident manager. He and most of the office staff moved from Napier to Wellington.[27]


Notes

  1. ^ but not entirely from engineering. in 1909 Niven reported as one of three consulting engineers on a specially commissioned Board of Inquiry into the efficiency of the Addington Railway Workshops (Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives ... 1909 v.1.)
  2. ^ New Zealand Trawling and Fish Supply Company Limited, Napier. They commissioned a steam trawler (New Zealand's first purpose-built trawler) with refrigerated space for 100 tons of fish and Niven went to England to superintend construction. The new trawler named after his youngest daughter, Nora Niven, arrived in Napier in May 1907. By prior agreement it was regularly chartered by the government for its only Fisheries Research vessel. It served as a minesweeper in the First World War. (Emmanuel Makarios, Nets, Lines and Pots, IPL, Wellington 1996 ISBN 0-908876-98-X)
  3. ^ 21 September 1908 company #105854 and dissolved 4 June 1993 under the name Niven Industries Limited

References

  1. ^ Mr J. J. Niven who has for some time past. . . The Evening Post page 2, 12 March 1885
  2. ^ Daily Telegraph, 13 May 1886, Page 3
  3. ^ a b c d e J J Niven and Co, Annual Reunion. Hastings Standard, 9 June 1913, Page 3
  4. ^ "NIVEN AND CO". Poverty Bay Herald. 28 July 1908. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  5. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 1". Daily Telegraph. 13 May 1886. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  6. ^ Daily Telegraph, 15 September 1893. Page 2
  7. ^ a b "Page 3 Advertisements Column 2". Hawke's Bay Herald. 21 October 1893. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past |National Library of New Zealand.
  8. ^ Admitted as Members
  9. ^ Hawke's Bay Herald, 20 October 1897, Page 2
  10. ^ "List of members, Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2nd March 1908."
  11. ^ "Untitled". Hawke's Bay Herald. 19 October 1893. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  12. ^ a b "History – Napier Engineering and Contracting Limited". www.napiereng.co.nz. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  13. ^ Mr James J Niven, The Cyclopedia of New Zealand "Hawke's Bay Provincial District" Christchurch 1908
  14. ^ The late Mr J J Niven Hastings Standard, 15 August 1913, Page 5
  15. ^ a b c d "NIVEN AND CO.'S EMPLOYEES". Poverty Bay Herald. 4 September 1920. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  16. ^ Farewell. Hastings Standard, 4 October 1913, Page 6
  17. ^ "FIRE AT NIVEN AND COMPANY'S". Poverty Bay Herald. 25 May 1910. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  18. ^ "family search".
  19. ^ a b "Newspaper Article 1971 – $6-million Whakatu meat works expansion Part One | Hawke's Bay Knowledge Bank". knowledgebank.org.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  20. ^ a b The New Zealand Business Who's Who, 22nd Edition, FEP Productions, Wellington. undated ISSN 0077-9571
  21. ^ "NAPIER MACHINERY INSTALLATION LIMITED | COYS". www.coys.co.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  22. ^ "Napier Abatoir".
  23. ^ "Niven Abattoir Equipment Tripe Washer – W. Rietveld Ltd". rietveld.co.nz. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  24. ^ a b "About Us @ Niven Engineering Ltd – engineering & maintenance solutions". www.nivenengineering.co.nz. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  25. ^ "J J NIVEN ENGINEERING LIMITED | COYS". coys.co.nz. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  26. ^ "Progress 1 July 1907 Our Industries. No. XVII. Messrs. Jas. J. Niven & Co's Foundry, Napier". Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Jas. J. Niven And Co., Ltd". Hastings Standard. 9 September 1913. p. 2. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  28. ^ "Farming field day booth of Jas J Niven & Co Ltd of Napier". Alexander Turnbull Library. January 1920.
