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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Michaelis, Hallenstein And Farquhar

Michaelis, Hallenstein And Farquhar (Moritz Michaelis, Isaac Hallenstein, and Grant Preston Farquhar), Tanners, Curriers, and Leather Merchants, and Importers of Grindery, Dowling Street, Dunedin. P.O. Box, 40. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence of resident partner, Mr. G. P. Farquhar, William Street. Tannery, Sawyers' Bay. London house, Michaelis, Hallenstein and Co, 17 and 18 Basinghall Street, E.C. The large and prominent house of Michaelis, Hallenstein and Farquhar is the outgrowth of a small business, established by Mr. Farquhar in the early days of settlement in Dunedin, as an importer of leather and grindery. For many years the founder conducted a steadily expanding trade, which grew in proportion to the advance of settlement in New Zealand. With a view to the construction of a complete tannery capable of producing leather of every variety required in the bout trade, Messrs. Michaelis and Hallenstein joined Mr. Farquhar in the business under the above title, and since then the business has grown by leaps and bounds. The splendid tannery has been erected and fully equipped, and generally the trade has been extended from merely local limits to the magnitude of a Colonial undertaking. Messrs. Michaelis, Hallenstein and Farquhar transact business throughout the entire Colony, having a large connection among the leading boot and shoe manufacturers and boot and shoemakers of the various cities and towns. Periodically the representatives of the firm visit the centres of population in the interests of the business; but the connection is so well established and the character of the goods manufactured is so well known, and the quality of the imported stock in which the firm deals is so uniformly good, that orders are regularly received without special solicitation. As to the leather made at Sawyers' Bay it may be safely said ‘that it “sells itself;” the fact
Back View Of Tannery, Sawyers' Bay.

Back View Of Tannery, Sawyers' Bay.

Front View Of Messrs Michaelis, Hallenstein And Farquhar's Tannery.

Front View Of Messrs Michaelis, Hallenstein And Farquhar's Tannery.

page 334 that it is the product of the firm's tannery is a sufficient guarantee of its excellence. The premises occupied by Messrs. Michaelis, Hallenstein and Farquhar in Dowling Street comprise a portion of the New Zealand Clothing Factory (Hallenstein Brothers and Co.). The front portion of the premises is used as warehouse and offices, public and private. The warehouse contains a large and valuable stock, which includes every appliance and machine needed in the boot and shoe trade, together with leathers of all varieties and grindery. Behind the warehouse there is a large bulk store for the storage of surplus stock, of which a large quantity is always held by the firm, so as to be in readiness at any time to supply the demands of customers without delay. The Sawyers' Bay Tannery is recognised to be one of the most complete works of its kind in the Colony. The buildings, which are numerous, are erected on a very fine site containing several acres of freehold land. There is a splendid supply of water at all seasons of the year, so that the work is carried on uninterruptedly. There are tan and other pits, which are constantly in use, the hides and skins being moved on as the manufacturing process proceeds, all descriptions of crop, kip, and fancy leathers being turned out in quantities. The factory buildings, which are of brick, vary from one to three stories in height, and there is a very fine chimney stack for carrying off the smoke. Full and complete machinery of the most modern type has been procured from the best British makers, so as to enable the firm to carry on the works to the best advantage. A large horizontal steam engine drives the plant, and forty hands are regularly employed on the works. Messrs. Michaelis, Hallenstein and Farquhar are sole agents in New Zealand for “Jones'” celebrated sewing machines, and as they keep a stock in the Colony they can supply at short notice not only complete machines, but any parts that may be required.