FOREIGN CONSULS

Mr. BENDIX HALLENSTEIN.

Mr. PERCIVAL C. NEILL

Mr. WILLIAM GODFREY NEILL

Mr. BENDIX HALLENSTEIN. J P., German Consul at Dunedin, has long been well known in New Zealand as one of the most active and energetic men in the Colony. Born in 1835 and educated in Ger­many, he, on completing his course at school, went to England, spending five years in a large shipping house in Manchester. At the age of twenty-two Mr. Hallenstein came out to Victoria, remaining in that colony till 1803, when he crossed the Tasman Sea and took up his residence in Invercargill. A year later he removed to Queenstown—then a very prosperous township—and established himself in business. In 1860, in conjunction with his partner, the late Mr. J. W. Robert-son, he built the first flour mill in the district at Kawarau—the outlet of Lake Wakatipu. This mill was named the Brunswick Flour-mill, after Mr. Hallenstein and his partner’s birthplaces—Brunswick in Germany and Brunswick in Canada, respectively. After ten years, during which time Mr. Hallenstein engaged largely and successfully in farming operations, he removed to Dunediu, which he has since made his home. During his residence in the Cold Lakes District he took a prominent part in local and colonial politics, being several times mayor of Queenstown, and representing his district in the Otago Provincial Council, and in the House of Representatives. He resigned his seat in the House before leaving in 1874, but continued a member of the Council till the abolition of the provinces in 1876. On coming to Dunedin Mr. Hallenstein actively engaged in the foundation and development of that splendid colonial industry, the New Zealand Clothing Factory, of which he is the managing partner. His brothers, who reside in London and Melbourne respectively, are also interested in the firm, and with them he is associated in business in both Mel­bourne and Sydney, the firm being engaged in the largest tannery in the colonies, and also in the Drapery and General Importing Company of New Zealand, Ltd., which was established in 1884. Of the latter Mr. Hallenstein is chairman of directors—a position he has occupied since its foundation. He is also a director of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.’s New Zealand Drug Com­pany, and of the National Insurance Com­pany. Mr. Hnlleiistein has visited the Old Land on three occasions, including the trip in I860, when he went to marry a daughter of Mr. Thomas Mountain (of Thirlby Domain)—a Lincolnshire farmer. There are four daughters, of whom three are married— one being Mrs. Fels, whose husband is associated with the firm of Hallenstein Bros, and Co. Mr. Hallenstein, who is greatly re­spected by all who know him, has held the commission of the peace for about thirty years, and succeeded to the position of Ger­man Consul in 1803, on the death of Mr. Houghton.

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Mr. PERCIVAL C. NEILL, Consul for France at Dunedin, comes from the north of Ireland, having been born in Belfast in 1842. He was educated at Mr. Button’s private school in his birthplace, and received an early training in banking and mercantile pursuits in that part of Ireland, which has furnished so many brilliant business men, previous to coming out to the Colonies in 1850. On arrival, Mr. Neill joined the firm of Messrs. McCallum, Neill and Co., of Melbourne and Geelong, and in 1803 crossed over to Dunedin, New Zealand, as resident partner of that firm. Three years later he joined Messrs. James Henty and Co., of Melbourne, and extended that firm’s business with considerable profit to New Zealand. He subsequently, when still a young man, bought out Messrs. Henty and Co., and established the well-known firm of Messrs. Neill and Co., which was incorporated as a limited company in 1882, and to which reference is made in another part of this volume. Mr. Neill in 1867 purchased the brick building which gave its name to Bond Street, and which had been recently erected on a valuable free­hold site, upon what was then the foreshore of the harbour. It was the first substantial building in the city, and was then considered by many to be in advance of the times. Mr. Neill has held the office of French Consul since 1873, and has been generally a much respected citizen in Dunedin. Of a some­what retiring and diffident disposition, he has not taken a prominent part in municipal or political affairs, but has been always found ready to assist individuals or the progress of the City by bis advice or pecuniary aid. Mr. Neill was a member of the first Harbour Board, and has long been associated with the local Chamber of Com­merce, of which be was at one time presi­dent. Of public companies, he has been a director of the Colonial Hank, the Westport Coal Company, Trustees and Executors Company, and many others. He also owns the valuable Okirae Sheep Station in the Wauganui district. Mr. Neill was married in 1866 to a daughter of Captain Foster Tyant (late 4^th King’s Own), well known in the early days of the Australian colonies, and latterly as Crown Commissioner at Geelong. Four sons and four daughters are the living issue of the marriage.

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Mr. WILLIAM GODFREY NEILL, Consul in Otago for the United States of America and the Hawaiian Islands, was born and educated in Belfast, Ireland. He is the fifth son of the late Mr. Robert Neill, merchant, of that city. He arrived in Victoria in I860, and after a few months in that colony, crossed over to join his brother. Mr. P. C. Neill, in Dunedin, and was with his firm, McCallum. Neill and Co., for several years. Having thus gained a knowledge of mer­cantile life, he entered into business as a general merchant in 1877, and has since been well known in that capacity. The appoint­ments of consul for the United States and the Hawaiian Islands were conferred upon him in 1805. Mr. Neill was married in 1875 to a daughter of the late Sir Francis Murphy, of Melbourne, and has three sons and two daughters.