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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Printers, Stationers, Paper Merchants, Etc

page 403

Printers, Stationers, Paper Merchants, Etc.

Including—Account Book Makers; Bookbinders, Booksellers and News Agents; Engravers, Paper Makers, Dealers and Merchants, Publishers, Stationers, Etc.

Abel Dykes, Ltd., Indenters, Importers, Printers, Engravers, Manufacturing and Wholesale Stationers, Bookbinders, Etc., Shortland Street, Auckland. Telephone 572. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business was established in 1887 by Mr. Abel, who was joined by Mr. Dykes about four years later. From a small beginning, a really fine business has been worked up. The firm has a wide reputation for high-class and commercial printing, and for the manufacture of account books. Its wholesale stationery trade extends throughout New Zealand and the islands of the South Pacific. The type, machinery, and plant are of an up-to-date character, and constantly being added to. A large assortment of plain and fancy stationery is kept in stock. At the beginning of the year 1901 the firm was transformed into a limited liability company, of which Messrs Abel and Dykes are the managing directors, with Mr. F. Rotherham in charge of the printing department. Under the guidance of its present directors and staff every success is anticipated for the company. Nearly forty hands are now employed, and there is no doubt that the popularity of the firm with its employees and the public generally is an important factor in its rapid rise. The esteem in which the company is held by British, Continental, and American exporters, enables it to buy in the best markets and on the most advantageous terms.

Account Books Manufactured By Messrs Abel, Dykes, Ltd.

Account Books Manufactured By Messrs Abel, Dykes, Ltd.

Mr. R. S. Abel, the Founder of the firm of Abel Dykes, Limited, was eight years with Mudie's Select Library, Limited, of Oxford Street, London, where his father has been manager for over thirty years. Soon after coming to New Zealand in 1882, Mr. Abel secured an appointment with Messrs Champ-taloup and Cooper, well-known stationers, of Queen Street, Auckland, with whom he remained for three years, when he left to establish the present business.

Mr. R. S. Abel.

Mr. R. S. Abel.

Mr. J. Dykes learned his trade with the firm of Messrs Waterlow and Son, London, and when, in 1885, Messrs Wilson and Horton, the proprietors of the “New Zealand Herald,” sent home for a manager for their bookbinding department, Mr. Dykes was selected for the post. After remaining for six years in the position he left to join Mr. Abel.

Brown And Stewart (T. G. Brown and Robert Leslie Stewart), Wholesale Manufacturing Stationers and Paper Merchants, Gore Street, Auckland. P.O. Box, 411. Telephone, 593. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business was established in 1895 by Messrs Brown and Stewart to fill what they, as experienced stationers, considered to be a page 404 want in the growing trade of New Zealand, and the success their efforts have met with has justified their anticipations. The firm imports largely from America and Europe, news and all kinds of printing paper, and also all descriptions of writing paper in the flat, thus saving the duty. These they rule, and cut and pack into five quire packets ready for the retail stationery trade. They make a specialty of manufacturing account books, in the hundred and one varieties required by the trade, from bakers' “penny memo.” up to the pretentions Russian bound “Imperial.” School exercises are also turned out in large quantities. For the purpose of these lines of their trade the firm has lately erected on a spacious flat some very fine ruling and other machinery, which enables them to more than compete in finish and price, with the imported article. Though the firm is yet young, the experience, skill and energy concentrated in the business have already made it an important factor in the trade.

Mr. Brown was born and educated in Scotland, but received his business training in London, under Mr. J. Walker, head of the well-known firm of Messrs J. Walker and Co., of Warwick Lane, one of the most able of the many able men, connected with the manufacture of modern stationery. On coming to New Zealand in 1885, Mr. Brown joined the firm of Messrs Collins Bros. and Co., and was for eleven years their travelling representative.

Mr. T. G. Brown.

Mr. T. G. Brown.

Mr. Stewart is a native of Auckland and learned his trade with the local branch of Messrs Collins Bros. and Co., in whose service he remained until he joined Mr. Brown in the present business.

