Silston Cory-Wright
Encyclopedia
Silston Cory-Wright, M.C., B.Sc. (Eng.), A.M.I.C.E., M.N.Z.I.E. 1888 - 1976 Engineer, university lecturer, soldier, company director
Hall, Hornsea
, Yorkshire, England, on 22 September 1888. He was the son of George Henry Cory Wright and his wife, Ellen Green Wade. The grandson of Sir William Wright, the double-barrelled surname came about as a result of a disagreement between George’s side of the family and his half-siblings.
During his early years, Cory-Wright’s mother taught him several foreign languages, including German, which proved to be useful in later life. His father spent much of his time managing the family's estates, the income from which had been largely invested in Canada, and in particular the Canadian Pacific Railway. Heavy losses in these investments in the 1890s influenced the family's decision to move from England. After living in Norway, Jamaica and Morocco for a number of years, the family returned to live in England.
in Switzerland
to undertake an engineering apprentice
ship with Escher Wyss and Company. During this time, he also followed his passion of mountaineering in the Swiss Alps
, while studying for a BSc in engineering from London University. During this time, he supervised the installation and commissioning of Escher Wyss equipment at Kinlochleven power station for Britain's first aluminium smelter at Fort William
, in Scotland. By 1910, he had become an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
, London.
in the South Island.
In 1912, Cory-Wright decided to emigrate to New Zealand, having accepted an appointment as a lecturer in the new associateship in engineering course at Auckland University College. Between 1913 and 1923, he negotiated the sale of the first six Lake Coleridge turbines, which were based on the Albula design. When the German-born Swiss engineer that had been contracted to install the turbines was interned by the New Zealand Government at the beginning of the First World War, Cory-Wright was asked to supervise the installation and maintenance of the initial three units.
in France. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of captain and had won the Military Cross
for frontline duties.
and English Electric
, but also represented over 50 other large international engineering companies. It supplied a considerable diversity of engineering equipment, with a particular focus on railways. Examples included: electrical components for the Lyttelton-Christchurch line (1928), electric units for the Wellington-Johnsonville line (1938), and electric locomotives for the main trunk line beginning with Wellington-Paekakariki (1939-40).
Contracts were also secured through Cory-Wright's interest in hydro-electric development. On behalf of Cory-Wright and Salmon, he supervised the installation of Escher Wyss turbines at Lake Coleridge
, and many hydroelectric units for English Electric. By the 1950s, he had been associated with every significant South Island hydro-electric power station and several in the North Island.
His engineering experience was also acknowledged in Australia. In the 1930s, he advised on remedial measures after a major hydraulic failure in a Tasmania project.
He remained closely involved with the firm he co-founded until his death in 1976. After his retirement, Cory-Wright and Salmon remained well known for its engineering work in prominent New Zealand engineering projects: in partnership with Swiss firm Habegger AG on the Wellington Cable Car
, the Ohaaki geothermal power scheme
north of Taupo, and the commissioning of the British Aircraft Corporation
Strikemaster fighter for the Royal New Zealand Air Force
.
, featuring Corin Redgrave
in the title role.
In 1924, while on holiday, Cory-Wright rescued a non-swimmer in the sea off Tairua, Coromandel, after a fishing accident. He kept the man alive in the water for several hours before help could be summoned. Cory-Wright was awarded a Royal Humane Society
of New Zealand bravery medal, in recognition of his actions.
Cory-Wright died in Wellington on 3 March 1976, and was survived by two sons.
Early life
Silston Cory-Wright was born at SigglesthorneSigglesthorne
Sigglesthorne is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Hornsea on the B1244 road where it meets the B1243 road....
Hall, Hornsea
Hornsea
Hornsea is a small seaside resort, town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England at the eastern end of the Trans Pennine Trail.-Overview:According to the 2001 UK Census, Hornsea parish had a population of 8,243....
, Yorkshire, England, on 22 September 1888. He was the son of George Henry Cory Wright and his wife, Ellen Green Wade. The grandson of Sir William Wright, the double-barrelled surname came about as a result of a disagreement between George’s side of the family and his half-siblings.
During his early years, Cory-Wright’s mother taught him several foreign languages, including German, which proved to be useful in later life. His father spent much of his time managing the family's estates, the income from which had been largely invested in Canada, and in particular the Canadian Pacific Railway. Heavy losses in these investments in the 1890s influenced the family's decision to move from England. After living in Norway, Jamaica and Morocco for a number of years, the family returned to live in England.
Early engineering career
Cory-Wright had trained as a design draftsman and spent two years at the University of Birmingham. In 1905, he moved to ZurichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to undertake an engineering apprentice
Engineering apprentice
An engineering apprenticeship is an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. A typical example is the apprenticeships formerly available at the BTH and EEC at Rugby in England...
ship with Escher Wyss and Company. During this time, he also followed his passion of mountaineering in the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
, while studying for a BSc in engineering from London University. During this time, he supervised the installation and commissioning of Escher Wyss equipment at Kinlochleven power station for Britain's first aluminium smelter at Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
, in Scotland. By 1910, he had become an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
, London.
