Lindsay and Co. , (Mrs. Rachael Lindsay, proprietress), Ham and Bacon Curers, Tay Street, Invercargill. This business was established in 1895, and since 1897 it has been conducted in a large two-storey brick building, originally known as Mitson's Hotel. There is a convenient shop and residence, and a large curing establishment consisting of a concrete curing cellar, and a smoke house. The business has developed rapidly and the firm is noted, not only for dairy fed hams and bacon, but for a special brand of pork sausages. Numerous prizes have been taken at local shows, and also as far away as Christchurch. All goods in which the firm deals are supplied wholesale and retail

Mr. Alexander Noble Lindsay , the Founder of the firm, was born in 1860, and was brought up to mercantile life. He gained experience in bacon curing at Invercargill, and established the firm of Lindsay and Co., in 1895. The business developed rapidly, and since his death, in February, 1901. it has been conducted by his widow.

Leckie, Alexander Robert , Butcher, Dee Street, Invercargill. This business was founded in 1891, and the premises occupy the ground floor of a permanent building, and include a shop, a small goods room and office, with a stable at the back. Three carts deliver goods throughout the town and suburbs.

The Southland Frozen Meat And Produce Export Company, Ltd. , was incorporated in 1882. The works are amongst the most important and extensive in the Middle Island, and the company's operations are greatly on the increase owing to the remarkable expansion of the trade and the splendid pastoral resources of that portion of the province of Southland. In addition to its registered office in Esk Street, Invercargill, the company has establishments at the Bluff, Mataura, and Wallacetown. The storage capacity in the cool chambers at the Bluff is sufficient to accommodate 55,000 carcases, besides fish, butter and eggs. The works at Mataura have accommodation for double that quantity, while the premises at Wallacetown are for slaughtering, and the manufacture of manares. The company's capital up to the end of 1902 amounted to £79,022 (nominal), of which £42,879 was paid up. Dividends of from 21/2 per cent to 5 per cent were paid for the year 1902. Mr. John McQueen is chairman and managing director, and Mr. D. Cochrane secretary; Mr. R. A. Cruikshank, engineer in charge at the Bluff, and Mr. John Hamilton at Mataura.

Mr. John Mcqueen , Chairman and Managing Director of the Southland Frozen Meat Company, landed at Dunedin in January, 1860, and has been connected with Otago and Southland since that time. For many years Mr. McQueen was engaged in sheep-farming near Waikaka, and was for a number of years a member of the Knapdale Road Board, of which he was also chairman. He is a native of Wigtonshire, Scotland, and has long been prominently connected with the frozen meat industry in Southland. Mr. McQueen was for sometime chairman of the Southland County Council, on which he represented Mataura riding for fifteen years up to 1904.

Southland Meat Company (Benjamin Gilmore Thompson, manager), Don Street, Invercargill. This company was established in February, 1903, and the retail shop is conducted on the ground floor of a large brick building in Don Street. It has a fine double front, and there is a coal cellar below. A most complete small goods plant, driven by a five-horse power steam engine, is used in connection with the establishment, and various canned and cooked meats, including continental goods not usually made in the colony, are supplied wholesale and retail. A large ham and bacon curing business is carried on, and there are five delivery carts. Sixteen hands are employed, and the company has also retail branches at the Bluff and at Gore.

Southland Meat Company's Premises.

Mr. Benjamin Gilmore Thompson , Manager of the Southland Meat Company, was born at Woollongong, New South Wales, and was educated at Brighton, Victoria. He served eight years at the soft goods business in Melbourne, and was afterwards engaged in the produce business as a buyer of grain and potatoes on the west coast of Tasmania. Mr. Thompson came to Dunedin, in 1899, and after some experience in gold mining on behalf of Australian capitalists, started a commission agency business at Invercargill, which he carried on until organising the Southland Meat Company in 1893. Mr. Thompson was married, in 1887, to a daughter of the late Mr. Ryton Oldham, of Melbourne, and has two sons and two daughters.

Wills, William , Butcher and Farmer, Tay Street, Invercargill. This business is carried on in a double-fronted brick building containing a large shop and office, with a small goods room behind. Four delivery carts are employed in connection with the business.

Paskell, Samuel , Fish and Oyster Merchant, Dee Street, Invercargill. This business was established about 1890, and has been conducted by the present proprietor since 1902. The premises, which are situated in a brick building, consist of a shop, luncheon room, kitchen and workroom. Fish and oysters are regularly received, and a good wholesale and retail trade is carried on.

Mr. Samuel Paskell , the Proprietor, was born at Milton, Otago, in 1878, and was apprenticed as a gardener, in Dunedin. He afterwards worked for sometime on the railway before taking over his present business. Mr. Paskell is attached to Court Star of the South, Ancient Order of Foresters.

Pomeroy And Sons , (James Henry Pomeroy, James Pomeroy, and Samuel Pomeroy), Fish Merchants, Esk Street, Invercargill. This firm was founded in 1882 by Mr. J. H. Pomeroy, and business was at first carried on in Esk Street, in a small wooden building. In 1902 the firm removed to Don Street, but the place it had there has since been sold and pulled down. The brick building now occupied was leased in 1903, and is the largest fish shop in Invercargill. Messrs Pomeroy own boats at Colac Bay and Pahia, and about twelve persons, in addition to the partners themselves, are engaged in catching, curing and delivering the fish. An extensive wholesale and retail business is carried on. The fish-curing establishment is situated in Catherine Street, North Invercargill, where the large curing sheds and smoke-house stand upon a freehold section, and from half a ton to one ton is treated daily, when obtainable.

Mr. James Henry Pomeroy , the Founder of the firm, was born in Falmouth, England, became a ship's carpenter, and arrived at Wellington by the ship “Bebington” in 1872. He settled at Invercargill, where he had various experiences until founding the business of which he is now the head. Mr. Pomeroy has contributed articles to the local press on the subject of the fishing and oyster industry and its development, and he is considered an authority on both fresh water and sea trout and salmon. In the early days he was a member of the Garrison Band for five years. Mr. Pomeroy was married, in 1871, to a daughter of the late Mr. Nicholas Brokensha, of Falmouth, England, and has had five daughters and seven sons, of whom three sons have died.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. H. Pomeroy.