Baker And Morris , Clothing Manufacturers, 9 Dowling Street, Dunedin. This business was established in 1897, on the first floor of a three storey brick building fronting Stafford Street, the total floorage space available being over 3000 square feet. Although the business is still young, many sewing machines are already in use, and about eighty persons are employed in the several departments of the factory, including cutting and finishing. The business, which is on strictly a wholesale basis, has already shown great expansion. Every description of garment is made to measure as required by the trade, and Messrs Baker and Morris have received every encouragement, their staff being fully employed, and overtime being frequently worked to cope with the pressure of business. Mr. Morris, who founded the business, is a son of the late Mr. M. Morris, of the firm of Morris and Seelye. He was born in 1874 in Dunedin, and was educated in that city.

Brown, Ewing and Co. (Thomas Brown), Importers of Drapery, etc., Tailors, Clothiers, Milliners, and Dressmakers, corner of Princes and Manse Streets, Dunedin; Bankers, Bank of New Zealand; Private residence, Broomland, Montecillo; London house, 95 Finsbury Pavement, E.C. Within twelve months after the first contingent of the Otago settlers landed in Dunedin, a small wooden building was crected on a hill near the corner of Princes and Manse streets. The premises, which were approached by a number of steps, were opened early in 1849, as a draper's shop, by Mrs. Bain, a widow. This enterprising lady was rewarded for her plucky attempt to establish the soft goods trade in this part of the Colony, by securing the support of the early settlers, and met with great success. Mr. J. Patterson (afterwards a member of several New Zealand Governments), who had a business not for away from this drapery establishment, subsequently entered into a matrimonial alliance with the widow, and the business changed hands. Messrs. Begg, Christie and Co. were afterwards the proprietors, and they likewise met with a considerable amount of success, the business being in consequence largely extended. Mr. John Ross became interested in the firm, and on the retirement of the two senior partners, was joined by Mr. Robert Glendining in 1862, under the style of Ross and Glendining, and for about three years this well known firm conducted a highly satisfactory business. Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. purchased the business from them in 1869, and since that year they have conducted a steadily developing trade. At the time of their establishment the partners were Messrs. Ralph Ewing, John Glendining, and Thomas Brown. Mr. Glendining, who retired from the firm many years ago, became a runholder in Hawke's Bay, and has since died, the business being conducted by Messrs. Ewing and Brown until 1893, when Mr. Brown became sole proprietor. The old wooden building, in which the business was conducted when Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. became purchasers, was removed, the firm having acquired the freehold of the land on which it stood, and it was replaced by a handsome three storey brick building with basement, which was finished in 1874. At the time when this structure was erected it was one of the finest and most complete business premises in Dunedin. Meanwhile, the volume of trade transacted by the firm had enormously increased, and the premises soon became too small; a site was therefore secured in Manse street, where a handsome three storey brick building with basement was erected to afford increased accommodation. A portion of this building is still used by Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. as a bulk store. In 1896, to provide still further accommodation for the growing business, two large shops, being portion of Wain's Hotel, were added, and now Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. have probably the largest frontage to a main street of any retail drapery house in the Colony, their freehold being over 90 feet to Princes street and over 100 to Mause street, and the leasehold from 50 to 60 feet additional to Princes street. In the five shops on the ground floor are five lending departments; namely, bespoke tailoring, men's clothing and mercery, general drapery, Manchester and heavy goods, carpets and general house furnishing. The basement is utilised for general storage purposes. On the first floor, which is reached by a wide and handsome stairway, are spacious and elegantly furnished show-rooms, where the latest fashions in all styles of millinery, mantles, dresses, and ladies' undergarments are displayed, there being also private apartments for fitting where special experts are in attendance. The public and private offices of the firm are also located on this flat. The top floor is occupied by the several manufacturing departments. The number of employees, including clerks, book-keepers and shop assistants, is over two hundred. Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. have in the course of their career as a leading drapery house, succeeded in obtaining a very large collection. They have many regular customers in all parts of the Colony, hundreds of miles distant from Dunedin; but, notwithstanding this disadvantage, orders are regularly sent direct to the firm, whose methods of doing business are of the most satisfactory character. Complete and perfect arrangements have long page 302 existed in the very important matter of buying and importing. At the London house, 95 Finsbury Pavement, E.C., there is a competent stall of buyers in touch with the needs of the Colony, and the proprietor makes periodical trips to Great Britain in the interests of his large business, Generally, the establishment of Messrs. Brown, Ewing and Co. is up-to-date in every respect, a carefully selected stock valued at tens of thousands of pounds being thoroughly well maintained all the year round.

