A contract to help with repairs to earthquake-ravaged Christchurch has unearthed a quirky, if coincidental, link between Wanganui and the southern city.
Local engineering firm Garmac Engineering has just completed machining a special 27-inch (68.5cm) flange that is a vital link in repairing underground infrastructure in Christchurch.
The flange is now atnearby Rees Engineering Services in Castlecliff, where it will be welded to a pipe bound for the southern city.
The flange and pipe will replace some of the damaged installations beneath Christchurch Cathedral.
But the coincidence is in the names.
Colin Williamson, principal owner of Garmac, said engineering certificates from the mid-1960s show the chief engineer involved with the Christchurch underground reticulation system was a Mr C G Williamson.
"They are the same initials and surname as me, even though there's no family connection."