  29. ^ "JAS. J. NIVEN AND CO". The Evening Post. 18 June 1924. Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  30. ^ "J. J. Niven And Co". Press. 13 November 1914. p. 9. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  31. ^ "General and refrigerating engineers". Press. 29 January 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  32. ^ "GREAT POSTAL CENTRE". New Zealand Herald. 29 May 1922. Retrieved 14 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  33. ^ a b "Jas. J Niven & Co. Ltd. Engineers & Motor Supplies, Selwyn Place". Vernon Browser. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Terrific Explosion At Gisborne". Te Puke Times. 29 November 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Gisborne Engineering Ltd : Heavy Engineering Research Association". www.hera.org.nz. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  36. ^ "GISBORNE ENGINEERING LIMITED | COYS". www.coys.co.nz. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  37. ^ a b c d e "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2". Hastings Standard. 9 March 1912. Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  38. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 1". Manawatu Times. 17 April 1915. Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  39. ^ "Palmerston North City Council North West Square Heritage Area" (PDF).
  40. ^ "List of members – Compilation of Published Sources". MyHeritage. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  41. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 3". Otago Witness. 17 April 1907. Retrieved 16 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  42. ^ "Jas. J. Niven & Co. Ltd's building, refrigerating engineers". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  43. ^ "Bryce Street pre-1911". Kete Hamilton :Hamilton Streets.
  44. ^ "DAMAGE BY FIRE". New Zealand Herald. 1 November 1919. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  45. ^ "Fire At Hamilton". The Evening Post. 15 September 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  46. ^ "Bryce Street". Kete Hamilton :Hamilton Streets. 1939.
  47. ^ "Manufacturing firm completes first export contract". Waikato Times. 29 March 1978. p. 21.
  48. ^ "Star Cast". Waikato Times. 20 September 1980. p. 3 of supplement.
  49. ^ "NIVEN PROCESS ENGINEERING NZ LIMITED | COYS". www.coys.co.nz. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  50. ^ "Niven Manufacturing Waikato Limited". Waikato Times. 24 March 1984. p. 11.
  51. ^ "SOUTHERN CROSS ENGINEERING (N.I.) LIMITED | COYS". www.coys.co.nz. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  52. ^ "Niven Manufacturing Waikato Ltd". The Telephone Directory Waikato, King Country & Thames Valley. 1990.
  53. ^ "Page 10 Advertisements Column 3". Press. 23 November 1909. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  54. ^ "1922 Christchurch telephone directory" (PDF). Christchurch City Libraries.
  55. ^ a b "1968 Lincoln College Magazine (No. 93 1968)". Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  56. ^ "Our Local Industries". Colonist. 26 July 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  57. ^ "JJ Niven & Co Ltd (1885–1939) – Collected Archives – Wellington City Council". wellington.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  58. ^ a b c d "Luke, S. and Co., Ltd. | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  59. ^ "Page 4 Advertisements Column 1". The Evening Post. 19 September 1879. Retrieved 23 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  60. ^ a b c d e "The Old Days". The Evening Post. 16 May 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  61. ^ "LAUNCHING OF THE S.S. WEKA". The Evening Post. 25 September 1883. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  62. ^ "New Zealand Maritime Index from NZNMM". www.nzmaritimeindex.org.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  63. ^ "Trial Trip of the s.s. Weka". The Evening Post. 5 October 1883. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  64. ^ "Shipping | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  65. ^ . www.plimsoll.org. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  66. ^ "LOSS OF THE STEAMER MATAI. – A HEARTRENDING SCENE". South Australian Chronicle. Adelaide. 22 June 1889. Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via Trove.
  67. ^ "New Zealand Maritime Index from NZNMM". www.nzmaritimeindex.org.nz. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  68. ^ "LYTTELTON". Star. 14 March 1895. Retrieved 23 July 2016 – via Papers Past | National Library of New Zealand.
  69. ^ "Death In London". The New Zealand Herald. 4 October 1935. p. 13. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  70. ^ "The Mayoralty". Dominion. 19 March 1914. p. 6. Retrieved 27 June 2016.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jas J Niven & Co.

