Wikipedia

Jas J Niven & Co

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
Company 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 edit

 
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 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 & 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 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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 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 & 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 & 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 edit

 
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 the opening of freezing works, West Coast of the South Island 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

  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 edit

  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. ^ "Wreck Report for 'Maitai', 1889 – PortCities Southampton". 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.

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