Hanna, photo. Mr. R. L. Stewart.

Hanna, photo. Mr. R. L. Stewart.

Collins, William, Sons and Co., Ltd., Printers, Publishers, etc., Glasgow; Collins Bros., Ltd., Sydney and Auckland. This is the largest stationery and publishing firm in the world, and its history is exceedingly interesting. In the early years of this century a wave of commercial energy swept over the whole of Scotland, and, centring its force in Glasgow, gave rise to a series of manufacturing and trading enterprises which have since become the admiration of the commercial world, and justified that city's claim to be the commercial metropolis of North Britain. It may be assumed that the far-seeing Scot, watching the Clyde flowing smoothly to the ocean, conceived that the whole world lay within its legitimate sphere of commercial activity, and thereupon determined that, in return for his skill and energy, that world should yield to Scotland some of the untold wealth of which all men were then dreaming. The array of masts and funnels now riding on the Clyde testifies to the success which has crowned his efforts. One of the men of those days was Mr. William Collins, a printer, whose name the largest stationery and publishing firm in the world is still proud to place at its head. To write the history of this business, from Mr. William Collins's modest start, with its wonderful growth until it was floated as a company under the style of William Collins, Sons, and Company, Limited, having branches in almost every centre of population where the English language is spoken, would, in a measure, be to write the social and industrial history of Glasgow. The business was started in 1819, and in those old days trade was hampered by many unwise restrictions and monopolies, amongst which was a monopoly of publishing the Bible; but in 1839 this was withdrawn, and the firm at once entered largely into printing the Scriptures, bringing out a great variety of different styles, both of binding and type, and at such reduced prices that the sale became enormous. Although millions have since been spent in the gratuitous circulation of the Bible, possibly no combination of philanthropists has done more to bring about the desired result than this firm, instigated principally by commercial motives; which shows that well directed commercial enterprise often results in more real benefit to humanity than efforts prompted by the purest philanthropy. Another important advance was made when the firm began to print and publish dictionaries, atlases, and a series of well-written school books; which have from time to time been revised and kept in every sense up to date, so that they have continued to hold a foremost position amongst this class of publications. About fifty years ago the firm decided to add a still more important branch, namely, manufactured stationery, to its growing trade. From that time the business advanced by leaps and bounds, and every advance has been held, until at present there is scarcely a commercial stationer in Great Britain or the Colonies that does not stock Collins's manufactured stationery, from the finest Russia imperial ledgers down to the grocer's
William Collins, Sons & Co., Ltd., Herriot Hill Works, Glasgow.

William Collins, Sons & Co., Ltd., Herriot Hill Works, Glasgow.

page 405 modest “penny memo.” A later development, rendered necessary by the growing requirements of commerce and luxury, has been the diary. This line of manufactured stationery
Mr. Grigsby.

Mr. Grigsby.