Photos -

  • 1901 Mr Niven (view from rear right)
  • 1910 pump with makers plate at Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery
  • National Engine makers plate
  • 1949
  • Christchurch 1920
  • Dunedin 1920s and history of the building
  • Gisborne 1909 – shipyard, staff, 1920s
  • Napier 1900s 1910s, 1910 foundry fire, 1960s
  • Nelson (Sternol advertised 1913–63)
  • Wellington 1955, 1959 Niven's is the 4-story block on the left
  • Luke & Co – 1895 1900s Manners St, Wellington foundry, makers plate on Makatote tramway, 1902 works, workmen, blacksmiths and boiler maker shops and portraits of Samuel and John Luke, 1908 Lancashire boiler for Wellington City Council tramway

August 21, 2023
niven, limited, later, niven, engineering, zealand, engineering, business, based, wellington, with, operations, throughout, country, foundry, that, became, niven, business, established, napier, 1866, typepublic, listed, companyindustryengineeringfounded1866, c. Jas J Niven amp Co Limited later Niven Engineering was a New Zealand engineering business based in Wellington with operations throughout the country The foundry that became Niven s business was established in Napier in 1866 Jas J Niven amp CoTypePublic Listed CompanyIndustryengineeringFounded1866 citation needed FoundersJames Just Niven and Charles Scott GallowayHeadquartersWellingtonNumber of locationsWellington and throughout New ZealandThe Spit Napier circa 188630 km of Ahuriri Lagoon were emptied by the 1931 earthquakeIt was taken over by Brierley Investments in the 1970s and its business components and its property sold off Contents 1 History 1 1 Galloway and Niven 1 2 C S Galloway 1 3 Jas J Niven and Company 2 Jas J Niven amp Co Limited 3 Brierley 4 Niven Industries 5 Businesses spun off 6 J J Niven Engineering Limited Palmerston North 6 1 Agencies 6 2 Branches 6 3 S Luke amp Co Ltd 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory Edit Employees late 19th centuryThe business that became Niven Engineering began at The Spit Napier in the later half of the 19th century as Hawke s Bay Foundry Hawkes Bay Foundry provided engineering and blacksmith services for the local fishing shipping and farming industries The Spit was on the eastern side of the entrance to Ahuriri Lagoon and until the 1931 earthquake attached only to Bluff Hill from where it was accessed by Waghorne Street which ran its length Galloway and Niven Edit In 1882 the year of the first successful shipment of refrigerated meat from New Zealand to London engineers Charles Scott Galloway and James Just Niven 1856 1913 in Glasgow Scotland decided they would do better for themselves by starting their own business on the far side of the world in New Zealand They came to New Zealand Niven was for some years with William Cable amp Company s foundry in Wellington as engineer s foreman 1 and in 1886 2 bought Hawkes Bay Foundry from Hodgson Bowler and Co said Niven for nothing 3 4 5 This year 1886 saw the move of the port about a mile east from the western end of The Spit to the new harbour now Port of Napier sheltered from the open Pacific by no more than its new purpose built breakwater C S Galloway Edit Niven left the business in 1889 for Galloway to resume alone and went to work for Nelson Brothers Limited which had embarked on a programme of major expansion of its various freezing works Nelson Brothers operated the freezing works at Tomoana then 12 miles from a rapidly growing Napier 3 Jas J Niven and Company Edit James Niven with pipe injects carbonic gas into fire in a ship s holdWhen Galloway retired in October 1893 he returned to Scotland 6 7 Admitted a full member of The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland in December 1894 8 he was last reported in British Columbia in 1897 9 James Niven now along with another engineer George Nelson 1871 1964 MIMechE 1906 10 bought Galloway s business naming it Jas J Niven and Co 11 The second engineer George Nelson was a son of one of the founders of Nelson Brothers Limited By 1900 Jas J Niven and Co had a major factory with foundry machine shop boiler shop and a showroom 12 James Niven retired in 1903 note 1 leaving George Nelson