Philip Dale

Mr. Philip Dale was born in Cheshire, England. He was apprenticed as a cabinetmaker, carpenter, and joiner, and afterwards worked at Laird's shipyards at Birkenhead. In October, 1857, he arrived in Brisbane as carpenter's mate of the ship “Irene,” and came to New Zealand in 1859. For some time he was employed in building work at Lyttelton and throughout the district, and walked overland to Timaru in the year of his arrival. He was engaged in building work for a number of years in various parts of the Timaru district, whence he went to the Wairarapa, in the North Island, where he had over six years' experience in farming 4000 acres. Having sold out his interest, he returned to Timaru and devoted his attention to building, and held positions as clerk of works under the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works. In 1876 he became foreman of works to the Timaru Borough Council, and also performed the duties of building surveyor and inspector of nuisances till July, 1902. During his long period of service, Mr. Dale supervised the formation of most of the streets in Timaru, including kerbing and channeling, and many other branches of work. He was married, in June, 1864, to a daughter of the late Mr. Robert Warrington, of Glossop, Derbyshire, England, and has had seven daughters and three sons

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand - Old Colinists