Emmanual Lewis Galizia (1830-1906)
1907 Obituary [1]
EMMANUELEWIS GALIZIA, Superintendent of Public Works to the Maltese Government, died at Malta on the 6th May, 1906, aged 76.
Born in 1830, he was educated at the Malta University, and after serving several years in the Land Revenue and Public Works Department, he received a warrant to practise the profession of Surveyor and Architect in 1852. He was appointed Assistant Surveyor and Valuer of Government land property in 1854, and 2 years later he was promoted Surveyor.
In 1860 he became Chief Government Surveyor, in which capacity he had the entire direction of the Public Works branch, and was responsible during the succeeding 20 years for the execution of works amounting in the aggregate to nearly £700,000.
In June, 1880, the Public Works service was made an independent department, and Mr. Galizia received the appointment of Superintendent of Public Works, having sole charge of all public works, roads and buildings throughouthe island where, in the absence of municipalities, all institutions of a public nature are provided and maintained by Government. Mr. Galizia was also responsible for the maintenance of Crown property covering nearly one-third of the area of the Colony.
A complete survey and a set of records and descriptive plans of all Government property in Malta and Gozo were made ‘under his direction, and after the British occupation of Cyprus in 1877, he was entrusted by the Imperial Government with two special missions to report on that island generally, and on behalf of the Government of Malta he inspected certain parts of it with a view to the establishment of a Maltese settlement. He also represented the local government in connection with the extension, for commercial purposes, of the upper pnrt of the Grand Harbour, carried out by the Admiralty for the purpose of freeing the lower and deep waters for naval purposes. During his tenure of office, the Public Works Department was completely reorganized and raised to a high level of efficiency. He retired in 1888, after 42 years’ service.
As Superintendent of Public Works, he occupied a seat in the Legislative Council of the Colony. He was also a member of the Drainage Commission and Consulting Engineer to the Medical Board. Many public buildings scattered throughout Malta and Gozo testify to his architectural ability, which was recognized by his election as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
His tact and affability endeared him to the whole community, whilst the ability and thoroughness which he displayed in all his work gives him a permanent place in the record of professional achievement in Malta.
Mr. Galizia was elected a Member of The Institution on the 12th January, 1886.