has assumed enormous proportions, and Messrs Collins's two series of English and Colonial editions run into endless variety—from the smallest and most elegant volume for a lady's pocket to the large every-day article in use in every business house. This perfection in the production of the thousands of articles comprised in the term “Manufactured stationery” has not been brought about without the firm making a careful study of, and adopting every fresh improvement in machinery, as it has from time to time been brought to the notice of the trade. In this matter the company has had special advantages, from the fact that its present managing director, Mr. William Collins, has been a machinist of the first rank, and as far back as 1868 invented the automatic gumming and folding envelope machines. The company's magnificent Herriot Hill works at Glasgow constitute a typical factory, where the most delicate appliances, producing the most marvellous results, are in use, and the thoughtful observer realises the source whence springs Britain's commercial greatness. Then the workers form a community of themselves, with their dining rooms, reading rooms, billiard rooms and library; their sick nursing ambulance, music classes and concert rooms; in fact, everything required for their comfort, and likely to tend to their intellectual and physical advancement. In managing its colonial trade, the firm has always adopted wise and conciliatory methods, and in many respects its policy bears a striking resemblance to the later system used by Great Britain in governing her Colonial possessions. Having selected tried and able men to establish and work Colonial branches, the management not only encourages them to assume the responsibility of the position, but requires known as the Remuera Rifles. It was in the them to do so. So far from trying to monopolise the manufacture of goods in Glasgow, each branch is encouraged to start local factories or the production of goods specially required in its markets, and which circumstances permit of being produced at reasonable prices. By this means considerable labour is employed and money circulated in the district where the local branch does its trade; and as Messrs Collins Bros. are thus local producers, and become important factors in the growth of New Zealand industries, they deserve the best consideration of the Government and the good wishes of the Colony. Some years back the Auckland factory started with making school exercise books and the smaller kinds of account books, etc. At the present time the factory—equipped with the latest machinery, and manned by skilled workmen—is in a position to turn out all kinds of account books and manufactured stationery, not only at prices to compete with the parent factory, but with a completeness of finish and style to satisfy all the demands of the trade. Every circumstance points, therefore, to Messrs Collins Bros. becoming as historical in the Colonial commercial world as Messrs William Collins, Sons, and Company, Ltd., have in the Old Country, and to their enjoying corresponding confidence and respect.

Field, J.H., Printer and Paper-bag Maker, Albert Street, Auckland. This business was established over thirty years ago by the father of the present proprietor, Mr. J. H. Field, senior, under whose management a number of papers and periodicals were printed, including the “Volunteer Gazette,” “Auckland Free Lance, “New Zealand Labour,” and “New Zealand Lantern.” A good deal of Government work has been done by the firm, and in one instance of alleged breach of contract on the part of the Government, Mr. Field placed his case repeatedly before the Public Petitions Committee, which, on five different occasions, recommended the Government to pay compensation, but without avail. The late Mr. Field was very well known in Auckland, and filled several positions of importance. His death occurred on the 5th of July, 1896. The present proprietor, Mr. John Henry Field, was born in 1862, at Northampton, England, and five years later came to the Colony with his parents by the ship “Siam.” He was educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School. Mr. Field learned his trade under his father, and has been connected with the business in various capacities for more than twenty years. He recently spent a considerable amount of money in obtaining improved appliances for his business, and purchased an excellent site in Albert Street, opposite his original premises. A new printing office was erected by him, and it is noteworthy for the completeness of its equipment as a business establishment. In 1885, Mr. Field married a daughter of the late Mr. Robert Ford, one of Auckland's early colonists.

Given, Andrew, and Co., Wholesale Paper Merchants, 22 Wyndham Street, Auckland. Head Office, Manse Street, Dunedin. The Auckland branch of this firm was opened in Ford Street in 1893, but owing to the rapid increase of its business it was soon found that larger premises were necessary, and the firm took possession of the premises in which its business is at present carried on. In addition to the commodious warehouse in Wyndham Street, the firm has also a bulk store in Albert Street.

Mr. D. S. Cattanach, Manager for Messrs Andrew Given and Co., was born and educated in Scotland, and from his earliest youth was associated with the firm of Messrs Collins Bros. and Co., Limited, wholesale stationers, Glasgow. He remained in this firm's Glasgow house until 1880, when he was appointed head of the business in New Zealand. Mr. Cattanach was appointed to his present position in 1899.

Graham, Arthur, Bookseller and Stationer, Karangahape Road, Auckland. Mr. Graham was born in Westmoreland, England, in 1851, and accompanied his parents to Auckland at an early age; his father, the late Mr. John Graham, was for many years relieving-officer in Auckland. The subject under notice inherited his military tastes from his father, who was engaged during the Maori war with an old ride corps known as the Remuera Rifles. In the year 1893 Mr. Graham was offered and accepted the position of Captain of the Ponsonby Artillery, and he held it for several years. He has been closely connected with Volunteer movements for a number of years, and in shooting and rowing has always taken a keen interest.

