Hubert Percy Barry died in New Zealand on September 30th, 1918.
He received his training as a mechanical engineer in England before going out to the Antipodes, and was instrumental in introducing many improvements in mining and milling machinery, his work generally being concerned with metallurgy rather than with mining.
For some years he acted as consulting engineer to the New Zealand Mines Trust, and designed and erected milling, pumping and cyanide plants for a number of mining companies in the Colony. He held the Government Certificate as a cyanide plant, battery and mine manager. In 1891 he entered the employment of the Waihi Gold and Silver Mining Co., becoming superintendent in the following year and then general manager, a position which he held until September, 1913, when he retired from active service, though the company still retained the benefit of his advice. During the 22 years of this active connection, Mr. Barry introduced many desirable innovations. The large pumping plant at the mine, the 100-stamp mill at Waikiuo, and the 40-stamp mill at Waitekauro, and the large cyanide plants in those three localities, were designed and erected by him, and he exercised a close personal supervision over the underground management.
Mr. Barry was elected a Member of the Institution in 1897.
Vol. 29, Trans I.M.M. 1919-20, pp. 417-18
