Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Fire and Marine

Fire and Marine.

Commercial Union Assurance Company, Ltd. Agents, Messrs Graham and Walker, Shortland Street, Auckland.

National Insurance Company Of New Zealand. Head Office, Custom House Square, Dunedin; Auckland branch, Queen Street. Manager, Mr. N. T. Williams. The head office of this company being in Dunedin, the extended description will appear in the Otago volume of the “Cyclopedia.” The Auckland offices are most centrally situated and well adapted to all necessary requirements. It may fairly be described as a popular office.

Mr. Norman T. Williams, the Manager, was born at the Bay of Islands, in 1864, and is a son of Mr. E. M. Williams, sometime a Judge in the Native Land Court. Mr. Williams joined the National Insurance Company in 1885, and was appointed to his present position in 1898.

The New Zealand Insurance Company (Fire and Marine). The present directors of this Company are Dr. Logan Campbell (chairman); Messrs Thomas Buddle, A. G. Horton, A. H. Nathan, Robert Rose, James Russell, and J. L. Wilson; General Manager, Mr. David Craig. This company's paid-up capital and reserve amount to £435,000, and its headquarters are, and always have been, in Auckland. It was one of the first public companies floated in New Zealand by purely local enterprise, and has been a specially well directed and successful institution. The company was established in 1859, and is older by about two years than the Bank of New Zealand. Its promoters were all Auckland residents, and its first directors were the leading professional and mercantile men in the then young and rising capital of the colony. At a meeting held on the 31st of May, 1859, the following gentlemen formed themselves into the original shareholders of the New Zealand Insurance Company:—Messrs Thomas Henderson (chairman), Thomas Russell, David Graham, James Williamson, William Crush Daldy, Hugh Coolahan, Walter K. Graham, and Captain James Stone. The following resolution was passed:—“That we, the undersigned, do form ourselves into the New Zealand Insurance Company, of which the capital shall be £100,000, and do express our intention to take shares to the amount set against our names respectively.” The amount of the subscriptions ranged from £2000 to £5000, and £52,000 was at once paid up. The first risks were accepted on the 4th of June, 1859, and the first report was submitted to shareholders on the 31st of May, 1860. The directors, amongst other things, said that “At the commencement of the year they thought that, with careful management, £2000 might be reached as the amount of the first year's income, but, including interest, more than twice that sum had been raised.” Step by step the company worked its way outwards, and it has now planted itself strongly throughout Australasia and in London, America, Africa, Ceylon, India, China and Japan, and at many of these centres it is represented by officers, natives of New Zealand, specially trained in its service. As stated, the capital of the company was at first £100,000; but in 1861 it was increased to £250,000, and again in 1874, when the business had greatly expanded, it was subscribed up to £1,000,000, at which it still stands with £200,000 paid up and reserved, and reinsurance funds amounting to £235,000. As regards paid-up capital and reserves, as well as annual revenue, the company is far ahead of any other New Zealand or Australian Company, and, as evidence of its steady progress the following net premiums for certain years are given:—

  • 1860, £3766.

  • 1865, £45,241.

  • 1875, £145,035.

  • 1885, £219,214.

  • 1895, £267,916.

  • 1898, £311,000.

The company has paid close upon £4,000,000 in losses, and three-quarters of a million in dividends. Shortly after the page 298 company commenced operations its chief executive officer, Mr. Hansard, resigned and left the Colony. He was succeeded in 1860 by Mr. George Patrick Pierce, who occupied the general manager's chair until his death in 1891. Mr. Warwick Weston, who had been branch inspector for many years, succeeded Mr. Pierce. On Mr. Weston's death in 1895 the Board conferred the appointment on Mr. David Craig, who still occupies the position.

Mr. David Craig joined the service of the company in 1867, and had been for many years its representative in Canterbury. He is a shrewd business man, and thoroughly acquainted with every detail of insurance work. Under his able administration the company has every prospect of continuing its successful career. Mr. Craig was born in Fifeshire, Scotland. When a youth he served articles to Mr. John Monteath Douglas, solicitor, Cupar-Fife. He was afterwards in the office of a leading writer to the Signet in Edinburgh, and also attended the law classes of the University—a training which has been specially useful to him through life. During Mr. Craig's long residence in Canterbury he filled many public offices. He was for a long period treasurer of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association and a City Sinking Fund Commissioner. At one time he was also a keen volunteer, and was long captain of the E Battery of Artillery. On his promotion to the general managership of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Mr. Craig had to remove to Auckland, whither he carried with him many tokens of the high esteem in which he had been held by the community of Canterbury.

Mr. D. Craig.

Mr. D. Craig.