as chairman and managing director 3 He became a borough councillor and member of the Napier Licensing Committee and took on the management of the Napier Fish Supply Company 13 note 2 James Niven died in August 1913 aged 57 Among his pallbearers were George and Lionel Nelson 14 Jas J Niven amp Co Limited EditIn 1908 a limited liability company was incorporated note 3 and the business transferred to the new company s ownership 15 Many of the shareholders were the employees of the firm Branches were opened in London and Christchurch in 1906 Gisborne 1907 Wellington 1910 Auckland Palmerston North and Hamilton 1911 and Wairoa in 1912 Those with engineering works were at Napier Gisborne Hamilton and Palmerston North 3 George Nelson retired from the managing directorship in 1913 and his younger half brother Lionel Nelson 1885 1937 who was already a director was appointed company secretary 3 Lionel Nelson would eventually be appointed managing director The same year Luke s Foundry was bought and the administration of Jas J Niven Limited was moved to Luke s premises in Wellington 16 In 1910 a fire was not fully covered by insurance 17 However work continued and by 1912 the company had a wide range of contracts around the country 7 and capital was increased to 300 000 15 Up to at least 1969 Jas J Niven was in Waghorne St Ahuriri now a housing estate 18 The company advertised as Niven Engineering in 1971 19 Brierley EditJas J Niven was taken over by R A Brierley Investments and its businesses and assets were sold during the 1970s 20 Napier Machinery Installation Ltd was formed in 1974 and liquidated in 1993 21 In 1976 MacEwans Machinery and Napier Machinery merged forming what is now known as Napier Engineering and Contracting Ltd 12 and their subsidiary 22 Niven Abattoir Equipment 23 Niven Industries EditAt the beginning of the final quarter of the 20th century Niven Industries Limited its Head Office now in Auckland owned Niven Engineering Hamilton Niven Engineering Palmerston North Niven Bearings Niven Process Engineering Kidd Garrettand was associated with Niven Compressed Air trading as Compair Southern Cross Engineering 20 Businesses spun off EditNiven Industries was unbundled and the following businesses were at one time components this list is incomplete Napier Engineering and Contracting Southern Cross Engineering previously Southern Cross Niven Engineering previously Niven Manufacturing Waikato DoubleA Industrial Engineering previously Kidd Garret Taranaki previously Niven Compressed Air J J Niven Engineering previously owned by Niven Engineering Palmerston NorthJ J Niven Engineering Limited Palmerston North EditJ J Niven Engineering Limited owns an engineering business in Palmerston North New Zealand Their wide range of engineering includes pressure vessels gantry cranes scissor and stage lifts conveyors timber handling equipment wool presses hydraulics pneumatics pipework water and solid and liquid waste treatment machinery installation and maintenance and fabrication and machining of boiler plate stainless and mild steels 24 The present private company was registered on 11 September 1996 25 Agencies Edit As well as making their own products Nivens were New Zealand agents for many other companies By 1907 Jas J Niven were sole agents for Linde British freezing machines National gas and petrol engines and suction gas plants Gwynnes pumps Blackman Ventilating fans Brown and May steam engines Electromotors Ltd and Unbreakable Pulley and Mill Gearing Co 26 In 1913 the head office moved to Wellington but the Napier works was expanded 27 Later they were also agents for Bosch R B F Ball Bearings Schebler Carburettors Nelsons Patent Steel Fencing Permutit and A S Refrigerators 28 By 1924 they d added Bruce Peebles motors Cambridge Scientific Instruments Hopkinson s valves Venner time switches Broadbent amp Sons hydro extractors and Atlas metals 29 13 November 1914 Messrs J J Niven and Co had a nice display of threshing mill requirements also samples of lubricating oils 30 29 January 1916 government commandeered part of Napier ironworks for repairing freezing equipment 31 In 1922 Jas J Niven was the only New Zealand