The Custom House
, Hokitika, is situated on Gibson's Quay, and was erected in 1897, at a cost of about £400. The building replaced an old wooden structure, which had done duty since the inception of the Customs Department in Hokitika in 1866. The business transacted by the department keeps it in touch with country extending from the Teremakau river in the north to Cascade Point in the south. Gold and timber are the chief articles of export.
Mr. William Rose
, Collector of Customs at Hokitika, was born at Richmond, Nelson, in 1867. He was educated in his native place, and at Wanganui High School, and entered the Customs Department in Wellington in 1884. After serving in various parts of the colony, he was appointed Collector at Hokitika in the year 1901.
Mr. Edward Chilman
, sometime Collector of Customs at Hokitika, was one of the oldest officers in the service, he having joined the Customs Department at New Plymouth in the year 1862. He was a son of the late Mr Richard Chilman, Collector of Customs at New Plymouth for some years, and was born in New Plymouth in 1847, and educated at Bridge Street School, Nelson, and at Beardsworth School, Taranaki. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Customs Department, under his father, and remained at New Plymouth for five years, and was subsequently at Dunedin for a similar term. In 1872 he was promoted to be officer-in-charge at the Customhouse at the Bluff, and two years later he became landing waiter and tide surveyor at Lyttelton. In 1890, he went to Wellington as landing waiter, and in April, 1892, he was promoted
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to be collector at Hokitika. In Masonic movements Mr. Chilman took
a leading part. He was a Past Master of Lodge Pacific, Hokitika, No. 1229, and an officer of the Royal Arch Chapter. He was also District Grand Secretary of the West land Lodge. Mr. Chilman died in Hokitika about the year 1900.
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