Leighton, J. F. And Son (James Francis Leighton, and Frank W. Leighton), Account Book Manufacturers, Paper Rulers, Bookbinders, Manufacturing and Commercial Stationers, Importers, etc., 6 and 8, High Street, Auckland. Telephone, 691. Bankers, page 406 Bank of New Zealand. This well-known buisness was founded by Mr. J. F. Leighton, the senior partner, in 1855, and from that day to the present time has been the leading bookbindery establishment in the Province of Auckland.

Mr. James Francis Leighton was born in the parish of Clerkenwell, London, on the 19th of April, 1830, and was educated at a private school. At the age of ten years he entered the employment of the well-known firm, Messrs Eyre and Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen, and during the succeeding four years acquired some experience of the business he was destined to follow. He was afterwards apprenticed to his cousins, then trading under the title of Messrs Leighton and Son, bookbinders, of the Strand, London, but now well-known as partners in the firm of Messrs Leighton, Son and Hodge, of Shoe Lane, Fleet Street. Here he was thoroughly taught every branch of the bookbinding trade, the usual rule of keeping apprentices to one branch only being departed from in his favour. On emerging from his apprenticeship in 1851, Mr. Leighton was engaged by Messrs Samuel Bagster and Son of “Polyglot Bible” fame, and when with that firm, he was occupied in the binding of special editions of the Bible for the Royal Courts of Europe. Subsequently, when in the employment of Messrs Eeles and Sons, of Chancery Lane, he was engaged on the first issue of Dickens' works. Mr. Leighton left London in 1853, by the ship “Investigator,” and arrived in Sydney in August of that year. He was immediately engaged by the Church Press Office to inaugurate a bindery department, and remained in that position till 1855, but despite excellent inducements to stay longer, he found it necessary to seek a cooler climate, and acceded to the wishes of the proprietors of the Auckland “Southern Cross” by entering into a contract for the execution of their binding. Mr. Leighton arrived in Auckland by the “William Denny,” on the 10th of May, 1855, and began business in Shortland Street. It was afterwards that he secured his present premises in High Street. While Auckland remained the capital, Mr. Leighton was bookbinder for the Government, and also held the contract for the supply of stationery, etc., to the Imperial troops, during the Maori war. This latter fact, however, did not prevent him from occasionally serving his country as a volunteer in the days of the trouble. On the removal of the Government to Wellington, Mr. Leighton was urged to follow, but for domestic and other reasons he decided to remain in Auckland. Although a prominent and worthy citizen, Mr. Leighton has abstained from active participation in public affairs. He is still in the enjoyment of excellent health, but lives very quitly and supervises the practical part of the business. It is worthy of note that Mr. Leighton was the first to introduce ruling machines into the colony more than thirty years ago.

Mr. Frank W. Leighton, the Junior Partner, is the eldest son of Mr. J. F. Leighton, and was born at Ponsonby, and educated at the Auckland College and Grammar School. He served a short term in his father's business, preparatory to entering upon a commercial life, and during a visit to England, he made the acquaintance of many of the leading manufacturers of stationery, thus forming a connection which has since proved exceedingly useful. On his way back, he remained in Sydney for about three years, and there gained very considerable commercial experience. He left Sydney for Auckland in October, 1894, by the “Wairarapa,” on what proved to be that vessel's final trip. It was his first return to New Zealand after an absence of nearly five years, and he was bringing home souvenirs of the many countries which he had visited and these were subsequently all lost in the wreck. Mr. Leighton was one of those who escaped death on that occasion. He revisited Sydney for a short time, but returned to New Zealand towards the end of 1895, and joined his father as manager of the commercial part of the business.

Spencer, Albert, Printer, Bookbinder, Paper Ruler, etc., the Caxton Printing Office, Swanson Street, Auckland. This business was established in 1890 by Messrs A. Spencer, Probert and Co., but in 1895 the senior partner bought out Mr. Probert and became sole proprietor. The type and appliances are up-to-date and the quality of work executed is most excellent. Mr. Spencer's present premises in Swanson Street, a few doors from Queen Street, have been erected by him on his own freehold property Mr. Spencer was born in Auckland in 1866, and his father, Mr. Thomas Spencer, once a well known chemist at the Thames, was drowned at the wreck of the s.s. “Wairarapa,” on the 28th of October, 1894.

