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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Heather, Arthur

Heather, Arthur, Kauri Gum Merchant, Customs Street West, Auckland. Mr. Heather was born in Auckland on the 11th of April, and is a son of Mr. D. H. Heather, who came to the Colony with the earliest Port Nicholson setters. Induced by the uusettled condition of the country, resulting from the war with Hone Heke at the Bay of Islands, Mr. D. H. Heather returned with his family to England, and left in the “Slains Castle” for Sydney, whence Mr. and Mrs. Heather and their four sons embarked in the “Mary”. But that ill-fated vessel was wrecked in Bass Strait, and by the catastrophe, Mr. Arthur Heather lost his mother and three brothers. The father and surviving son eventually reached England, where Mr. A. Heather remained to complete his education. In 1858, Mr. Arthur Heather returned to New Zealand to join his father in the Lower Waikato, but owing to the unsettled state of the country he was forced to come to Auckland where he entered the still well remembered firm of Owen and Graham. There he remained until his faithful service, and gentlemanly demeanour, gained for him admission into the firm as a partner. On the dissolution of the partnership, in 1879, Mr. Heather took over the wholesale grocery branch of the business and continued it solely on his own account. He now confines his operations to the purchase and export of kauri gum. Mr. Heather was president of the Chamber of Commerce as far back as 1878. He was for many years a very useful worker on the Harbour Board, to which he was at its foundation nominated by the Government. In church matters, Mr. Heather has always taken an active interest, filling important offices at All Saint's, St. Mark's, St. Sepulchre's, and now at St. Barnabas's, besides taking for many years a prominent part in the deliberations of the General and Diocesan Synods. Mr. Heather is an old member of Lodge Ara, I.C., and is now a past master unattached. His early experiences in the Waikato gave him a good knowledge of Maori matters, and this knowledge was of much use at the time of the Maori troubles. Mr. Heather was one of the those who attended the great meeting of disaffected natives at Kihikihi. In all innocent sport, Mr. Heather has taken a praiseworthly interest. He is president of the Association Football Club, and of the Eden and Epsom Tennis Club. This is the most successful tennis club in Auckland, and much of its popularity is due to the exertions of the president, who has occupied that office from the foundation of the society. Mr. Heather was married to Miss Browne, daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Browne, so well known to old Aucklanders, as the leader of the Choral Society and the organist of St. Matthews. Mr. and Mrs. Heather have a family of six sons and an only daughter. The eldest son, Mr. H. D. Heather, is well known in the city as the senior partner of Messrs Heather, Roberton and Co.; the second, Mr. A. B. Heather, is a farmer in the Waikato; the third, Mr. Charles Heather, is at Cambridge University, studying for the ministry; the fourth, Mr. William Heather, is associated with Mr. Thomas Macky in the management of the Northern Insurance Company; the fifth, Mr. Vincent Heather, was recommended by the Government for a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, and is now (1901) in England; and the youngest, Mr. Clande Heather, has charge of Heather, Roberton and Co.'s shipping department.

Mr. A. Heather.

Mr. A. Heather.