Hydro-electric engineering work
While Cory-Wright was working in Zurich designing turbines, a senior engineer with the New Zealand Public Works Department visited the company, and Cory-Wright was asked to show him the Albula hydroelectric station, a major engineering project in the area. This was a similar power station to that planned for the first hydroelectric station to be built by the New Zealand Government, at Lake ColeridgeLake Coleridge
Lake Coleridge is located in inland Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. Located 35 kilometres to the northwest of Methven, it has a surface area of 47 km²....
in the South Island.
In 1912, Cory-Wright decided to emigrate to New Zealand, having accepted an appointment as a lecturer in the new associateship in engineering course at Auckland University College. Between 1913 and 1923, he negotiated the sale of the first six Lake Coleridge turbines, which were based on the Albula design. When the German-born Swiss engineer that had been contracted to install the turbines was interned by the New Zealand Government at the beginning of the First World War, Cory-Wright was asked to supervise the installation and maintenance of the initial three units.
First World War involvement
In November 1915, he joined the Corps of New Zealand Engineers, and by 1916 had served in both Egypt and France. Owing to his fluency in the German language, he was seconded in early 1917 as an intelligence officer to the New Zealand DivisionNew Zealand Division
The New Zealand Division was a World War I infantry division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade...
in France. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of captain and had won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for frontline duties.
Formation of Cory-Wright and Salmon
After the war, Cory-Wright returned to university lecturing in Auckland. It was in 1920 that he joined Cedric Salmon, a fellow officer in the Engineers, in founding the engineering firm Cory-Wright and Salmon. The business was based on the partners' contacts with major British firms, such as VickersVickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
and English Electric
English Electric
English Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
, but also represented over 50 other large international engineering companies. It supplied a considerable diversity of engineering equipment, with a particular focus on railways. Examples included: electrical components for the Lyttelton-Christchurch line (1928), electric units for the Wellington-Johnsonville line (1938), and electric locomotives for the main trunk line beginning with Wellington-Paekakariki (1939-40).
Contracts were also secured through Cory-Wright's interest in hydro-electric development. On behalf of Cory-Wright and Salmon, he supervised the installation of Escher Wyss turbines at Lake Coleridge
Coleridge Power Station
The Coleridge Power Station is a hydroelectric facility at Lake Coleridge on the Rakaia River in Canterbury, New Zealand. The power station is owned and operated by TrustPower...
, and many hydroelectric units for English Electric. By the 1950s, he had been associated with every significant South Island hydro-electric power station and several in the North Island.
His engineering experience was also acknowledged in Australia. In the 1930s, he advised on remedial measures after a major hydraulic failure in a Tasmania project.
He remained closely involved with the firm he co-founded until his death in 1976. After his retirement, Cory-Wright and Salmon remained well known for its engineering work in prominent New Zealand engineering projects: in partnership with Swiss firm Habegger AG on the Wellington Cable Car
Wellington Cable Car
The Wellington Cable Car is a funicular railway in Wellington, New Zealand between Lambton Quay, the main shopping street, and Kelburn, a suburb in the hills overlooking the central city, rising 120 m over a length of 612 m. It is widely recognised as a symbol of Wellington.-Track and stations:The...
, the Ohaaki geothermal power scheme
Ohaaki Power Station
The Ohaaki Power Station is a geothermal power station owned and operated by Contact Energy. A distinctive feature of this power station is the 105 m high natural draft cooling tower, the only one of its kind in New Zealand....
north of Taupo, and the commissioning of the British Aircraft Corporation
British Aircraft Corporation
The British Aircraft Corporation was a British aircraft manufacturer formed from the government-pressured merger of English Electric Aviation Ltd., Vickers-Armstrongs , the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Hunting Aircraft in 1960. Bristol, English Electric and Vickers became "parents" of BAC with...
Strikemaster fighter for the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
.
Personal life and family
Cory-Wright was married in Auckland on 4 December 1924 to Jean Isobel MacLennan. From 1928 until his death, the couple lived in the historic crescent-shaped Wadestown residence known as 'the Banana House', a former private hospital. This property housed a large grapevine in its conservatory. This residence was used in a scene for the historical 1977 television drama "The Governor", an historical drama mini-series based on a biography of Governor George GreyGeorge Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
, featuring Corin Redgrave
Corin Redgrave
Corin William Redgrave was an English actor and political activist.-Early life:Redgrave was born in Marylebone, London, the only son and middle child of actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson...
in the title role.
In 1924, while on holiday, Cory-Wright rescued a non-swimmer in the sea off Tairua, Coromandel, after a fishing accident. He kept the man alive in the water for several hours before help could be summoned. Cory-Wright was awarded a Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
of New Zealand bravery medal, in recognition of his actions.
Cory-Wright died in Wellington on 3 March 1976, and was survived by two sons.
Sources
- Cory-Wright, S. 'The construction and commissioning of Lake Coleridge power scheme in 1914'. New Zealand Engineering 31, No 9 (15 Sept. 1976): 221-223
- Extracts from the recollections of an engineer The construction and commissioning of Lake Coleridge power scheme in 1914. Cory-Wright, S. 31(9) Page 221
- 'A democracy that works…The story of Cory-Wright & Salmon Ltd'. New Zealand Electrical Journal 22, No 4 (25 April 1949): 364-367
- Obit. New Zealand Energy Journal 49, No 4 (25 April 1976): 62
- http://www.andritz.com/ANONIDZ47ADAEAC5C034027/hydro-products-and-services-cp-propellers-history-milestones