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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Builders, Etc

Builders, Etc.

Baudinit, William Chaulk , Builder and Contractor, Wharfe Street, Oamaru, Mr. Baudinit was born in Tasmania, in 1837, In 1859 he removed to Dunedin, where he spent a year, and arrived in Oamaru on the 20th of November, 1860, He gained his experience as a builder in New Zealand, and has worked on his own account since settling in North Otago. The first engine shed on the railway at Oamaru was erected by him, and he has put up a large number of cottages and houses in the borough. Mr. Baudinit served for about four years on the Town Board that preceded the incorporation of the borough, and for a short time he was a member of the Council, He was married, in 1873, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Falconer, formerly of Edinburgh, and at one time Mayor of Oamaru, and has four sons and four daughters.

Bennett, Alexander , Builder and Contractor, Rother Street, Oamaru, Mr. Bennett was born in the parish of St. Veigieans, Forfarshire, Scotland, and arrived in New Zealand in the early seventies, After a stay in Dunedin he finally settled in Oamaru. Mr. Bennett was married, on the 10th of August, 1877, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Tinline, of Bowden, Roxburgh, Scotland, and has two sons and one daughter.

Crombie, John , Monumental Mason, Test and Greta Streets, Oamaru, This business was established in 1890, and the premises consist of the yard and residence opposite the cemetery. Mr. Crombie was born in 1861, in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was educated, He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Auckland” in 1878, and learned his trade at Oamaru, Subsequently he gained three years' experience in Melbourne, and in 1887 returned to Oamaru, where, after further experience, he founded his present business. Mr. Crombie is a member of Court Pride of Oamaru, Ancient Order of Foresters, He was married, in 1884, to a daughter of Mr. J. Leishona, of Dunedin, and has two sons and two daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. J. Crombie.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. J. Crombie.

Gillies, Archibald , Builder and Contractor, Aln Street, Oamaru. This business dates from 1883, and since then the proprietor has erected a large number of buildings in various parts of the surrounding districts, as well as in Oamaru. The Stud-holme Junction Hotel, the National Bank at Kurow, the Timaru railway station and engine sheds, and many other public and private buildings have been built by Mr. Gillies. He has also done a considerable amount of bridge work, including the Maheno bridge over Island Stream, the iron bridge over the Kakanui river at Maheno, and the Kakanui bridge at the mouth of that river. Mr. Gillies was born in the Highlands of Scotland, in 1851, and served his time as a joiner and wheelwright under Mr. Andrew Logan, of Eglinton Street, Glasgow, For several years sbsequently Mr. Gillies was foreman to the firm of R. Mitchell and Sons, Glasgow. He arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Nelson” (Captain Anderson) in 1874, and found employment in wheelwright work under Mr. John Russell, of Maheno, In June, 1875, he removed to Oamaru, and found employment at his trade for a few years, until he commenced on his own account. As a volunteer Mr. Gillies served in Glasgow for some time and became a good shot; he was also attached to the Order of Oddfellows in Scotland. Mr. Gillies was married, in 1874, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Bailey, of Denny Mills, Stirlingshire, Scotland, and has four sons and three daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. and Mrs. A. Gillies.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs. A. Gillies.

Harris, Thomas , Builder and Contractor, Oamaru, P.O. Box 122. Mr. Harris is a native of Smethwick, near Birmingham, Staffordshire, England, and was born in 1844. He attended school and learned his trade in Birmingham, and after ten yearn removed to Leicester, where he worked at his trade as foreman of a large shop. In 1878 Mr. Harris arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Auckland,” and settled in Oamaru, where he entered business as a builder and contractor, He has erected a considerable number of school buildings for the Otago Education Board, completed additions to the Oamaru Hospital, and put up the handsome new building for the Girls' High School. Mr. Harris was married, in 1808, in Kidderminster, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Dovey, and has two sons and three daughters.

King, Alexander , Builder and Contractor, Hull Street, Oamaru, This business was established in 1893, and the proprietor has erected a considerable number of buildings in North Otago, including the residence of Messrs R. P. Hay, and M. McFadgen, Oamaru, the homesteads of Messrs P. Blackler and M. Don, of Waikakahi, and of Messrs Dovey and R. Sutherland, of Maerewhenua, and many others. He was born in Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, in June, 1862, and arrived with his parents at the Bluff in the ship “Robert Henderson,” during the same year. After three years in Invercargill, the family removed to Oamaru, where the subject of this notice attended school, and subsequently learned his trade, In 1882 he went to Melbourne and found employment as a journeyman, and afterwards had several years of experience in contractors' work, before establishing himself in Oamaru. Mr. King was married, on the 8th of February, 1888. to a daughter of the late Mr. Edward Parker, of Bendigo, Victoria, and has five sons and three daughters.

