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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Rowell and Son

Rowell and Son (Thomas Rowell, senr.), Pastrycooks and Confectioners, 35B Cuba Street. Telephone, 869. Bankers, Colonial Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Taranaki Street. This business, known as the City Pie Shop, was opened in 1890, though Mr. Rowell has been in other businesses in Cuba Street for some thirty-one years. The City Pie Shop is on an allotment 25 feet by 125 feet, the freehold of the firm. The front shop has an attractive appearance, due largely to the fine display of confectioner's ornamental flowers, the Mazaphan goods, wedding cakes, almond tortans, bread tortans, santartons, etc., for all of which Rowell and Son have the highest reputation. The bakehouse is replete with the latest labour-saving machinery. The improved cake machine, sponge beater, and pie raiser are from Messrs. Berry and Co., Christchurch, and are the first machines of the kind made in the Colony. The machinery used enables the firm to turn out large quantities of goods at short notice, and their connection is rapidly extending. The trade mark (the man with the cake) is now getting largely known throughout the province. Mr. Rowell was born in North Shields, England, in 1842, and is entirely self-taught. He went to work carrying slates to a slater when only eight years old. The good ship “Indian Queen” brought him to Melbourne, where he as a lad of nine earned a living as a paper runner. As he grew older he turned to the pastrycook's business, and then butchering took his fancy. The year 1862 found him in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he was engaged as slaughterman for Moss and Orbell. Gabriel's Gully rush at that time made him one of the goldseekers there. From that he went to the Dunstan and other Otago diggings. Subsequently he went into the butchering line with Thomas Lee and George Webb, at Wetherstones, Otago. From there he came to Wellington, in 1864. He opened a butcher's business in Cuba Street, and about that time married. The business was given up in 1879, owing to his having an accident. He then became a grocer and general dealer till, in 1890, he, with his son Thomas, (who, however, has since retired from the firm) opened the present business. Mr. Rowell has been a Forester for twenty-five years.