manufacturer of freezing equipment which they had been building from 1915 32 Branches Edit The company had several offices and factories At various times they included Gisborne James Brown Ltd founded in 1887 as a blacksmiths was taken over in 1902 and in 1904 moved to Kaiti 33 In 1918 4 men were injured when making a casting for a dredge 34 In the late 1950s the workshop was sold and renamed Gisborne Engineering In the 1970s it moved to Parkinson St In 1991 Max Carruthers bought the company to expand his sheet metal business Endeavour Sheetmetals Ltd 35 which was renamed Gisborne Engineering Ltd in 1995 36 Palmerston North works were built in 1903 37 In 1915 the company was in Church St in the centre of town 38 In 1987 the former Nivens Engineering workshop in Pitt St was sold 39 The present company is in the north east of the city 24 London office address on Institution of Mechanical Engineers list in 1906 40 and mentioned in 1912 advert 37 Dunedin branch was open by 1907 41 Auckland After the 1908 incorporation an office was opened 15 Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd s building refrigerating engineers Parnell Rise area Auckland 1940s Before they moved to 63 Customs St West 42 Hamilton H Upton Engineer had premises built in 1902 and 1907 37 They were taken over by Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd in 1911 43 Fires in 1919 44 and 1924 caused some damage 45 Nivens were still in the centre of town in 1939 46 but moved to Frankton in 1960 47 and in 1980 joined with WSM Industries Ltd to form Niven Process Engineering NZ Ltd 48 That company was deregistered in 1991 49 A 1984 advert showed Niven Manufacturing Waikato Ltd 50 That company was registered from 1983 to 1992 when it was renamed 51 though it didn t appear in the local phone book after 1990 52 Christchurch Needham Niven amp Co Ltd was a subsidiary 37 In 1909 it was in Hereford St 53 but the 1922 phone directory showed it at 562 Colombo Street 54 and 1968 72 adverts as Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd at 558 Colombo St 55 Wairoa a 1920 report mentions a branch established before 1912 Nelson an undated photo indicates there was a branch 33 In 1911 Nelson Steam Laundry bought a boiler and engine from S Luke and Sons 56 Wellington Until 1912 the firm had a small rented office 37 Then S Luke amp Co was acquired 15 and in 1913 27 Wellington became the head office of Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd remaining so 19 until the firm moved out in 1973 57 In 1968 there was a branch in Lower Hutt 55 S Luke amp Co Ltd Edit S Luke and Sons in Manners St Wellington in 1895 from Alexander Turnbull Library postcardGilchrist and Waters founded a Wellington engineering company in 1876 on part of what became the company s 1 1 2 acres 0 61 ha Manners St site in Te Aro on the edge of the harbour It was bought by Luke and Son in 1879 58 when it already had 5 forges a steam engine and a 21 year lease from 1878 59 In the early days the firm struggled but revived with opening of freezing works W Coast coal mines and building or enlarging several steamers until reclamation left the shipyard landlocked 60 1883 61 s s Weka 90 tons 62 able to cruise at 9 kn 17 km h 63 1885 s s Matai 300 tons for the Black Diamond Line believed to be the first ship built of mild steel in the southern hemisphere 60 She had been taken over by Union Steam Ship 64 when wrecked in 1889 near Red Mercury Island 65 then being valued at 8 000 66 s s Wakatu 90 tons of about 1879 67 was lengthened 30 feet 27 or 35 ft 60 being shown as 115 tons in 1895 68 and had a new boiler and her hull raised 60 In 1895 the name was changed to S Luke and Co Ltd with directors Samuel Luke Charles M Luke 58 and John P Luke 1882 1935 69 Products included 11 hydraulic cranes for Wellington Harbour Board 1897 equipment for the Cape Palliser lighthouse dairy machines boilers cooking ranges for which they held a patent 58 and gold dredges 27 One of the firm s 30 hp 22 kW engines powered its machinery Staff numbers ranged from 80 to 150 58 In 1913 Jas J Niven and Co Ltd took over Luke and Co 60 John P Luke moved to politics but his sons and his brother s remained