Mr. Alfred Tyree, the enterprising proprietor, is the patentee of a very convenient pair of plyers, known as “The Patent Lasting Plyers,” which has been patented throughout the world. This very useful tool has already received considerable attention not only in the Colony, but from a prominent firm of Sheffield manufactured, besides American and Continental makers, who state that the essence of the improvement is a most valuable one. namely, a convenient and ready method of obtaining leverage, and it is anticipated, that a very large sale is in store for the invention. Mr. Tyree is a native of Kent, England, where he was born in 1836. Educated at public schools and brought up to mercantile life, he came to Dunedin in 1871 per ship “Otago.” After several years' experience in the boot trade in Dunedin, he removed to Christchurch in 1883, having accepted the position of manager of Messrs Heymanson, Low and Co.'s boot factory. In 1886, Mr. Tyree was appointed attorney in Christchurch for the late Mr. Gavin Gibson and after that gentleman's death, in June, 1888, became managing partner of the firm of Gavin Gibson and Co. There are few men in the trade who have a better knowledge of business generally than Mr. Tyree, who is always on the alert for a profitable investment for his surplus capital. An instance of his enterprise occurred in May, 1894, when he purchased page 323 for prompt cash the whole of the drapery stock of Messrs. Edwards, Bennett and Co., in Christchurch, including dress goods, blankets, sheeting, flannels, flannelettes, linens, hosiery, haberdashery, tweeds, and ladies' underwear. After completing the purchase, Mr. Tyree closed his warchouse for the purpose of arranging a gigantic sale, and such was the success of this venture, that at the monster clearing sale, the whole of the stock was sold, the sales on the first day reaching the large sum of £26,000. Mr. Tyree is chairman of the Excelsior Boot Manufacturing Company, and of the Canterbury Acetylene Gas Company, and is a director of several other local companies. He served for three years as a member of the St. Albans Borough Council, and has long been a member of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, and has served for some time on the committee of that body. Mr. Tyree was married in 1886 to a daughter of Mr. J. T. Norman, now of Auckland, and has two sons and one daughter.