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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Duthie, John, and Co., Limited
Duthie, John, and Co., Limited (Mr. John Duthie, M.H.R., managing director), General Hardware Merchants, Wholesale and Retail Ironmongers, Willis, Victoria, and Mercer Streets, Wellington Cable address, “Duthie, Wellington.” Code ABO. Telephones: Wholesale, 156; retail, 573; private, 259. P.O. Box 93. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Private address of managing director, Percival Street. The wholesale and retail ironmongery business of Messrs. John Duthie and Co. ranks with the largest in the Colony, and have grown with a rapidity seldom seen even in this land of quick development. It was established in the year 1880, by Mr. John Duthie (who at that time owned the large business in Wanganui now conducted by Messrs. James Thain and Co.), and in 1890 it was incorporated as a limited liability company. The premises cover quite a large area, and have splendid frontages to no less than three streets, two of which are among the most important in the city. The retail shop is a large three-story building, and the wholesale warehouses are two stories high. The iron store, of which an illustration is given wherewith, is a recent addition, and is in itself a much larger place than many of the business premises in the Empire City. All the buildings are of brick, and were built from plans drawn by Mr. Turnbull, the popular architect. The carrying out of the plans was entrusted to Mr. Murdoch, the well known contractor, who did his work well. Though exceedingly compact and well-arranged, the premises cover nearly an acre or ground. The trade of the firm extends over a wide area of the Colony. Four travellers are constantly on the road, and their efforts are augmented by the frequent distribution of trade circulars through the post. The imports are most extensive, and embrace everything in the hardware line of business. Messrs. Duthie and Co. are agents for the paints of Messrs. Alexander Fergusson and Co., of Glasgow, and for the incandescent gas-burners. In both of these lines a good business is done, but the gas-burnersare quite new, and are a wonderful improvement on anything of the kind previously invented. The incandescent burner produces a beautifully white light, and its inventor claims for it the quality of economy to a degree quite extraordinary. Gas consumers should certainly test these burners for themselves. The retail trade is confined entirely to Wellington City, the firm being very careful not to enter into competition with their customers in the country and in the other centres of the colony. A sketch of the life of the managing director will be found under the heading of the Wellington City members. Mr. Duthie has worked hard and brought a great deal of business ability and acumen to bear on his commercial transactions. Though he has given much time and thought to the furtherance of the interests of Wellington generally, he has never neglected in any way the vast private concerns with which he has been connected. He and his firm are alike held in the very highest estimation. Not only are they accredited with the possession of wealth; but it is everywhere acknowledged that their gains have been earned and accumulated only by means which would bear the strictest scrutiny. During the session Mr. Duthie is able to give the greater part of his time to parliamentary work, and in January last he took advantage of the recess for a trip to the Old Country. The business is manned by a competent staff, the majority of whom have been with the firm for many years, and not a few of them have attained to positions of great trust and responsibility. As a wholesale house, that of Messrs. John Duthie and Co., Limited, stands well to the fore. Their importing and indenting operations are so extensive and so varied that the value of their purchasing power is enormous. They are thus able to land goods of all kinds in Wellington at the very lowest cost; and the internal management of their business at this end is so complete and systematic that they enjoy a well-earned reputation throughout the country for their prompt and accurate attention to all orders entrusted to their care. Under these circumstances it is not surprising that the business, both wholesale and retail, of Messrs. John Duthie and Co., Limited, is one of which Wellington may well be proud. The pictures give no adequate impression of the premises, as the Mercer Street frontage and half that to Victoria Street are excluded.
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Willis Street Shop.
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The Iron Store, Victoria Street.