Sidon, Henry Francis , Builder and Contractor, Torridge Street, Oamaru. This business was established in 1873, and has been continuously conducted by the proprietor up to the present time. Mr. Sidon has erected a large number of public and private buildings in and around the district, such as the Waitaki Boys' High School, the page 534 grand stand at the Oamaru racecourse, the Union stores in Tyne Street, the Crown Flour Mills, the dwelling houses of Messrs Malloy, William Seth-Smith and Christie, and the Ardgowan Presbyterian church, Mr. Sidon was born in London, on the 1st of August, 1835, and is the descendant of Welsh parents. After attending school he was apprenticed to a builder in London. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1858, by the ship “Clontarf,” which arrived at Port Cooper (Lyttelton). In the following year Mr. Sidon settled in the Oamaru district, and for some years was interested in country life. At one time he had a sheep run in the Mackenzie country, and, later, some bush land in the Lake country. In 1878 he returned to his trade as a builder, and has ever since been engaged in that way. As a Freemason Mr. Sidon is attached to Lodge Waitaki, E.C. He was married, in 1862, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Smith, of Ayrshire, Scotland, and has, suriving, three daughters and four sons.

Sincair, David , Builder, Oamaru. Mr. Sinclair was born in Oamaru, in 1869, and educated at the North School, He learned his trade in his native place, and worked as a joiner till founding his present business in 1895. Mr. Sinclair has built a large number of houses in town and country. Recently he completed additions, consisting of a very handsome show-room and offices, to the premises of Messrs J. Bullied and Company, and also the Corporation abattoirs at Eveline, near Oamaru.

Smith And Jamieson (Alfred Smith and — Jamieson), Builders and Contractors, Severn Street, Oamaru, This firm carries on business in Severn Street, in premises next to Ireland and Co.'s flour mill. One of its recent contracts consisted in extensive alterations to the old theatre, so as to make the building suitable for the business of the North Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association, Limited, This work cost over £1200.

Mr. Alfred Smith , the Senior Partner, arrived at Port Chalmers on the 18th of October, 1876, by the ship “Timaru” (Captain Taylor), Settling in Oamaru, he worked as a joiner for a time, but entered into business on his own account in 1878, and since then he has erected many shops and residences in Oamaru, He has been connected with the volunteer movement since 1892, and is referred to in another article as Quartermaster-Sergeant of No. 3 Battalion. Mr. Smith is a member of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society. He was married, in 1872, to a daughter of the late Mr. Isaac Eldson, of Spennymoor, Durham, England, and has three daughters and one son.

Tait, James , Builder and Contractor, Usk Street, Oamaru, This business was established in 1879, and has its domicile in Usk Street, where the proprietor has half an acre of land, a house and two shops. Mr. Tait was the contractor for the Globe Hotel., and built Mr. J. Bullied's fine residence, besides many other places in town and country. He was born in 1851, in Midlothian, Scotland, and was educated at Mid-Calder, where he learned his trade under his father, who was a builder for almost half a century. Altogether he served an apprenticeship of seven years, and had three years' experience in Edinburgh. In 1874 Mr. Tait arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Auckland,” and after eighteen months removed to Tapanui In 1877 he came to Oamaru, and after being for eighteen months with Mr. Sidon, he started on his own account, and conducted his business for about five years. He then joined with Mr. J. Rosie, under the style of Rosie and Tait, and the partnership continued for ten years. Since its dissolution, Mr. Tait has conducted business on his own account. As a volunteer he served for two years in the Linlithgow Rifles in Midlothian. As a Freemason Mr. Tait was initiated in Lodge St. John Mid-Calder, 272, S.C., but he is unattached in New Zealand, He is a director of the Oamaru Caledonian Society, As a builder he has erected many schools for the Education Board. Mr. Tait was married, in 1831, to a daughter of the late Mr. Charles Hunter, of Glasgow, and has one son and two daughters. Mrs Tait was born at Moffatt, Scotland.