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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Wood Trade

Wood Trade.

Holt, Robert, Timber, Coal, and Firewood Merchant, and Saw-miller, Hastings. Head-quarters, Napier. The Hastings branch of this business was established by Mr. Holt in October, 1897, with a view to providing a more convenient centre for his increasing trade on the Heretaunga plain. The premises face the railway line, and extend from Heretaunga Street to Eastbourne Street. The plant includes planing and sawing machinery, which is kept constantly at work. Large supplies of timber, firewood, and New Zealand and Australian coal are kept on hand, and a considerable number of men are employed.

Mr. John Holt, manager of the Hastings branch, is the eldest son of Mr. Robert Holt, the proprietor, and was born in Napier in the year 1864. He was educated at the Napier Grammar School, and has since been associated with his father in business. For some years he was assistant manager of the Napier business, and on the opening of a branch at Hastings he was appointed to his present position. Mr. Holt is the proprietor of a sawmill at Puketitiri, and in this capacity employs a large number of men. He is director of the Starr-Bowkett Building Society, and is a member of various local committees in Hastings.

Manson and Company (Samuel Manson, J. T. Tuck, R. S. Tuck, and D. J. McLeod, proprietors), Timber Merchants and Saw-millers. Timber Yards, Market Street, Hastings. Mills at Tikokino. This business was established in the year 1899. The timber yards of the firm occupy a section almost opposite the railway station, andpossess a large storage house and an office. A very large stock of seasoned timber is always kept on hand. The yard is used as the distributing depot for the firm's extensive local trade, and several persons are employed. The mills of Messrs Manson and Company are referred to in the Tikokino section.

Mr. David John McLeod, junior partner in the firm of Messrs Manson and Company, was born at Meanee, on the 13th of September, 1867. He was educated at public schools, and was brought up to farming at Onga Onga. Mr. McLeod retained his connection with the farming industry until 1899, when he sold his interests in order to take up a partnership in the firm of Messrs Manson and Company. For about three years subsequently he worked at the mill at Tikokino, and in 1902 he opened mills on behalf of the firm at herekino and Whangape in the north of Auckland district. These two mills dealt only with Kauri timber, their total output being 28,000 feet per day. Mr. McLeod subsequently disposed of them to the Mitechelson Timber Company, and remained at the mills for twelve months as manager for the new proprietors. He then returned to Hawke's Bay, and has since been managing the firm's town interests at Hastings. While in Whangape Mr. McLeod was a member of the Farmers' Union, and the school committee, and was captain of a cricket club; he is now a member of the Hastings cricket club. Mr. McLeod is married, and has one son and one daughter.