Mr. A. Spencer's Premises.

Mr. A. Spencer's Premises.

Spencer, P. and Co., Wholesale Stationers, Printers, Rubber Stamp Makers, Bookbinders, Paper Rulers, Stereotypers, and Process Block Manufacturers, Swanson Street, Auckland. This firm was established in 1881, and is well-known in connection with the stationery and allied trades. The warehouse, situated in Swanson Street, comprises three stories and a cellar, and was built specially with a view to the requirements of the trade. These newly-built premises were taken over page 407 by the firm on the 1st of July, 1901, and since then the business has been carried on at them. The firm does a large trade in picture almanacs, and its operations cover the whole of the North Island. Messrs Spencer and Co. are also agents for reliable fireproof safes, cheap, and of good quality.

Wildman And Lyell, Booksellers, Stationers, Etc., Victoria Arcade, Auckland. This business was founded in 1886, on the completion of the Arcade, by the late Mr. W. Wildman, who secured the lease of the corner. At a later period, Mr. Alfred Kidd joined the firm, but in 1989 withdrew from the partnership. In 1890 the name was changed to Wildman and Lyell, by the addition of Mr. W. S. Lyell to the proprietary; and prior to the death of Mr. Wildman, whose health broke down at this time, Mr. J. A. Lyell, a brother of the original partner, and also Mr. W. E. Arey, who is now the sole manager, were taken into partnership. The business since its inauguration has grown by leaps and bounds, and at the present time it is one of the most important booksellers' and stationers' shops in Auckland. Messrs Wildman and Lyell always keep a first-rate assortment of the popular Colonial library, published in England. New Zealander, instead of having to pay about 6s a copy for a book, written by a leading author of the day, as they would have to if they were in England, are able, through the establishment of this library, to buy the work for 3s 6d, cloth bound, and 2s 6d, paper bound. Messrs Wildman and Lyell have a reputation for being the first to receive from England the very latest publications.

Black and white printer's ornament

Mr. George Hescott, Publisher and Proprietor of the East Coast and Hawkes Bay Directory, was born in London in 1852, was educated at Chignell House School, Ealing, Middlesex, at Finchley Collegiate School, near Barnet, and at Dr. White's, Chiswick College, between Turnham Green and Kew. He came out to New Zealand in 1870, and a year later joined the “Coromandel Mail” until 1875, when the paper ceased publication. He was next appointed shipping reporter on the “Wellington Times.” After this he entered the service of the National Bank and was transferred from Wellington to the Milton (Tokomairiro) branch, where he remained until the closing of that agency. He then joined the Colonail Bank, and was acting accountant and subagent at Outram for nearly four years, when the directors decided to close the branch. Since 1881. Mr. Heseott has been engaged as an insurance, commission, land, press, and patent agent, a sharebroker, and as a compiler for the Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Mr. Hescott was initiated into the Masonic order in Lodge Otago, 844, E.C., Dunedin, in 1881, and represented the “New Zealand Craftsman” for about fifteen mouths, during which period he visited nearly every lodge in the Colony, and considerably Increased the circulation of the journal, besides smoething away the asperities created by the New Zealand Grand Lodge movement. Possessed of decided musical taste, he is a member of the Auckland Choral Society and St. Paul's choir, is an ex-member of the Auckland Operatic Club, and frequently sings in public, having a good tenor voice. He also was treasurer of the old Societe Literaire Franciase, which fourished in Auckland some years ago. Mr. Hescott is an old Volunteer, having been a member successively of No. 6 Rifles, Auckland, Thames Engineers, Auckland Cavalry, A Battery of Artillery, and Invercargill Artillery. He also was honorary secretary and treasurer of the Invercargill Garrison Band, which was and is still one of the best bands in New Zealand.

Mr. G. Hescott.

Mr. G. Hescott.