Darpery And General Importing Company Of New Zealand, Ltd. (D.I.C.) Directors: Messrs. B. Hallenstein (chairman), H. E. Hart, E. Hallenstein, and W.Fels. Head office, High and Rattray Streets, Dunedin. Mr. Percy L Hallenstein, manager; Mr. W. Bowden, secretary; Telephone 284; P.O. Box, 342; Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd. Branches: Cashel and Lichfield streets, Christchurch, Mr. E. C. Brown, manager, Mr. F. Aslin, secretary'; Panama and Brandon streets, Wellington, Mr. A. A. Corrigan, manager, Mr. J. Paul, secretary. London Office, 17 and 18 Basing-hall Street, E.C. Capital, £125,000 in 250,000 shares of ten shillings each, with power to increase to £250,000 in 500,000 shares. This extensive and successful company was founded by the present chairman, Mr. Ben-dix Hallenstein, in Dunedin, in 1884. The business was expanded by the establishment of the Christchurch branch in 1885, and subsequently by the Wellington branch in 1885. The head offices, principal warehouse and show-rooms of the D.I.O. in Dunedin are situated in large brick premises with floor space equal to an acre and a half, and having large frontages to High and Rattray Streets. The counting-house is entered from High page 303 Street, and the various departments on the ground floor include clothing, mercery, hats and caps, rugs and trunks, general Manchester, flannels and blankets, shirts, haberdashery and trimmings, gloves, ribbons, laces, carpets, floor-cloth and linoleums, house-furnishing, crockery, household ironmongery, furniture, bedsteads and bedding, pianos and organs. On the first floor are departments for coloured and black dress goods and prints, mantles, silks and umbrellas, corsets, ladies' underclothing and baby linen, millinery, fancy wools, fancy needle-work and fancy goods. The establishment also has a refreshment room, and ladies' dressing room, besides three large, beautifully fitted and well lighted rooms for dress and mantle fitting. On the top floor are the workrooms. A large number of hands are employed by the company. The latest addition to the D.I.C. Dunedin is a large three storey furniture warehouse, on the first floor on the Rattray Street side, the top floor of the building being used as polishing and finishing work-rooms. The entire basement is devoted to the storage of bulk goods and packing. Another development is a new department established at the Christchurch branch for the manufacture of bicycles, which is proving a great success. A London buyer of great experience selects stock if the latest, most up-to-date manufacture, and purchases direct from the manufacturers for prompt shipment to the Colony. The company conducts business on co-operative lines, and its operations are typical of colonial energy and commercial enterprise. Particulars of the Wellington branch appear on page 622 of the Wellington volume of the Cyclopedia, and a description of the Christchurch premises is given at page 301 of the volume for Canterbury.

Mr. John Duthie , Managing Director of the firm of Duthie Bros., Ltd., came to New Zealand by the ship “Jura,” in 1858, and for several years was in business in Palmerston and Tokomairiro. In 1897 he was created a Justice of the Peace, and for the past twenty years has faithfully discharged his duties as a member of several school committees, on which he has also served as chairman. As a Freemason Mr. Duthie is attached to Lodge St. Andrew, No. 432, Scottish Constitution.

