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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Doonin, Thomas William

Doonin, Thomas William, Grocer and Tea Merchant, Hobson Street, Auckland. Mr. Doonin may be looked upon as one of Auckland's representative business men, as he has been engaged in trade in the city for about forty-two years. He was born in the North of Ireland in the year 1829, and educated and brought up to business in that country. In 1849 he came to New Zealand, and after some business experience, he served through the Waikato war with the rank of Garrison Quartermaster and Acting Paymaster to the Auckland militia. In 1856 he established himself in business in Queen Street, but after a while removed to Hobson Street, page 409 where he remained till 1861. In that year he purchased a block of land at the corner of Victoria and Hobson Street, where he erected a commodious two storey building. Five years later, however, he sold that property and purchased the land on which his present premises are built. After the second Maori war was over he purchased another building in Queen Street, where he did a large wholesale and retail trade. In 1870 he disposed of the Queen Street property and afterwards purchased a brick building in Karangahape Road and conducted a large cash business till 1891, when he disposed of his brick store and resolved to content himself with the connection obtained in his Hobson Street shop. Since 1887 Mr. Doonin has conducted a purely retail trade. In common with all classes of the community, Mr. Doonin made heavy losses during the years of depression in Auckland, and also by the failure of the Bank of Auckland in 1865, but he has always been able to keep faith with all his business engagements; which is an honourable record for a man who has experienced the vicissitudes of over forty years of business in a new country. Mr. Doonin has always taken a prominent part in church matters, and has held office as vestryman of St. Matthew's Church for over forty years. He is a trustee of the Auckland Orphan Home, and has the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends who recognise him as a colonist of sterling worth.