Wise, H. and Co. (Henry, Arthur, and George Wise), Publishers, Australian Mutual Provident Society's Buildings, Princes Street, Dunedin. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residences: Messrs H. and A. Wise, “Burkes”; Mr. G. Wise, 49 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Branches: Cathedral Square, Christchurch; Hay Street, Perth, West Australia; 108 Pitt Street, Sydney; 49 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne; King William Street, Adelaide; 53a Queen Street, Brisbane; Exchange Chambers, Hobart. “Wises' Directories” may be said to mark an era of New Zealand progression, as they have been coincident with the increasing trade of the Colonies. The first issue of the directories by the firm was “Wises' Dunedin Directory,” published in 1865, nearly thirty years ago; and it was followed later on by a Directory of Hokitika, when gold was discovered there and a town formed. The colony having advanced during this time, a Directory of New Zealand was started; and the first issue was a small volume published in 1872. Although this was not a work of great magnitude — from a present day point of view — travelling from place to place for the compilation was not only difficult, but very expensive for so small a work. As the means of communication between the various towns became easier and cheaper, the trading population rapidly increased, and with increasing population so the directory increased; until it became in 1875, a large volume with 35 maps and plans of the various chief towns in the Colony. In 1880, owing to an increased demand from abroad for the directory, an office was opened in London; and in 1883 by permission of the Post Office, “Wises' Directory” came out as the New Zealand Post Office Directory, by which name it is well and favourably known outside the Colony as in it. With the opening of the London office, exporters of all kinds, both British and foreign, were made page 358 acquainted with New Zealand, and it added greatly to the facilities of the export trade, which was opened up shortly afterwards by direct steam service from Great Britain. As the population and trade of the Colony further increased, so also did the directory; and it gradually assumed greater proportions, until it is now a volume of 2000 pages, and requires a large staff of writers and compilers for its compilation alone. In the year 1884 Mr. Henry Wise opened offices in Melbourne for the publication of the “Victoria Post Office Directory,” and following that, made arrangements for a staff for New South Wales, opening offices there the same year for the issue of the “New South Wales Post Office Directory.” The large territory of New South Wales was completely gone over and the directory compiled in eight months' time; quick work for a first issue. At this time Messrs. George and Arthur Wise joined the firm as partners and under the able management of the triumvirate, operations were commenced in Queensland, to establish the “Queensland Official Directory”; the first issue being in 1890. Tasmania being at this time at the height of its prosperity with its mining industry, the “Tasmanian Post Office Directory” was issued. The offices and working staff of these directories having by this time become very numerous were able to undertake more work, and arrangements were made with the Government of West Australia to publish a directory for that Colony. Many difficulties had to be faced with this work as there were extensive townships scattered all over the Colony (which is 1,060,000 square miles in extent) without any mail communication at all with Perth. However with the complete and rapid system of working and compiling, which had matured so well under drilling and active management, compilation was rapidly completed in six months' time, the result being an issue, in 1895, of the “Western Australia Post Office Directory,” a work of some 400 pages; a small volume for the amount of labour and expense entailed in the compilation. This work like the Colony it so worthily represents, increased annually in bulk until the fourth issue in 1898, when it trebled its size. Simultaneously and in conjunction with the first issue of the Westralian work, the “South Australian Post Office Directory” was commenced and completed; but as these Colonies were too big to be amalgamated in continuous issues of one volume, they have since been dealt with separately. In ten years' time the Messrs. Wise became the publishers of separate directories for all the Australian Colonies, their works now comprising directories of New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales, West Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania, as well as many smaller local works; and so extensive is this territory that an area of over 3,000,000 square miles of country is traversed for information. From Torres Straits in the North of Queensland, to Foveaux Straits in the South of New Zealand, “Wises' Directory” staff is always on the move. The ramifications of the firm are now so great that it says much for the able management that directs and controls a great number of men, all working from different points without any hitch in the machinery. As accuracy in names and figures is a sine qua non, the work of checking and of counter-checking is most carefully supervised at all times. Each of the works mentioned is now issued regularly for each Colony, and a new work in the shape of a “Trades Directory” for all Australasia, to be issued in one volume, has been taken in hand.