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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Clark, Archibald And Sons. Ltd.

Clark, Archibald And Sons. Ltd., Warehousemen and Manufacturers, Shortland Street, Auckland. Directors; Messrs A. Clark, M. A. Clark, C. C. McMillan. A. M. Clark, and H. C. Clark; secretary, Mr. W. J. Rees. Branches at Wellington, Wanganui, Napier, and Gisborne. London offices: 7 Edmund Place, Aldersgate Street, E.C. This is one of the oldest firms in the Colony, and was founded by the late Mr. Archibald Clark on the 1st of January, 1850. A successful business man in his native town, Beith, Scotland, but fully realising the possibilities before the comparatively young colonies of Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Clark determined to emigrate, and was induced to come to New Zealand by Mr. Commons, a resident of Auckland, then on a visit to his native land, and who described in glowing language the climate, soil, and great prospects of his adopted country. After his arrival in New Zealand Mr. Clark took a great interest in all public affairs, was a member of the ola Provincial Council, and was several times elected to the House of Representatives. On taking his son, Mr. J. McCosh Clark, into partnership, the firm became Archibald Clark and Son, which again was altered to Archibald Clark and Sons when his son-in-law, Mr. J. Y. Stevenson, was admitted a partner. Subsequently Mr. Archibald Clark, junior, and Mr. M. A. Clark, became partners, and they are now the managing directors of the company, into which the business was converted on the death of Mr. J. M. Clark in 1898; Mr. Archibald Clark having died in 1875, and Mr. Stevenson in 1878. The company is a private one, there being no share-holders except the members of the family. In addition to its warehouse business, the company is a very large manufacturer of clothing and shirts, its trade marks being the “Chief Brand” in clothing, and “Zealandia” in shirts. It has just completed the erection of a large new factory at Grey Lynn, Auckland, for the manufacture of every description of shirts and collars. This building is 220 feet in length and 75 feet in width, and is capable of accommodating about 500 hands. The dining rooms, cloak rooms, etc., are all on the basement, which also contains the engines, shafting, etc. Archibald Clark and Sons, Ltd., is the first firm in the Colony to take up the manufacture of white shirts and collars on a wholesale scale, and its success is shown by the number of gold medals taken at the various Colonial Exhibitions and by the constantly expanding trade.