Allan And Le Cren (Andrew Allan and Ernest Alfred Le Cren), General Commission and Insurance Agents, The Arcade, Timaru. This business was founded in 1892, by the senior partner, who was joined by Mr. Le Cren in August, 1902. The firm is agent for the Victoria Insurance Company and the National Mutual Life Association. It conducts a general commission and financial agency, and undertakes the sale of property and estates.

Mr. Andrew Allan, founder of the firm of Allan and Le Cren, was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1857. After finishing his education, he joined the Bank of Scotland, and came out to Melbourne in 1882. He served in the Union Bank of Australia in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Mr. Allan removed to Timaru in 1887, and five years later established his business. In 1883 he married a daughter of Mr. Robert Lyall, of Berwick, Scotland, and has two daughters and one son.

Mr. E. A. Le Cren, of the firm of Allan and Le Cren, was born in Timaru, in 1868. After attending school, he went through a two years' course of training at the Lincoln Agricultural College. For a year afterwards he was on a station in the Mackenzie Country. Mr. Le Cren then became one of the staff of the National Bank at Timaru, and served there, and at Christchurch, for a period of sixteen years. In 1897, he married a daughter of Mr. E. G. Kerr, proprietor of the “Timaru Herald,” and has one son and one daughter.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. E. A. Le Cren.

Burnley And Manhire (W. F. Burnley and Alfred Manhire), Insurance Agents, 129 Stafford Street, Timaru. This firm was constituted in 1901. It has the South Canterbury canvassing agency for the National Mutual Life Association.

Timaru Harbour: 1898.

Mr. William Frederick Burnley, the Senior Partner, is a son of Mr. W. F. Burnley, an old West Indian plantation owner, now residing in Edinburgh, where Mr. Burnley was born in 1860. Mr. Burnley, junior, was educated at Harrow, and intended for the Army, but, preferring a colonial life, he came out to Port Chalmers in the ship “Westland,” in 1879. He lived as a cadet on the Blackmount station, Southland, for two years, and for another year page 994 on the Manapouri station, and for the privilege of working as a farmer he paid an annual premium of £100. In 1882, in partnership with Mr. Brown, he bought the Hafton Estate, Otaio, comprising 1242 acres. The land then was all in its native state, but it was afterwards cultivated with good results, wheat generally averaging twenty-five bushels to the acre, and oats sometimes sixty-three bushels per acre. The partnership was dissolved in 1891, when Mr. Burnley took over the whole estate, which he sold, in 1899, to Mr. E. Chapman, who, in his turn, sold it to the Government in 1901, and it has since been disposed of as a special settlement under the name of Eccleston. Mr. Burnley married Miss Jones, daughter of Mr. John Jones, of Dunedin, in 1887, and they have one son. He has taken no active part in public affairs, as his time has been fully occupied in looking after his business.

Bowker, Charles, Licensed Land Broker and Financial Agent, Timaru. Mr. Bowker is one of the earliest settlers of Timaru. He is a native of Huntingdonshire, England, where he was born in 1842, was educated at Peterborough, Northamptonshire, served his apprenticeship to the drapery business at Hertford, and was afterwards employed in a similar occupation in King William Street and Pimlico, London. In 1863 he came by the ship “Zealandia” to Lyttelton, and was for a time employed at Dunstable House, Christchurch, then being transferred from Mr. David Clarkson to Mr. William Pratt. After an experience in mining, Mr. Bowker removed to Timaru in 1865, and managed the drapery branch of Messrs. Clarkson and Turnbull's large business for two years. Having erected premises on a section of land he had purchased on his arrival, he commenced business on his own account. He subsequently erected the block of buildings now occupied by himself, Messrs. Ballantyne and Co., Mr. T. Wagstaff, and Mr. W. Miller. Mr. Bowker acts as attorney for absentees, and has a business, which is conducted by a manager, under his own supervision. Keenly interested in the welfare of Timaru, he has identified himself with the milling industry. His residence, “The Pines,” College Road, Timaru, is a charming house, with twenty-five acres of land attached. Mr. Bowker also owns a farm at the Hook, and interests himself in its general cultivation.

Mr. C. Bowker's Residence.

Bowker, George, Land, Estate and Commission Agent, Timaru. This business was established in the year 1876 by Mr. Charles Bowker, father of the present pro prietor, and has for the last twenty-five years been recognised as the leading land and estate business in Timaru. Mr. Bowker acts as chief agent in South Canterbury for the North Queensland Insurance Company, Limited (Fire and Marine), and undertakes, on account of clients, the purchase and sale of property and any agency business.