managers 70 and owner George Nelson was resident manager He and most of the office staff moved from Napier to Wellington 27 Notes Edit but not entirely from engineering in 1909 Niven reported as one of three consulting engineers on a specially commissioned Board of Inquiry into the efficiency of the Addington Railway Workshops Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives 1909 v 1 New Zealand Trawling and Fish Supply Company Limited Napier They commissioned a steam trawler New Zealand s first purpose built trawler with refrigerated space for 100 tons of fish and Niven went to England to superintend construction The new trawler named after his youngest daughter Nora Niven arrived in Napier in May 1907 By prior agreement it was regularly chartered by the government for its only Fisheries Research vessel It served as a minesweeper in the First World War Emmanuel Makarios Nets Lines and Pots IPL Wellington 1996 ISBN 0 908876 98 X 21 September 1908 company 105854 and dissolved 4 June 1993 under the name Niven Industries LimitedReferences Edit Mr J J Niven who has for some time past The Evening Post page 2 12 March 1885 Daily Telegraph 13 May 1886 Page 3 a b c d e J J Niven and Co Annual Reunion Hastings Standard 9 June 1913 Page 3 NIVEN AND CO Poverty Bay Herald 28 July 1908 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Daily Telegraph 13 May 1886 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Daily Telegraph 15 September 1893 Page 2 a b Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 Hawke s Bay Herald 21 October 1893 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Admitted as Members Hawke s Bay Herald 20 October 1897 Page 2 List of members Institution of Mechanical Engineers 2nd March 1908 Untitled Hawke s Bay Herald 19 October 1893 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand a b History Napier Engineering and Contracting Limited www napiereng co nz Retrieved 27 June 2016 Mr James J Niven The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Hawke s Bay Provincial District Christchurch 1908 The late Mr J J Niven Hastings Standard 15 August 1913 Page 5 a b c d NIVEN AND CO S EMPLOYEES Poverty Bay Herald 4 September 1920 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Farewell Hastings Standard 4 October 1913 Page 6 FIRE AT NIVEN AND COMPANY S Poverty Bay Herald 25 May 1910 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand family search a b Newspaper Article 1971 6 million Whakatu meat works expansion Part One Hawke s Bay Knowledge Bank knowledgebank org nz Retrieved 22 July 2016 a b The New Zealand Business Who s Who 22nd Edition FEP Productions Wellington undated ISSN 0077 9571 NAPIER MACHINERY INSTALLATION LIMITED COYS www coys co nz Retrieved 22 July 2016 Napier Abatoir Niven Abattoir Equipment Tripe Washer W Rietveld Ltd rietveld co nz Retrieved 28 June 2016 a b About Us Niven Engineering Ltd engineering amp maintenance solutions www nivenengineering co nz Retrieved 27 June 2016 J J NIVEN ENGINEERING LIMITED COYS coys co nz Retrieved 16 July 2016 Progress 1 July 1907 Our Industries No XVII Messrs Jas J Niven amp Co s Foundry Napier Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand a b c d e Jas J Niven And Co Ltd Hastings Standard 9 September 1913 p 2 Retrieved 27 June 2016 Farming field day booth of Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd of Napier Alexander Turnbull Library January 1920 JAS J NIVEN AND CO The Evening Post 18 June 1924 Retrieved 17 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand J J Niven And Co Press 13 November 1914 p 9 Retrieved 27 June 2016 General and refrigerating engineers Press 29 January 1916 p 9 Retrieved 27 June 2016 GREAT POSTAL CENTRE New Zealand Herald 29 May 1922 Retrieved 14 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand a b Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd Engineers amp Motor Supplies Selwyn Place Vernon Browser Retrieved 28 June 2016 Terrific Explosion At Gisborne Te Puke Times 29 November 1918 p 3 Retrieved 28 June 2016 Gisborne Engineering Ltd Heavy Engineering Research Association www hera org nz Retrieved 28 June 2016 GISBORNE ENGINEERING LIMITED COYS www