Herbert, Haynes and Co. (Daniel Haynes), Drapers and Clothiers, 8, 10 and 12 Princes Street, and 29 Octagon, Dunedin. Telephone, 563; Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Smith Street. Branch, Tay Street, Invercargill. London house, Herbert Haynes and Co., Portland House, Basinghall Street, E.C. The large and important business conducted by Messrs. Herbert, Haynes and Co. was established in 1861 by Messrs. George Herbert, Daniel Haynes, and A. R. Hay, under the style of Herbert, Haynes and Hay. The junior partner retired from the firm about eighteen months after its inception, and Mr. Herbert continued in the partnership till 1872, since which Mr. Haynes page 304 has conducted the large and growing business as sole proprietor. The original wooden building at first occupied—(an illustration of which is given in the engraving)—covered but two thirds of the frontage on which the present imposing structure stands. Six years after the founding of the business, the premises were destroyed by fire and were replaced by a substantial brick building, which served as the head quarters of the firm till 1896. Before that time the needs of the business for greater accommodation had become more and more apparent. Mr. Haynes planned the greater number of the conveniences which have been embodied in the new premises, and had carefully thought out the design before deciding on the pulling down of the old building. Messrs. Mason and Wales, the well-known architects, were entrusted with the preparation of the plans and specifications for the new building, in conformity with the ideas of the proprietor. Full effect was given to Mr. Haynes' ideas for the accommodation of the various departments of the business, and for the comfort and convenience of the several staffs engaged in the numerous branches of this large establishment. The Princes Street frontage measures seventy-eight feet, and has four fine principals of Waikawa stone on which rest massive steel girders, supporting the superstructure, which consists of Oamaru stone. Four massive plate glass show windows each ten-feet deep face the street, and a splendid verandas extends along the entire front. Part of this valuable frontage was occupied by Messrs. Paterson and McLeod for many years, but as it formed a part of the leasehold property of the firm it was included in the space now utilised for the purposes of the business. Behind this lease-hold land, Messrs. Herbert, Haynes and Co. have a large freehold, which extends some distance back with frontage to the Octagon on one side and to Moray Place on the other. The major portion of this large section is now covered with buildings used by the firm as a furniture warehouse, and a very handsome three-storey building is now (1903) being erected at a cost of £6,000. The premises formerly in use were found unequal to the requirements of the firm's rapidly increasing furniture trade, and much more room was needed for the extensive additions made to the machinery for manufacturing. The business is divided into eleven departments for convenience of administration; namely, the Manchester, blankets and flannel; dress, carpet and floorcloth, mantle and costume, millinery, ribbon and gloves, hosiery and haberdashery, clothing, mercery, and ladies' underclothing departments. Each of these branches of this large business is managed by trained experts who also superintend the buying. The southern portion of the ground floor front is occupied by the mercery and clothing departments, the principal's private office being situated at the back. The general drapery and all the other departments, with the exception of the carpet and floorcloth department, have ample space on the main portion of the ground floor, which extends 120 feet back from Princes Street. Further behind are situated the carpet and floorcloth departments with a work-room adjoining where carpets are sewn by a most ingenious machine. Heavy floor-cloths encircle huge rollers of which there are two tiers of eight: each supplied with a handle by means of which any pattern can be unrolled and as easily put away after inspection. A large cellar, which runs under the basement of the entire establishment and has a concrete floor, is used for reserve stock: each department being kept quite separate, so that all confusion is avoided Many thousands of pounds worth of goods of all kinds are stored awaiting demand. Here also are the country orders, packing and parcel departments, and a back entrance, through which all cases of imported or local goods delivered to the house are received ready for opening. A good strong-room is situated in the cellar not for from the stair-case, which descends close to the offices of the firm. The offices are situated on the ground floor between the general drapery and clothing departments. A large heating boiler in the cellar furnishes hot water for equalizing the temperature of the shops and offices, while in the yard there is a specially constructed destructor, in which large quantities of rubbish are consumed. Ascending from the basement in an elegant lift by Way good and Co., specially fitted for the accommodation of lady customers, the fitting room of the dressmaking department on the first floor is reached. Two expert dressmakers—each having separate work-rooms, where a large number of girls find employment—are in attendance. From this flat there is a back entrance by way of the Octagon, which is used by the employees of the firm. Between the two large workrooms on this floor there is a very fine waiting—room for which is most elaborately furnished. The first and second floors of Messrs. Herbert, Haynes and Co.'s main building are heated by gas, as likewise the irons used in the tailoring department, on the upper storey. The tailoring department is connected with the basement and first floor by an iron spiral stairway. There is a large and comfortable dining—room for the girls—on the top floor, and lavatories fitted with the latest sanitary appliances are situated here and in other parts of the large establishment. The rooms designed for the caretaker are also on the upper floor. These fine premises—the cost of which exceeded £20,000—are replete with the most modern appliances in every respect, including lighting, and ventilation, and are excellent in style and finish. Messrs. Herbert, Haynes and Co.'s connection is a steadily growing one and the expansion and development of their business has been phenomenal.

