Customhouse.
Custom-House.
The Customs Department at Auckland occupies a considerable portion of the ground floor of the handsome building known as the Custom-house, which is situated at the corner of Custom Street and Albert Street. The offices include the collector's room, landing surveyor's office, and the “long-room,” all well situated, well lighted, well appointed, and well managed.
Mr. Alexander Rose,
Collector of Customs for the Port of Auckland, is reputed to be the oldest officer in the Customs Department in New Zealand, having been in the service forty-two years. He was born at Fishponds, near Bristol, England, in 1840, where his father, Mr. John Tower Rose, was landed proprietor, and was educated at private schools and at King's College, London. His grandfather was a wealthy banker and West Indian merchant, and owned sugar plantations in Jamaica. In 1856 he came to Lyttelton, New Zealand, in the ship “Joseph Fletcher,” but shortly afterwards removed to Auckland, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Rose accepted a cadetship under Colonel Russell (58th Regiment) on his run at Walopi, Nelson, in 1857, leaving in the following year for Christchurch, where in 1858 he received an appointment in the Customs Department. Three years later he became sub-collector of Customs, and was sent to open Timaru as a port of entry. In 1863 he was appointed landing surveyor in Lyttelton, and after four years was transferred to Auckland. Early in 1875 he became Collector of Customs at Lyttelton, and in 1892 received his present appointment. Mr. Rose was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England in 1867,—the last year Bishop Selwyn presided—, and was a member of the Diocesan Syned in Christchurch from 1864 to 1867, and again from 1878 to 1892. During his residence in Lyttelton, he was a
member of the Lyttelton Rifle Volunteers. He is a Master Mason, and an old bowler, having played in representative teams on several occassions. Mr. Rose married in 1860. Miss Clara Isabella Edmiston, and has two
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sons and three daughters, one son being deceased.
Mr. Richard Dignan,
Chief Clerk of the Customs Department, Auckland, is a son of the late Hon. Patrick Dignan, and was born in Auckland in 1854. On leaving school he joined the Customs Department as a cadet, in 1871, and shortly afterwards proceeded to the Thames office. He was attached to the Commissioner's office, Wellington, for eight months in 1874, and went thence to Auckland, where he remained until he was promoted to the Oamaru branch in 1876. Mr. Dignan returned to Auckland in 1878, having been promoted to the position of landing water, and he held the position until he was promoted, in 1889, to be officer-in-charge at New Plymouth, where he remained until 1891. In that year he proceeded to Lyttelton, where he took the position of examining officer, and in the following year, 1892, went to Wellington as senior landing waiter. In 1894 Mr. Dignan returned to Auckland as examining officer, and was promoted in the following year to the chief clerkship. Mr. Dignan married Miss Sheehan, sister of late Hon. John Sheehan. He is a life member of the Auckland Grammar School Old Boys' Association, and a vice-president of the Eden and Epsom Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Mr. William Sibbald,
Landing-Surveyor, Auckland, has been in the Customs Department for over thirty years. He was born in Edinburgh in 1847, and came with his parents to New Zealand in 1853 in the ship “Clutha.” Mr. Sibbald received his education at various schools in Dunedin, finishing at the High School. He entered the service of the Bank of Otago in 1865 and four years later joined the Customs. After holding various positions in Dunedin, Wellington and Christchurch, he received his present appointment in 1891. Mr. Sibbald married in 1880 Miss Flanagan, sister of Mr. F. W. Flanagan, of the Lands and Survey Department, Wellington, and has one son and three daughters. In athletics, Mr. Sibbald has been both prominent and successful, having won several prizes for rifle shooting at Auckland, and others in connection with boat races at Christchurch. He now devotes his time to the camera and bowling.
Captain William Douglas Reid,
Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine and Examiner of Masters and Mates, Custom House, Auckland, is a son of Mr. L. Reid, and was born at Auckland in 1860. On leaving school he showed a great bent for a seafaring life, and was apprenticed in his sixteenth year to the well-known Auckland firm of Messrs Stone Bros., shipowners. When he left that firm's service he was engaged with Messrs McArthur and Co., in the Island trade. In 1882 he went to England and entered the service of Messrs Lampart and Holt, of Liverpool, with whom he remained for some years, trading to the Brazils. On returning to New Zealand Captain Reid joined the service of the Union Steamship Company in the s.s. “Hauroto.” He was successively in various vessels of that Company's fleet, principally in the intercolonial and Indian trade, and left the Company in 1898, having been previously advanced to the position of master in its service. It was then that he accepted from the Government the
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responsible position he now holds. Captain Reid, himself an ardent yachtsman, thoroughly identifies himself with boat racing and yachting, and freely gives the benefit of his experience to boating men and yachtsmen. He is also an enthusiastic volunteer, and is lieutenant in the Devonport Submarine Miners. Since the formation of the New Zealand Natives'
Association he has been a member of that body. As a Freemason, he is a member of Lodge Sir Walter Scott, and is deservedly popular amongst his large circle of friends.
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