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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Murray, Roberts and Co
Murray, Roberts and Co. (John Roberts, C.M.G., and the firm of Sanderson, Murray and Co., of London), Wool Merchants, Stock and Station Agents, General Importers and Indentors, Liverpool Street, Dunedin. Telephone 180. P.O. Box, 345. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales. Cable address, “Corlinda,” Dunedin. Codes, A.B.C. and A.1. Branches, Featherston Street, Wellington, and at Napier. Fellmongery, Green Island. London house, Sanderson, Murray and Co., 2 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C. Melbourne and Sydney houses, John Sanderson and Co. This large and well-known firm is an offshoot of the old established house of Sanderson, Murray and Co., of London, the firm being known in New South Wales and Victoria as John Sanderson and Co. The New Zealand house was established in Dunedin in 1868 by Mr. John Roberts, C.M.G., who came over from Melbourne for that purpose, having been with Messrs. J. Sanderson and Co. for about four years. In 1875 the demands of the business necessitated the establishment of a branch of the firm in the capital city of the Colony, and not long afterwards the Napier branch was opened. The head office of Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. is in a handsome, freehold, two-storey brick building, with Oamaru stone pillars and facings, which was erected to the order of the firm at the corner of Liverpool and Crawford Streets. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. transact business throughout New Zealand with farmers, graziers, and settlers generally, to whom they make advances on security of stock and wool—either in bales or on the sheep's backs. They supply their customers with general merchandise, seeds of the finest quality, wool packs, fencing wire, and any other necessaries. Wool, grain, sheep, and rabbit skins, hides, frozen meat, and other produce are received on consignment or otherwise, for shipment to London, where they are realised to best advantage. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. (New Zealand house) are the second largest exporters of wool, while the London house ranks third in value of wool imported into the United Kingdom. The firm act as agents in Otago, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay for the British and Foreign Marine Insurance Company, Ltd., of London and Liverpool, and for the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company, of London and Edinburgh. In articles required by sheepfarmers and station holders generally, they are agents for Cooper's Poisonous Sheep Dipping Powder, Little's Celebrated Non-Poisonous Sheep Dip, Joseph Fison and Co.'s Fertilizers, and Berger's Sheen Branding Oils. They are also agents' for Read Bros.' “Bull Dog” Ale and Stout. As shipping agents, they represent the Shaw, Savill and Albion direct line of mail steamers, and act as loading agents for the Shire line of steamers. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. also represent Messrs. Robert Campbell and Sons, Ltd., station owners. The firm holds several large station properties, the leading property being “Gladbrook” station, Strath Taieri, where about 45,000 sheep are shorn annually. Cattle are also fattened for the market on the several estates of the firm. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co. have taken considerable interest in the question of shipping live stock, and have imported some very choice Polled Angus cattle; for these and their progeny several prizes have already been taken at local shows. Mr. John Roberts, C.M.G., personally, is referred to amongst the former Mayors of Dunedin.