Mr. Haynes was born in 1832 in Napton, Warwickshire, England, and the little education obtainable in those days was gleaned by him in the country school. At the age of thirteen he was engaged with a large drapery firm in Coventry, and with it he served a seven years' apprenticeship at a time when the week's work ran up to eighty-six hours, instead of the forty-four of the present day. On the completion of his time and after one week's holiday, Mr. Haynes made his way to London and was successful in getting into some of the best business establishments, where he gained an experience which has since been of inestimable value. In the early part of 1857, he decided to try his luck in New Zealand and embarked in the S.S. “Lord Ashley,” which took over 150 days in making the voyage to Auckland. Mr. Haynes obtained a situation on arrival with Messrs. David Graham and Co., which he retained until he went to Dunedin and founded the present business. He has taken no part in public life, having found sufficient employment in page 305 attending to his own business affairs. Mr. Haynes has visited England six times in the interests of the business, so as to keep in touch with the march of progress in the old world. At the London house of the firm an expert buyer trained in the colony, watches the interests of the business. Mr. Haynes is a member of Trinity Wesleyan Church, with which he has been associated since its inception, and holds office as a trustee of the Church and Manse. In 1864, Mr. Haynes married a daughter of Mr. Alexander Miller, of Sunnyside, Otago, and has two sons and four daughters.

Houston, William D. , Men's Mercer and Hatter, 100 Princes Street, Dunedin. Mr. Houston was born in Scotland, and came to Dunedin by the ship “James Nicol Fleming,” in 1875. He had been connected for many years with a large mercery business in the Old Country, and shortly after his arrival opened a shop in George Street, where he conducted a successful hosiery business. By keeping a first-class stock, and by honest and up-to-date principles, Mr. Houston's business increased to such large proportions, that in 1890 he opened up a branch shop in Princes Street. The following year he sold the George Street business and removed to the more commodious premises he now occupies. The building, which is of brick, is two stories in height, and the shop is 100 feet by 30 feet, with offices in the ground floor, and a large storeroom in the rear. Two large plate-glass windows serve to light the premises, and to display a varied assortment of goods of first-class quality. The stock comprises hats, caps, shirts, collars, ties, underclothing, pyjamas, umbrellas, rugs, and all gentlemen's requisites. Mr. Houston has a buyer at Home, and so gets his goods direct from the manufacturers, and obtains exactly what he wants without the expense of a middleman. He is the sole agent in Otago for Knox's American hats, and Johnston's London hats, of which a large stock is kept in all shapes and sizes.

Mollisons (Alexander Mollison, James Mollison, and James Fawns Mollison), Drapers and Clothiers, 195–197 George Street, and 1–3 Frederick Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 696, Bankers, Bank of Australasia. London Agents, Messrs Edwards and Chynoweth. This successful business is an offshoot of the old firm of Mollison, Duthie and Co., established in 1879 by Messrs A. and J. Mollison in conjunction with Mr. John Duthie. In 1836 the firm was dissolved, but the Mollisons continued the business in the original portion of their present premises. The growth of the business necessitated extended accommodation, which was afforded by the removal of the old White Horse Hotel from the corner of George and Frederick Streets. The new premises consist of a handsome three-storied building with a basement, and the warehouse is the largest and most imposing in the northern portion of the city. The architecture of the central portion of the new building is in the Renaissance style, and is broken up with pediments surmounted with flag poles. Large oriel windows abut on George and Frederick Streets, and the corner facing Knox church is finished with a large plate-glass front. A handsome iron and glass verandah running round the front adds to the attractiveness of the building and the comfort of pedestrians. The ground floor of the original shop now forms one department, known as the dress and ladies' department. An elliptic stairway leads to the show room and ladies' fitting rooms. The new part of the building is entered through a nicely tiled doorway, with the name of the firm let into the tiles; this doorway leads into the clothing department. Off this there is a fitting room for gentlemen, the partitions of which are glazed with ornamental glass. Passing from this department, through a large artistic archway, the linoleum and carpet department is entered, and is found to be lighted from Frederick Street. Off this, again, there is the public office, where there is a the phone room, deafened so as to ensure privacy, for the convenience of customers. At the rear of the linoleum room, there is an entrance from Frederick Street, to the workrooms on the second floor. The main staircase is easily accessible to this department, and leads up to the show room, which is lighted from front to back. On going through an archway on the right hand side, the waiting room, three fitting rooms for ladies, and the mantle department are reached. The fitting rooms are finished with lead-lights of hand-painted