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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Mr. James Lamb

Mr. James Lamb, Founder of the firm, was born at Sherborne, England, in 1822. At the age of thirteen he joined a man-of-war training ship, and remained in the service for thirteen years. In 1848 he arrived in Australia, and for three years followed the alluring pursuit of gold digging with great success. Being desirous of seeing New Zealand, he visited Auckland in 1851, but not finding a suitable opening for his enterprise, he returned after three years to Australia, and went to the Turon diggings, where he engaged in successful gold speculations. On the breaking-out of the Thames goldfields he returned to Auckland, and remained on the Thames till 1868, and engaged in speculating and investing with his usual success. In that year he returned to Auckland and began to trade as a grain and corn merchant. This business he conducted until 1872, when, owing to the disastrous explosion of a boiler on his premises, several persons were injured, and Mr. Lamb was drawn into the vortex of the law with the result that he was mulcted in heavy damages; in consequence he was compelled to dispose of his business. He came to Christchurch in 1873 and two years later started the present business, which his enterprise soon made one of the fargest undertaking establishments in the colony. Mr Lamb was a very prominent Freemason previous to his arrival in Christchurch, and his devotion to the cause of temperance was well known in New Zealand; indeed, the last five years of his life were devoted by him to lecturing on and advocating the cause. He built the Blue Ribbon Mission Hall in Christchurch, and lectured in it for many years. After a long and useful life he died on the 22nd of September, 1897, leaving a family of six sons, all carrying on prosperous businesses, and five married daughters.

The Late Mr. J. Lamb.

The Late Mr. J. Lamb.