Mr. George Nelson Pierce, Manager in Auckland for the New Zealand Insurance Company, is the eldest son of the late Mr. George Patrick Pierce, the first general manager of the company, whose life was spent mainly in its service. Mr. Pierce was born in Auckland in 1859, and educated chiefly at the Parnell Grammar School, and entered the service of the New Zealand Insurance Company in 1873 at the head office, Auckland. After being in Wellington, he was appointed manager at Oamaru, and subsequently at Perth, West Australia. In 1890, Mr. Pierce was appointed manager at Napier, whence he was transferred to his present position at Auckland in May, 1900.

Mr. Thomas James Brassey, formerly Auckland Manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, has had a long connection with mercantile and insurance offices at the Northern Capital, and stands deservedly high in public estimation. Educated at the Auckland High School under Mr. Farquhar McRae, he entered the countinghouse of Messrs. Bucholz and Co., general merchants, and was subsequently in the employ of Mr. Morton Jones. In 1875 Mr. Brassey joined the staff of the Auckland branch of the company, with which he has since maintained such honourable connection. In 1882 he was appointed to the management of the Napier branch, remaining till 1890, when he received his present position of manager at Auckland. From the time of Mr. G. P. Pierce's death in 1891, till January, 1896, Mr. Brassey was, with but few slight intervals, continuously in the head office in the capacity of acting general manager. Besides his duties in connection with the New Zealand Insurance Company, he for several years undertook the management of the New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company at Napier, and, from January, 1890, to May, 1891, was secretary to that company at Auckland. The more onerous duties cast upon him, however, through the death of the late general manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Mr. G. P. Pierce, compelled him to resign the secretaryship. Mr. Brassey now resides in England as manager of the London branch of the New Zealand Insurance Company. In 1883 Mr. Brassey married Miss Russell, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Russell.

North Queensland Insurance Company, Ltd. Head office, corner of Pitt and Bridge Streets, Sydney. Chief Office for New Zealand, Hobson's Buildings, Shortland Street, Auckland. Auckland Agent, with management of North Island business, Mr. W. J. Ronayne. The North Queensland Insurance Company has been doing business in Auckland for several years, and the offices are centrally situated.

South British Fire And Marine Insurance Company (James Kirker, general manager; A. S. Russell, local manager). Head office, 90 Queen Street, Auckland. This company has a capital of £1,900,000, with reserve and accumulated funds exceeding £230,000. The handsome building in which it carries on its business is one of the features of the city's architecture. The South British itself is a purely local institution, and might be cited as an example of the enterprise and commercial possibilities of Auckland. At the same time, its success is in a large measure due to the ability, judgment, and energy of Mr. James Kirker, the general manager.

Mr. James Kirker, General Manager of the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand, is the son of Mr. James Kirker, draper, of Belfast, where he was born in 1857. He accompanied his parents to Australia in 1863 in the ship “Merchant Prince,” and, the family coming to Wellington a year later, he was educated in that city. Mr. Kirker joined the Telegraph Department, but, after six years' service, page 299 servered his connection with the department to join the South British. For some time he was in charge of the Te Aro branch, Wellington, and was subsequently appointed manager at Napier. Two years later he was sent to Adelalde to take charge of the South and West Australian branches. There Mr. Kirker negotiated the purchase of the businesses of the Commercial Marine and Adelaide Fire and Marine Insurance Companies. In 1888 he was appointed inspector of branches throughout the company's territory, and two years later this rapid promotion culminated in his appointment to the general managership of the company, which position he fills with conspicuous ability. Mr. Kirker is a member of the Northern and Auckland Clubs, and takes great interest in bowling, being a prominent member of the Auckland and Ponsonby Bowling Clubs. In 1883 Mr. Kirker was married to the eldest daughter of Mr. Lockie, retired builder, of Wellington. Of their six children, two girls and three boys survive.

Mr. J. Kirker.

Mr. J. Kirker.

South British Insurance Company's Offices.

South British Insurance Company's Offices.

Mr. Alexander Stuart Russell, Local Manager in Auckland of the South British Insurance Company, has had an extensive commercial experience, and is very well and favourably known in the insurance world. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 7th of January, 1842, and is a son of Mr. Alexander Russell, of that city. He was educated at the Glasgow Free Normal Seminary, and in 1856 was apprenticed to Messrs Rutherford Brothers, soft goods warenousemen. In M[unclear: arch] 1859, he arrived in Auckland, per ship “Excelsior,” and for the ensuing ten years he was employed by Messrs Gilfillan and Co., and rose to the position of chief saleman. He then accepted the management of the business of Messrs Must and Co., of which the late Mr. J. M. Dargaville was the resident partner, and with whom Mr. Russell maintained, to the last, the most friendly relations. For some time Mr. Russell resided in Wellington, where for a period of four years he held the position of accountant to Messrs Jacob Joseph and Co. He then returned to Auckland, and accepted the management of the Standard Insurance Company. Mr. Russell held that appointment for two years, and then for the purpose of gaining useful information in connection with the timber industry he filled the position of accountant to the Auckland Timber Company. At the end of four years he returned to the management of the “Standard,” which he retained till the 12th of February, 1887, when he accepted his present appointment. As a Mason Mr. Russell is one of the most prominent officers in the Colony. He was initiated into Lodge Ara No. 348 I.C., in July, 1865, and a third of a century ago he filled the office of worshipful master, and was re-elected. In the Provincial Grand Lodge under the grand mastership of the late Mr. G. P. Pierce, Mr. Russell held office as grand senior deacon, grand registrar, grand treasurer, and for several years as grand senior warden. On the inception of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, Mr. Russell was offered and accepted the first deputy grand mastership of the Colony. In addition to being one of the founders of Lodge Ara, N.Z.C., Mr. Russell is also a member of Lodge Ponsonby, No. 54 N.Z.C., and he was in 1897, by way of compliment, elected an honorary member of his old Lodge Ara 348 I.C. In 1894 Mr. Russell went to Scotland to undergo an operation for the improvement of his sight. The operation was eminently successful, and one of the results was a marked improvement in his general health. Mr. Russell was married in 1871 to Miss Olive Morris, daughter of Mr. James Morris, of Ponsonby, and has four daughters and three sons; the eldest son being in the employment of the Waihi Gold Mining Company.