Gray, Melville, Estate Agent, Accountant and Auditor, Church Street, Timaru. Mr. Gray was born at Bowerswell, Perth, Scotland, in 1847, educated at Harrow, and came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Celaeno,” in 1866. After gaining some experience of station life at the Land Company's Pareora station, he obtained the management of Otipua station, which he held for three years before purchasing, in 1872, a share in Ashwick station, where he resided and managed till he sold out in 1886. He then visited the Old Country before beginning his present business in 1887. Mr. Gray was one of the founders of, and for some years a successful competitor at, the meetings of the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. He has exhibited with, and been a member of, the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association and has served on the Mount Cook Road Board, the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, and the South Canterbury Board of Education.

Guinness And Le Cren, Limited (E. R. Guinness, Managing Director), Auctioneers, Stock and Station Agents, Strathallan Street, Timaru. This firm dates from 1890, and the company was incorporated in 1901. The premises consist of a two-storey brick building, with offices and stores, and there is an extensive seed-dressing plant driven by water power. The Company carries on business as merchants and importers and exporters. Periodical auction sales are held in various parts of the district almost daily, Mr. Guinness acting as auctioneer.

Jackson, James Edward Stokes, Accountant, Auditor, Customhouse, Insurance and General Agent, Cain's Terrace, Timaru. Mr. Jackson was born in 1857, in Victoria, and was educated principally in Christchurch, having come to New Zealand when a child. He joined the late firm of Miles and Co. and continued in the service of the firm till its dissolution in 1895, when he founded his present business. He acts as agent for the Imperial Fire Insurance Company, and for Mr. Hughes' Patent Office. Mr. Jackson was one of the original members of the Timaru Artillery Volunteer Cadet Corps, whose services were accepted in 1871, and commanded the corps for some years. On its disbandment in 1881 he joined the C Battery, New Zealand Artillery. He was successively sergeant-major, lieutenant and captain, and commanded the battery for ten years until it was converted into a rifle company in 1897, when he was placed, at his own request, on the unattached list with the rank of captain.

Orwin, Reuben, General Commission Agent, The Arcade, Timaru. This business was established in 1882. Mr. Orwin is district agent for the Australian Alliance Fire Insurance Company, and local agent for the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company. He is secretary and treasurer to the South Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and is further referred to in that connection.

Raymond, Frank Archdall, Accountant and Insurance Agent, Stafford Street, Timaru. Mr. Raymond is referred to in another article as Captain of the Timaru Port Guards.

Rutland, John Bishop, Auctioneer and Grain Merchant, Beswick Street, Timaru. This business was established in 1892, and has offices and auction rooms in Beswick Street, where weekly sales are held. Monthly sales are held at Fairlie, and casual sales as may be required. Mr. Rutland was born at Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, in 1850, and was brought by his parents to Lyttelton in the ship “Isabella Hercus” in the following year. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and was brought up to mercantile life in that city. For seventeen years he was with Mr. C. W. Turner, and in 1886 was appointed manager of the Timaru Milling Company's mill. A few years later, Mr. Rutland resigned his position, and commenced business on his own account. He acts as page 995 agent in South Canterbury for several Dunedin firms, and is a large shipper of grain and produce to the Australian colonies. Mr. Rutland is interested in sporting, and is a member of the local Jockey Club.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. J. B. Rutland.

Wood, Gordon Parker, Commission Agent, Stafford Street, Timaru. This well-known, flourishing business was established by Mr. Wood on his severing his connection with Messrs. Gracie, Maclean and Co., of Timaru, in 1892. He is district agent for the great firm of Messrs. Massey-Harris and Co., implement-makers and bicycle manufacturers, of Toronto, Canada. Mr. Wood holds a number of public positions, and is referred to elsewhere as secretary of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Mr. Alfred Edwards Saunders was born at Nelson, his father being Mr. Alfred Saunders, whose name has figured prominently in the politics of New Zealand. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and entered a mercantile office, in which he remained for five years, afterwards entering into farming pursuits in Canterbury for upwards of ten years. On the formation of the Levels County Council, he was appointed clerk, treasurer and collector, and held the position for many years. Mr. Saunders is married, and has two children.

Mr. A. E. Saunders.