glass, and a dado of salamander asbestos; and the ceilings are finished in the same way, with neatly cut cornices. Tiled gas stoves are provided for each room, thus ensuring the comfort of patrons and employees during the cold weather. Handsome lavatories are fitted up in this and in other portions of the building. The stock room is at the near of the fitting rooms, and the second floor is entirely devoted to the work rooms. The whole premises are exceedingly well lighted, and present a brilliant appearance when in full swing after dark. Mollisons are in a position to afford every facility to their customers and the public generally, both in the matter of extent of choice, and in the quality of materials. Through their London buyers they page 306 have regular shipments coming from the best markets in the world. A very large and well selected stock is always held in each department of the business, and the connection extends throughout Otngo. From 130 to 150 persons are employed by the firm.

New Zealand Clothing Factory (Hallenstein Bros. and Co., proprietors), Dowling Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 220. P.O. Box, 91. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Retail branches at thirty-six towns from Invercargill to the north of Auckland. This well-known firm was established in 1873 in premises situated in Custom House Square—partly on the sites presently occupied by the buildings of the Bank of New Zealand and the National Insurance Company of New Zealand—but, as these premises were found insufficient for the largely-extending business, it became necessary for the proprietors to erect a more commodious building in Dowling Street, which has been occupied by the firm since 1883. This magnificent building, which is the headquarters of a splendid industry, was erected from plans prepared by Mr. Ross (late of Dunedin and now of Perth), the ideas for which were largely supplied by Mr. B. Hallenstein. Long before the Factory Acts were brought into force the New Zealand Clothing Factory, as at present conducted, was in full working order, and no change was made when the first Inspector of the Department visited the establishment. All needful precautions for the prevention of accidents had been anticipated, and every convenience required for the health and comfort of the large body of employees—mostly women and girls—had been supplied. In fact, the arrangement of every department of this huge concern reached the highest standard of perfection, and so much is this still the case that, should the building ever suffer from the ravages of fire, the proprietary would not know how they could improve any portion of the premises, and would at once rebuild on the present model. The building is a four storey brick structure, having sixty feet frontage to Dowling Street by a depth of two hundred feet, the whole of the premises being utilised for the purpose of the factory with the exception of the front portion of the ground floor, which is occupied by the well-known firm of Messrs Michaelis, Hallenstein and Farquhar, tanners and leather merchants. Entering from Dowling Street, the visitor reaches the first floor by a grand staircase; the back portion of this floor is used as the warehouse, the front portion being divided by glazed partitions into offices, occupied respectively by Mr. Hallenstein, the founder, Mr. Hart, Mr. Fels, and Mr. E. Hallenstein, partners, and the head office staff of the firm. From the splendid, heavily stocked warehouse, the whole of the retail branches—which number thirty-six—are supplied with goods as required. The value of the stock, which comprises endless varieties of garments of all kinds—made on the two upper floors of the building—as well as large quantities of imported goods (mercery, hats, etc.), which are not made advantageously in the Colony, must be estimated by tens of thousands of pounds. The back portion of the ground floor, which communicates with the warehouse by a staircase, is used as a page 307 bulk store and for packing and receiving goods; a powerful hydraulic lift connecting with each floor. The ground floor is of concrete, and entrance is gained from Macandrew Street, where there is a full sized cartway. The factory is situated on the second and third floors, light being admitted by immense skylights, extending along the entire length of the building, as well as by side windows on either hand. The view from the top floor, looking down from the gallery on the hive of industry on the second floor, is most impressive. From 250 to 300 hands are regularly engaged in this large establishment. Right down the centre of the main floor of the factory, on a raised platform, are the various machines, numbering eighty, most of which attain a speed of 1800 to 2300 stitches per minute. These are all driven by motiva power, a six horse power Otto gas engine being situated in a separate' building on the ground floor. The power is conveyed by shafts and belts, which are fully cased in so as to render accidents by contact in passing quite impossible. In addition to the ordinary sewing machines, which are naturally the most numerous, there are five button-hole machines, and a very fine machine for sewing on buttons—sometimes called “the bachelor's friend.” It is a wonderfully rapid machine, and answers the purpose of its inventor perfectly. In one of the side rooms, light stuffs—including shirts, white vests, etc.