coys co nz Retrieved 17 July 2016 a b c d e Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 Hastings Standard 9 March 1912 Retrieved 17 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 Manawatu Times 17 April 1915 Retrieved 17 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Palmerston North City Council North West Square Heritage Area PDF List of members Compilation of Published Sources MyHeritage Retrieved 17 July 2016 Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 Otago Witness 17 April 1907 Retrieved 16 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Jas J Niven amp Co Ltd s building refrigerating engineers Auckland War Memorial Museum Retrieved 9 July 2022 Bryce Street pre 1911 Kete Hamilton Hamilton Streets DAMAGE BY FIRE New Zealand Herald 1 November 1919 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Fire At Hamilton The Evening Post 15 September 1924 p 6 Retrieved 27 June 2016 Bryce Street Kete Hamilton Hamilton Streets 1939 Manufacturing firm completes first export contract Waikato Times 29 March 1978 p 21 Star Cast Waikato Times 20 September 1980 p 3 of supplement NIVEN PROCESS ENGINEERING NZ LIMITED COYS www coys co nz Retrieved 19 July 2016 Niven Manufacturing Waikato Limited Waikato Times 24 March 1984 p 11 SOUTHERN CROSS ENGINEERING N I LIMITED COYS www coys co nz Retrieved 19 July 2016 Niven Manufacturing Waikato Ltd The Telephone Directory Waikato King Country amp Thames Valley 1990 Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 Press 23 November 1909 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand 1922 Christchurch telephone directory PDF Christchurch City Libraries a b 1968 Lincoln College Magazine No 93 1968 Lincoln University Living Heritage Tikaka Tuku Iho Retrieved 28 June 2016 Our Local Industries Colonist 26 July 1911 p 5 Retrieved 27 June 2016 JJ Niven amp Co Ltd 1885 1939 Collected Archives Wellington City Council wellington govt nz Retrieved 27 June 2016 a b c d Luke S and Co Ltd NZETC nzetc victoria ac nz Retrieved 27 June 2016 Page 4 Advertisements Column 1 The Evening Post 19 September 1879 Retrieved 23 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand a b c d e The Old Days The Evening Post 16 May 1934 p 17 Retrieved 27 June 2016 LAUNCHING OF THE S S WEKA The Evening Post 25 September 1883 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand New Zealand Maritime Index from NZNMM www nzmaritimeindex org nz Retrieved 22 July 2016 Trial Trip of the s s Weka The Evening Post 5 October 1883 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Shipping NZETC nzetc victoria ac nz Retrieved 22 July 2016 Wreck Report for Maitai 1889 PortCities Southampton www plimsoll org Archived from the original on 20 September 2016 Retrieved 22 July 2016 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link LOSS OF THE STEAMER MATAI A HEARTRENDING SCENE South Australian Chronicle Adelaide 22 June 1889 Retrieved 22 July 2016 via Trove New Zealand Maritime Index from NZNMM www nzmaritimeindex org nz Retrieved 22 July 2016 LYTTELTON Star 14 March 1895 Retrieved 23 July 2016 via Papers Past National Library of New Zealand Death In London The New Zealand Herald 4 October 1935 p 13 Retrieved 27 June 2016 The Mayoralty Dominion 19 March 1914 p 6 Retrieved 27 June 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jas J Niven amp Co Photos 1901 Mr Niven view from rear right 1910 pump with makers plate at Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery National Engine makers plate 1949 Christchurch 1920 Dunedin 1920s and history of the building Gisborne 1909 shipyard staff 1920s Napier 1900s 1910s 1910 foundry fire 1960s Nelson Sternol advertised 1913 63 Wellington 1955 1959 Niven s is the 4 story block on the left Luke amp Co 1895 1900s Manners St Wellington foundry makers plate on Makatote tramway 1902 works workmen blacksmiths and boiler maker shops and portraits of Samuel and John Luke 1908 Lancashire boiler for Wellington City Council tramway Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jas J Niven 26 Co amp oldid 1146304165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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