The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
Nurserymen and Seedsmen
Nurserymen and Seedsmen.
Simmonds, A., and Company, Seed, Grain, and Produce Merchants, Napier. This business was established in the year 1890, and was taken over by its present proprietors in 1899. It is conducted in a two-storeyed brick building in Hastings Street, and the store for bulk stock is at Port Ahuriri. The firm import most of its large and varied stock of garden and field seeds from England, France, and America. It acts as agents for the farmers and fruit growers of the district in the selling and exportation of local produce. Messrs A. Simmonds and Company are agents for Mr. John Goddard, of the Havelock Nursery, and for Messrs D. Hay and Sons, Nurserymen, of Auckland.
Mr. Arthur Simmonds, Managing Partner of the firm of Messrs A. Simmonds and Company, was born in Birmingham, England, in the year 1872. He came to New Zealand at an early age, in the ship “Winchester,” and was educated at the Napier district school. He then learned the grain and seed business with Mr. Fulton, in Napier, and was afterwards employed by Messrs Cranby and Sidey, whose seed, grain, and produce business he subsequently bought out. Mr. Simmonds is a prominent bowler, and, with others, represented the Green-meadows Bowling Club at the Wellington Tournament of 1906, and he is vice-president and one of the oldest members of the Union Rowing Club, which he has represented at various times at interprovincial regattas.
Bunting, photo.
Mr. A. Simmonds.