—are worked and made up, and the brand of the firm is stitched or stamped on every article. The cutting department, where about a dozen expert cutters and trimmers are engaged, occupies a portion of the top floor, two special cutters being kept busy with chart or order work. From time to time the floor space of the gallery has been increased by extension, so as to make room for the expanding business. In the pressing department the very latest improvements have been introduced: for instance, the heating of irons by the and of furnaces has been superseded by air-and-gas-heating irons. This system has been extended throughout the whole factory, so that all the coatmakers have irons ready for use at their respective tables. Hat and cap making also is conducted on the top floor, both ordinary and military headgear being made on the premises, as well as caps for railway officials, cricketers, schoolboys, etc. Every convenience for producing these goods cheaply and well is here found, including a large drying room specially heated for the purpose. At the back of the main factory there is a very large dining room for the girls—well fitted up and supplied with all conveniences— a separate entrance, also used as the work-people's entrance, communicating with the street. The mechanic in charge of the machinery has a workshop on the main floor, where he has lathe drill and other necessary appliances. The factory office occupies a raised dais, which is glazed in and affords a full view of the entire factory. Here a bookkeeper and three clerks are busily employed, wages being paid every Friday at noon. In the finishing room, also on this floor, all goods are finally examined and ticketed ready for going into stock or for delivering. Some idea may be formed of the magnitude of this factory when it is considered that from 1800 to 2500 garments are completed each week. The waterproof clothing factory occupies a leasehold site alongside the main building, about thirty hands being employed. Since this branch of the business was established the accommodation has been doubled; the building is lighted from above, and here are to be found all the necessary appliances for making every description of waterproof clothing for gentlemen and ladies. In all departments of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, from 300 to 350 hands are regularly employed, exclusive of managers and salesmen in the retail establishments. A very large trade is done in military and uniform clothing, and many of the leading corps and government officials in New Zealand are wearing goods made at this establishment. Messrs Hallenstein Bros, and Co. are importers of dress belts, presentation swords, and accoutrements, and generally make the military a special department of their trade. At all leading exhibitions and agricultural shows the goods of the factory have been successfully exhibited, the proprietary having received numerous certificates and awards. In placing before the public of New Zealand, in thirty-six different centres of population, goods manufactured by themselves within the Colony largely, if not entirely, from New Zealand tweeds, Messrs Hallenstein Bros, and Co. may justly claim to supply a single garment at wholesale price, the middleman's profit being thus saved to the consumer. The factory was originally established in 1873, when special experts were imported from Melbourne to take charge of the manufacturing departments; and it is not surprising that the enterprise of the founder should have been rewarded by the success of the great concern of which he is still the head.

Ross, Thomas , Importer of Drapery, etc., Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society's Buildings, Princes Street, Dunedin. Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Rothesay. London House, Messrs Hurndall and Son, 115 Fore Street, E.C. Mr. Ross has his centrally situated business established in one of the fine shops which form a portion of the ground floor of the handsome pile erected for the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society. There are two show windows facing Princes Street, right opposite the old Colonial Bank buildings, and another window to the High Street frontage, directly opposite the Grand Hotel; all these windows are tastefully dressed and attractively display the variety of goods in stock. Through his London buyers, Mr. Ross imports general drapery and makes a specialty of gloves and umbrellas, in which he maintains a thoroughly up-to-date stock. The very latest styles in gloves and umbrellas are regularly shipped by direct steamers, and a large assortment from the best English, French, and Continental manufacturers may at any time be inspected. The whole of the ground floor of the premises is used as shop and show rooms, bulk goods and surplus stock being stored in the cellars below, Mr. Ross was born in Morayshire, Scotland, in 1854, and was educated partly in Caithness and partly in his native county, where he was brought up to the soft goods trade. After a thorough experience in business as carried on in Morayshire, he removed to London, where he was in some of the best business houses before deciding to make his home in the Colonies. Mr. Ross arrived at Port Chalmers in 1878, and for the first twelve years of his life in New Zealand was connected with the wholesale and retail soft goods houses in Dunedin, where he gained a thorough knowledge of the requirements of both branches of the trade, before establishing his business in 1890. Mr. Ross is further referred to as a member of the Otago Harbour Board.

