Merchants, &c.

AHLFELD BROS. AND CO. (Adolf Ahlfeld, Wilhelm Ahlfeld and Paul Kahlenberg)

BATES. SISE AND CO. (George Lyman Sise)

FLEMING, JOHN,

KIRK, J. H., AND CO. (John Hobbs Kirk and James Harrison Jones)

MACKERRAS AND HAZLETT (James Taylor MacKerras and James Hazlett)

NEILL AND COMPANY, LTD. (P. C. Neill and Hon. W. H. Reynolds, directors)

NEILL, W. G.

NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY. LTD

PATERSON, A. S., AND CO. (Alexander Stronach Paterson)

STANLEY, J. H., AND CO. (Archibald Henry Crawford)

Mr. GEORGE SAMUEL MUNRO

THOMAS, EDWARD, AND CO. (Edward Thomas)

WILSON. BALK AND CO. (William Wilson and Oscar Balk)

AHLFELD BROS. AND CO. (Adolf Ahlfeld, Wilhelm Ahlfeld and Paul Kahlenberg), Wholesale Fancy Goods Merchants and Indenters of English and Continental mer­chandise in all branches; Warehouse, Dowling Street, Dunedin, and at London, Ham­burg and Paris. This business was estab­lished in 1886 by the present firm, who are sole agents in New Zealand for the famous Wiesner pianos. Gritzner sewing-machines and bicycles, Gaedke’s cocoa, and the unrivalled Silver and Brilliant Packet starch.

BATES. SISE AND CO. (George Lyman Sise), General Merchants, Importers, and Commission Agents, 7 Bond Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 77. Bankers: Bank of New Zea­land. Private residence, Queen Street. This business was founded in 1865, and has ever since its establishment been conducted under the present style. The firm are agents for the Eastern and Australian steamship com­pany, whose steamers trade between Sydney, China, and Japan: and for Messrs. W. H. Peabody and Co.’s line of sailing vessels, trading between New York and New Zealand. They also act on behalf of the North China insurance company. The leading lines of Messrs. Bates, Sise and Co.’s business are In British, American, and Eastern goods, which they import in almost endless varieties. They hold special agencies for Noonday oil (kerosene), Watson and McGill’s tobaccos, Rambler bicycles, Paslem filters, Brown’s Glasgow corn-flour, and numerous other English and American agencies. The business extends throughout the Colony, but lies chiefly in the South Island, the firm being represented by agents and travellers. Mr. Sise, who settled in Dunedin in 1863, is a director of Donaghy’s rope and twine com­pany. Ltd., and is a member of the Otago and Southland industrial conciliation board.

FLEMING, JOHN, Grain, Produce, and Provision Merchant. Princes Street South, Dunedin. Telephone, 212. Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. Established in 1863 by Mr. M. C. Fleming, of St. Clair. The present proprietor, who is a son of the founder, has conducted the business since 1880. He does a considerable trade in the city and suburbs, as well as with shipping. The premises, which contain over 3,000 square feet of floor space, are of brick, and two stories in height Mr. Fleming also uses, for storage purposes, a single-story brick build­ing in Hope Street, which affords an addi­tional 2.500 square feet of floor space. He was born and educated in Ireland, and came out to Port Chalmers in 1864 by the ship “Galla.” Prior to taking over the business on his own account, he was associated with his father in the trade. He is specially well known as a breeder of racing stock on his farm at St. Kilda. His horses (known as the “Gipsey family”) include the entires “Gipsey King,” “Gipsey Prince,” “Ishmael,” and “Wolseley.” There are, besides, “Gitano,” a gelding at Mr. J. R. McKenzie’s at Tapanui; “Arline,” “Campbell,” and the fllly “Gitanillo.” Mr. Fleming has been a member of the Dunedin Jockey club for twenty years, and has acted as a steward for fifteen years of that time.

KIRK, J. H., AND CO. (John Hobbs Kirk and James Harrison Jones), Wool, Skin, and Rabbit-skin Merchants, Bond and Crawford Streets, Dunedin. Branches: At Invercargill and Gore.