Mr. Alfred Charles Woolcott. Accountant at the head office of the South British Insurance Company, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1860. He was brought by his parents to Auckland in February of the following year by the ship “Zealandia,” and received his early education page 300 at the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell. In 1876, Mr. Woolcott joined the staff of the Bank of New South Wales in Auckland, and served in various positions during the succeeding five years. He entered the service of the South British Insurance Company in 1882 Six years later he was promoted to the position of assistant acecuntant, and has held the office of accountant since 1890. Mr. Woolcott was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. E. M. C. Harrison, of Northcote.

Hanna, photo. Mr. A. C. Woolcott

Hanna, photo.
Mr. A. C. Woolcott

Standard Fire And Marine Insurance Company Of New Zealand, Queen Street, Auckland. Branch manager, Mr. George Johnston. This company occupies offices on the east side of Queen Street, near the corner of Fort Street. Its head office is in Dunedin.

Mr. George Johnston, Manager at Auckland of the Standard Fire and Marine Insurance Company, has held high positions in the insurance world of the Northern Capital for over a quarter of a century, and for a considerable period previously was well known in commercial circles. Mr. Johnston was born in 1837 in Armagh, ireland, his father, the late Mr. Thomas Johnston, coming of a very old family. Educated at the Agricultural Model School, he entered the countinghouse of Messrs. Dunbar. McMaster and Co., spinning manufacturers, of Gilford, County Down, where he remained some eight years. On attaining his majority, Mr. Johnston sailed for Auckland per ship “Mary Ann” in 1858, securing employment with Messrs. Connell and Ridings, auctioneers. In 1863 he became accountant to Mr. S. Jones, whom he left after nine years, to assume the position of accountant and local manager of the South British Insurance Company. This was at the time of the company's Inauguration. Mr. Boardman retiring from the office of general manager in 1880, Mr. Johnston was appointed in his stead. During his ten years' occupaucy of the general managership, the business of the company was very nearly trebled, Immediately on his retirement from the South British Company in 1890, Mr. Johnston was offered and accepted his present position. He at once threw all his energies and influence into the business of the company, resulting in a large increase in the number and value of policies. During his residence in Auckland of nearly forty years, during the whole of which time he has been actively and prominently engaged in insurance and mercantile pursuits, Mr. Johnston has made many friends and a very large circle of acquaintances. At the time when Volunteering meant something serious, he was away at the “front”—represented in those days by Papakura and Drury—and for seven years was connected with the Volunteer Rifle Corps. As a Mason, he has held the office of senior warden of Lodge Ara, No. 348, I.C. He was for some time a deacon of the Beresford Street Congregational Church. In 1863 Mr. Johnston was married to a daughter of the late Mr. E. J. Matthews, builder and contractor, of Auckland, and has two sons and three daughters.

The United Insurance Company, Ltd. (Fire and Marine; A. E. Dean, district secretary), Customs Street West, Auckland. Head office for New Zealand, corner of Featherston and Hunter Streets, Wellington. This company has been represented in Auckland since about 1880.

Mr. Alfred Elliott Dean, District Secretary at Auckland for the United Fire Office, was born in 1864 at Newcastle, New South Wales. He was educated at St. Paul's School, Wellington, and at the Southland High School, Invercargill, and commenced his business career as a member of the staff of Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Wellington, with whom he continued for many years. The firm acted as agents for the United and also for the Guardian Insurance Company, and Mr. Dean gained his experience of insurance matters in connection with these agencies. In 1891, when the United Insurance Company opened a branch in the colony, he became accountant to the company, and held the position till early in 1899, when he was appointed district secretary at Auckland.

Victoria Fire And Marine Insurance Company. The Auckland offices of this company are situated at 91 Queen Street, and Mr. John Bowden is the general manager.