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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Bell, William
Bell, William, General Storekeeper, Corner of Willoughby Street and Stanway Road, Halcombe. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Levin Street. Mr. Bell's store is one of the oldest and best in Halcombe. It was established by him in 1880, and the departments comprise grocery, crockery, drapery, ironmongery, and patent medicines. Mr. Bell does a large reciprocal trade with the farmers, selling them general merchandise, and exporting their butter in very large quantities. He is a director and treasurer of the Halcombe Dairy Company, and agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr. Bell, who has had a most eventful career, was born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, educated at Bathgate Academy, and arrived in New Zealand, per ship “Stormbird,” from Glasgow, landing at Dunedin, when that now great city was a settlement about two years old. He remembers the site of Dunedin when it was so boggy that a team of bullocks “got stuck” in what is now the very heart of the town. Narrow escapes figure prominently in Mr. Bell's history. Joining in the West Coast rush, he tried hard for a passage thither in the “City of Dunedin,” but as she was filled up for three trips, he decided to go overland. After a most exciting ride, during which he was pulled through the river at his horse's tail, he arrived there not very pleased with his decision, until he learned that the “City of Dunedin” was lost, and that all on board had perished. At another time he walked over the exact spot near Greymouth and Notown, where, three days after, Burgess, Kelly, and Levy committed one of their nefarious murders. Mr. Bell saw some very rough times on the diggings. He drove the first team of horses (his own property), into Gabriel's Gully, where he had a store, and was among the first to arrive on the West Coast fields. In 1875 he visited Melbourne, having done very well on the diggings, and stayed in Victoria till 1879, when he returned to the Colony and prepared to start in business as above. Mr. Bell is well respected in Halcombe, where he is chairman of the school committee, and ex-chairman of the Town Board.
Tyler, Mrs. W., Baker and Fruiterer, Stanway Road, Halcombe. Estab. 1895.
King, John, Boardinghousekeeper, Willoughby Street, Halcombe, Established 1887.
Wahle, Robert, Farrier and General Blacksmith, Willoughby Street, Halcombe. Established 1894.
Bennett, Chas, James, Saddler and Harnessnaker, Stanway Road, Halcombe. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1890.
Colville, John, Bootmaker, Stanway Road, Halcombe. Established 1891.
Runciman, Geo. Mitchell, General Storekeeper, Halcombe. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Feilding. Established 1895.
Williamson, Alex., General Storekeeper, Stanway Road, Halcombe. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1878, and conducted by present proprietor since 1894.