MACKERRAS AND HAZLETT (James Taylor MacKerras and James Hazlett), Mer­chants and Importers, Bond and Crawford Streets, Dunedin; Telephone 30; P.O. Box, 107;Bankers: Bank of New Zealand; Private-residences : Mr. MacKerras, Upper Forth Place; Mr. Hazlett, High Street. This well-known firm was established in 1862 by Mr. MacKerras in conjunction with a former partner; in 1878 lie became associated with Mr. Hazlett, who had for some years pre­viously been in business as a general mer­chant at Clyde and other goldnelds towns. Messrs. MacKerras and Hazlett’s warehouse and offices are erected on freehold land in Bond street, and consists of a large two-story brick and stone building, with a cellar. In addition to these premises, they have a large bond (a three-story brick and stone building) in Crawford street. The firm do a large business throughout the entire Colony. They are large importers of all classes of goods, including general merchan­dise, wines, spirits, tea, sugar, tobacco, etc. As packers and blenders of tea they do a considerable trade, for they maintain a very large number of special agencies. Personal reference to the partners will be found on other pages of the “Cyclopedia”—to Mr. MacKerras as a member of the harbour board, and to Mr. Hazlett as a trustee of the Otago benevolent institution.

NEILL AND COMPANY, LTD. (P. C. Neill and Hon. W. H. Reynolds, directors),
Merchants, General Importers and Indenters, Ship and Insurance Agents, Dunedin. Offices and Bonded Stores, Bond, Water, Crawford, and Liverpool Streets. Free Stores, Vogel and Crawford Streets. Telephones: shipping department, 730; goods department, 32. Cable address, “Palma,” Dunedin. Codes, A.B.C., A.I., and Scott’s. Private residence of Mr. Neill, Chingford, North East Valley. The firm of Messrs. Neill and Company was established in 1866 by Mr P. C. Neill, in conjunction with Messrs. Henty and Co., of Melbourne, as general merchants and importers. About nine years later the Melbourne house retired from the business, which was successfully continued by Mr. Neill till its incorporation as a limited com­pany in 1882. Messrs. Neill and Company, Ltd., are large importers of wines, spirits, and general merchandise of every kind in which they deal, and on account of clients they are shippers of wool, tallow, rabbit skins, and other produce. They hold ship­ping agencies for the Huddart, Parker and Company Proprietary, Ltd.’s  intercolonial line of steamers, for the Messageries Maritimes Compagnie of France, and the North German Lloyd’s Hues of Australian and Euro­pean steamers, for Mailler and Quereau (New York line). Grade. Beazley and Co.’s Liver­pool line of sailers, and for Donald Currie and Co.’s Cape line of steamers. As in­surance agents, the firm represent the Guardian Insurance Company of London. The noted “Spring Blossom” brand of tea is a special line with Messrs. Neill and Com­pany, the finest qualities being imported from the beat markets, blended under the supervision of the firm’s expert, and packed in cases, tins, and leads in the free store. The premises occupied by the company are very extensive; the offices and bonded stores, which are Mr. P. C. Neill’s freehold pro­perty, comprise a two story brick structure with basement, covering a quarter of an acre of laud—an entire block—and having frontage to four streets. The total floorage space is nearly 35,000 square feet. This building, known as the “Universal Bond,” was built in 1866, and gives its name to the chief mer­cantile street in Dunedin, Bond Street. In addition to this large and imposing building, the company has a two story brick building used as a free store—extending from Vogel to Crawford Streets. The business of the company extends throughout the Colony, their representatives travelling constantly In the Interests of the Institution. Reference to Mr. P. C. Neill’s career, together with his portrait, will be found under the heading “Foreign Consuls,” he having represented France for a quarter of a century. Engravings of the company’s premises are given herewith.

NEILL, W. G., General Merchant, 07 Princes Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 10. Post Office Box, 102. Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Melville Street. The premises consist of a two-story brick structure erected on leasehold land, and ex­tend back to Walker Street, the offices and sale room being on the ground Boor fronting Princes Street, and the bonded and bulk store In the rear. Mr. Neill. who is a large importer of teas and general merchandise, is agent for Otago for Mitchell and Co.. Ltd., of Belfast, Mitchell Bros. Ltd.. of Glasgow, James Heddle and Co. and Mackinley and Son, of Leith, and many other houses. Further reference to Mr. Neill will be found under the heading “Foreign Consuls.”

NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY. LTD. Offices and store. Corner of Rattray and Castle Streets, Dunedin. Telephone, 23. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia. Manager, Mr. Andrew Todd. Private residence of manager, Maori Bill. Head office, Wellington. Information regarding this well-known company is given on page 716 of the Wellington Volume of the “Cyclopedia of New Zea­land.” The company’s fine warehouse and office in Dunedin are conveniently situated and in proximity to both railway and shipping. The older portions of the building were erected in 1876 by the late Mr. Henry Driver, and at that time comprised the only building on the reclaimed land, the tide sur­rounding it at high water. The new portion of the structure was put up in 1885 and is built of Port Chalmers blue stone with Oamaru stone facings—the other portion being in blue stone. The whole structure, which is two stories in height, covers about an acre of land, a railway siding being laid into the building. Regular auction sales are conducted as follows :—Mondays, grain and rabbit skins; Tuesdays, sheep skins ; and Wednesdays, fat stock at Burnside Yards. Fortnightly sales are held at Milton, Ba1clutha and Clinton, and periodical sales in Central Otago.

PATERSON, A. S., AND CO. (Alexander Stronach Paterson), General Merchants, Lower Rattray Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 125. Post Office Box, 308. Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, High Street. Cable address, “Aspasla,” Dunedin. Codes, A.1., Commercial, and A.B.C. Branches: National Mutual Buildings, Custom Souse Quay, Wellington, and Shortland Street, Auckland: London house, 10 St. Helen’s Place. E.C. The business was established in 1886 in Dunedin, the Wellington branch was opened three years later, and that in Auckland In 1895. The trade of the firm extends to all parts of the Colony. They make a special line of sugar, being far the largest importers of this necessary of life in the various ports. The firm are agents in New Zealand for the Millaquin and Yengarie sugar company, of Queensland, and for the China sugar refining company, of Hong Kong. Messrs. Paterson and Co. are also agents In Otago for the China Traders’ Insurance company, Ltd.

STANLEY, J. H., AND CO. (Archibald Henry Crawford) Wool and Grain Merchants and Shipping Agents. Corner of Water and Crawford Streets, Dunedin; Telephone, 58; Post Office Box, 35; Bankers: National Bank of New Zealand; Private residence, “Waiata,” Duke Street. The business was established by Mr. Francis Fulton (now of Napier), and subsequently conducted by his son together with Mr. J. H. Stanley, under the style of Fulton, Stanley and Co. It was acquired by Mr. Crawford in 1896. The two-story brick building occupied as offices and store Is supplemented by an iron building in Hope Street, used for storing guano, and a new galvanised iron store has lately been erected near the wharf, in conjunction with Mr. .J. A. Duthie. of Milton, for further storage purposes. Messrs. Stanley and Co.’s princi­pal line is grain, for which they held con­tracts at the time of writing, to ship to the North Island during the season 1897-8 30,000 sacks by sailing vessel, and about 12.000 sacks by steamer. They are also large shippers of wool and frozen meat on their own or client’s behalf. As shipping-agents, they represent the Nippon Yusen Kalsha (Japan Mail Steamship Company, Ltd.), a powerful fleet of steamers running between Sydney and Japan, the “Glbb” Hue of China steamers, and the Adelaide Steamship Com­pany. Ltd. They are also agents for the Chesterfield and Surprise Island guano. Mr. Crawford was born in 1856 at Glasgow, and was educated at the high school In that city, where he was brought up to mercantile life with Messrs. Howat. Brown and Co.. muslin manufacturers, of Glasgow; he came to Port Chalmers In the ship “City of Tanjore” In 1873. He was for seven years bookkeeper for Messrs. A. Briscoe and Co.. and after four years with Messrs. J. Rattray and Son as shipping clerk, joined Messrs. Fulton, Stanley and Co. in 1889. Mr. Crawford is interested in cycling, rowing, and outdoor sports generally, and has been a member of the Kaituna bowling club for five years, during one of which he filled the office of secretary. He was married in 1896 to a daughter of Mr. John Murdock, timber merchant