Seelye, John Cassilis , Clothing Manufacturers, Australian Mutual Provident Society's Buildings (top floor and part of second flat), Princes Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 237. Private residence, Mornington. Established in 1879 in the old Princess Theatre, High Street, by Messrs. Aiken and Pasco, the business was afterwards taken over by Mr. Goldwater, and subsequently acquired by Messrs. Morris and Levy; the latter dissolved partnership in July, 1885, Mr. Levy retiring, and the present proprietor joining the firm. Since Mr. Morris' death in 1890, Mr. Seelye, solely, has conducted the business. In the large, well-lighted workroom, which has both top and side windows, on the top floor, about eighty hands are busily engaged, twenty-one sewing machines being in use, besides three button hole machines. Adjoining are the offices and store-rooms, where trimmings of all kinds are kept in stock. There is a smaller workroom (where twenty hands are engaged) on the same floor, besides cutting rooms (with six expert cutters) and two press rooms. The girls' dining room, which is page 308 fitted up with table, seats, and appliances for heating purposes, in conformity with the Factory Acts, is also on the top floor. On the second flat there is a cutting and work room specially for the manufacture of mole trousers, of which about 600 pairs per week are turned out, forty hands and about fifteen machines being engaged. The mechanic in charge of the machines has a room, which is fitted up with lathe and all other necessary appliances. The examining and folding room is a very important department of the establishment; care is taken to prevent imperfect work being sent out, the goods being ticketed and folded ready for packing. Mr Seelye's trade is chiefly with the wholesale firms of the various leading ports of the Colony. Mr. Seelye, the energetic proprietor, was born in Williamstown, Victoria. He learned his trade with Messrs. Sargood, King and Sargood, of Melbourne, leaving with the late Mr. J. F. Anderson, who came to Dunedin in 1873 to start the New Zealand Clothing Factory for Messrs. Hallenstein Bros. and Co. Mr. Seelye is a member of the Masonic order, Lodge St. Andrew, and is also a P.G.M. of the Loyal Albion Lodge of Oddfellows, M.U. In 1884 he went to Auckland, and joined Mr. George McBride in founding the firm of Seelye and McBride, but afterwards returned to Dunedin, and became proprietor of his present business.

Smith and Co. (William Absolon Smith), Union Clothing Factory, Wholesale Tailors, 67 Princes Street, Dunedin. Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Vogel Street, South Dunedin. Mr. Smith began business as a retail tailor in 1875 in George Street, where he was established for fourteen years. He removed in 1889 to Union Chambers, where he has accommodation for a large number of work-people. The office and cutting-room are on the ground floor; in the work-room, on the first floor of the building, about fifty hands are engaged with eleven machines, the greater proportion of the work being done by hand. Mr. Smith receives support from all classes of the public, and does a considerable business in chart work, for which orders are forwarded from various parts of the Colony. He also does a considerable amount of work for the trade and imports direct all the tailors' trimmings required for the business, the tweeds used being mostly colonial. Mr. Smith was born in Wallingford, Berkshire, England, in 1845, and was educated at private schools in Oxford. He learned his trade in London, where he had special instruction as a cutter, and worked for about ten years at the West End before coming to the Colony in 1873, where he arrived in 1874, per ship “Dun-fillan” at Port Chalmers. He became cutter to Messrs. A. and T. Inglis, and afterwards to Mr. D. R. Hay, and commenced business on his own account in 1875. Mr. Smith was married in 1875 to a daughter of the late Mr Alexander Darling, but she died in 1878, leaving one son. He was married again in 1880, to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Walsham, of Dunedin, by whom he has four sons and four daughters.