A Collection Drawing Instruments with important New Zealand Provenance, comprising of a 9in rolling rule in German Silver engraved 'ELLIOT PROS LONDON' to the top then engraved below 'N. Z. R. H. P. H.' - New Zealand Railway, Harry Pasley Higginson and impressed on the lid of the polished wooden case 'H. P. HIGGINSON N.Z.R.' and a part set of boxwood scale rules each stamped 'TROUGHTON & SIMMS, LONDON, with one inscribed in pencil to the rear R. B. Higginson, possibly his father, another rule stamped NEGRETTI & ZAMBRA LONDON and H.P.HIGGINSON, although not marked with his name are 2 other instruments from the same family, a Compass Clinometer by Casella, English, c.1890, in oxidised and bright lacquered brass, signed 'L Casella London, with telescope, in fitted leather case, and an earlier French clinometer signed L'ing ChavallierOpticien, Paris (a lot) Harry Pasley Higginson (1838–1900) was a British and New Zealand civil engineer known for his significant contributions, including the construction of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR) line from Wellington to the Manawatu during the 1880s. The WMR was a privately-funded project since the government opted not to undertake its construction. Additionally, Higginson played a key role in the discovery of Dodo bones on the island of Mauritius in 1865. Higginson was born in Thormanby, North Yorkshire, England, in 1838, and received his education at the Collegiate School in Leicester. In his engineering career, he completed an apprenticeship under Sir William Fairbairn in Manchester, followed by railway, canal, and waterworks projects in Russia (1860–1861), Mauritius (1862–1866), England, and India. While in India in 1868, he became an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, later attaining full membership in 1871. In 1872, Higginson was appointed as the superintending engineer for railways and public works in the South Island. In 1878, he transitioned to private practice in Dunedin and gained recognition for his work on the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, earning the Telford Premium from the Institute of Civil Engineers. This iconic bridge was finished in the late 1880s, serving as a vital access route to the Central Otago goldfields during that era. However, in 1963, traffic was rerouted to a new highway bridge on State Highway 6. The significance of the suspension bridge is underscored by its classification as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Today, it stands as a popular tourist attraction, offering commercialized ziplines and bungee jumping experiences for visitors seeking adventure amid its historic and scenic surroundings In 1882, he was contracted as the chief engineer to complete the Wellington to Manawatu Railway, which he accomplished nine months ahead of schedule. He was awarded his promised bonus four years later. Higginson's final appointment was as the engineer-manager of the Wellington Gas Works. Regarding the discovery of Dodo bones, in 1865, while working for the Government Staff of the Mauritius Railways, Higginson encountered workers extracting bones from a swampy area called the 'Mare aux Songes.' He recognized the significance of these bones, suspected to belong to the Dodo bird, which was thought to be extinct. Higginson's discovery led to further investigations and the dispatch of a substantial quantity of bones to institutions such as the British Museum, Liverpool, York, and Leeds Museums. These bones contributed to the understanding of the Dodo bird and are still held by World Museum Liverpool, The Yorkshire Museum, and Leeds Museums and Galleries. Harry Pasley Higginson passed away in Wellington on February 26, 1900, at the age of 63, and he was laid to rest in the Karori Cemetery. His memory is honored with a stained glass window at the Wellington Cathedral of St. Paul, featuring depictions of the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge and a Dodo.