Mr. GEORGE SAMUEL MUNRO. Manager for Messrs. J. H. Stanley and Co., was born in Invercargill in 1864, and was educated at the Westport district school. He was brought up to mercantile life by his father, Mr. John Munro (late M.H.R. for Buller), auctioneer, and had many years’ experience in Westport. He joined Messrs. Fulton, Stanley and Co. as salesman in 1890, and became manager in 1894

THOMAS, EDWARD, AND CO. (Edward Thomas), Wool, Skin, Hide and Hair Merchants, Grain and Produce Brokers, Bond Street, Dunedin; Telephone 812; Post Office Box 71; Bankers: Bank of New Zealand; Private residence, Michie Street, Roslyn. Mr. Thomas commenced this business on his own account in 1895. The building is a two-story brick store, with some 10,000 square feet of floor space available for the purposes of the trade. Messrs. Thomas and Co. have been successful In securing clients and cus­tomers throughout the Colony. They pur­chase from farmers direct, and receive con­signments of wool, rabbit-skins and hides, which they take into stock at full market rates. They are large exporters of these Hues to the various European and other markets. In grain and produce—Including potatoes, butter and cheese—Messrs. Thomas and Co. receive consignments only, realizing to best advantage. Mr. Thomas is the patentee of the “Record Churn.” which is locally manufactured to his order, and for which the firm act as agents. They under­take to transact business as buying or selling brokers for their clients In any part of the Colony. Mr. Thomas, the proprietor, is a native of India, where he was born in 1868. During his early years he moved about a great deal, living successively in England, New Zealand, Australia, the Old Country again, and on the Continent; his education was obtained partly In each place. In 1885, he came out to Port Chalmers in the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s s.s. “Arawa.” He entered the service of the Bank of New South Wales in Blenheim, and had nine years’ experience in that in­stitution, filling the position of accountant at the Timaru branch when he retired in 1894. For twelve months he was a partner in the firm of Messrs. J. H. Kirk and Co., wool and skin merchants. Bond street, Dunedin, only severing that connection to estab­lish his present business. Mr. Thomas is married to a daughter of Mr. T. M. W. Johnston. retired civil engineer, of Christchurch, and has two sons and one daughter.

WILSON. BALK AND CO. (William Wilson and Oscar Balk). Tea Merchants and Coffee and Spice Manufacturers. Jetty Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 777. P.O. Box, 393. Hankers. National Bank of New Zealand. Private residences: Mr. Wilson. Selkirk Street, Roslyn; MT. Balk, Frederick Street, Roslyn. Established in 1885. The building occupied by this Arm, comprising office, warehouse and factory, is a two story brick structure erected on Harbour Board lease­hold land, the total floor space of the premises being over 7500 square feet. The machinery, which includes various grinding, crushing, and roasting appliances is worked by an eight horse power Otto Gas Engine. The special lines of the firm are the celebrated Ouvah Teas (imported from Ceylon and other markets and blended and packed on the premises), French, Turk, Moa, Phoenix, and Harp Coffees, and spices generally. Messrs. Wilson, Balk and Co., whose con­nection extends all over New Zealand, two travellers being constantly on the move, are agents for Cadbury’s well-known cocoas and chocolates, and Cope’s navy-cut tobaccos and cigarettes. Mr. Wilson, who hails from Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1850, received his education in his native place, and learned his business in Dundee, being afterwards in Glasgow and London. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1880 in the ship “City of Florence,” and was en­gaged in commercial life In Otago till entering into the present business. For nine years Mr. Wilson belonged to the 3^rd Lanarkshire Regiment of Volunteers in Glasgow. In bowling circles, he is known as a member and ex-president of the Roslyn Club, and as a musician, is a member of the Liedertafel, and holds a seat on the committee of the Choral Society. Mr. Balk was born in 1864 in Ipswich, and was educated in Germany, commencing his commercial career in England. After five years in Yokohama, Japan, he came to the Colony in 1894, and joined the present firm. He is fond of the “King of Games” being president of the Otago Chess Club.

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