Craig, James and Co. , Ironmongers and Timber Merchants. Thames Street, Oamaru; Manager, Mr. Walter Williamson. This old established firm occupies central premises in the main street of Oamaru, and does a large business.

Mr. Walter Williamson , Manager of Messrs Craig and Co.'s business, was born near Bradford, Yorkshire. England, in 1850. He was educated at Knaresborough, where he was brought up to mercantile life, and came to Port Chalmers in 1878, by the ship “Euterpe.” He settled in the Oamaru district, where, in 1880, he entered the service of Messrs Craig and Co., and worked through the various departments of the business until he became manager, which he has been for a good many years. Mr. Williamson was for some time a member of the Oamaru North School committee. He was married, in 1883, to a daughter of Mr. T. M. Cunninghame. Town Clerk of Oamaru, and has one son.

Brown, H. and Co. (John Marshall Brown and Harry Brown), Cycle Engineers, Wear Street, Oamaru. This firm was founded in September, 1902, and the premises consist of a stone building containing shop and workshop. Messrs Brown and Co. are agents for Swift Cycles, and make a specialty of repairing.

Mr. John Marshall Brown , the Senior Partner, is further referred to as Mayor of Oamaru.

Mr. Harry Brown , the Junior Partner, was born in Oamaru, in 1832, and learned his page 538 trade with the Federal Cycle Company. He is a member of the American Order of Odd-fellows, and as a volunteer belongs to the Queen's Rifles.

Mill, J. and Co. , Stevedores and Wcol Dumpers, Breakwater, Oamaru. Head Office, Port Chalmers. The Oamaru branch of this firm's business is conducted in a large iron store, which contains a complete plant for wool dumping, and has a storage capacity equal to 60,000 sacks.

Mr. Edward Hounsfield Barber , Manager of Messrs Mill and Co.'s Oamaru branch, was born in Yorkshire. England, in 1870. He was educated at the Manchester Grammar School, and came to Port Chalmers by the s.s. “Celtic.” in 1880. He took terms at the Auckland University for three years, and became Mathematical and Science Master of St. John's College, Auckland. After four years' service in that position Mr. Barber went to London in connection with a mining company, which he succeeded in floating. On returning to New Zealand he was employed for a time by Messrs Nelson Brothers, Limited, at Tomoana, and was afterwards transferred to the Ocean Beach Freezing Works, at the Bluff. Mr. Barber joined the firm of J. Mill and Co. as manager of its Bluff branch, and during the two years in which he had charge, the business developed there very considerably. He was transferred to his present position in Oamaru, in 1903. Mr. Barber was married, in 1895, to a daughter of Mr. J. H. Witheford M.H.R., Auckland, and has three sons. He is referred to in another article as captain of the Oamaru Rifles.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. E. H. Barber.

Ogilvie, J. And Son (James Ogilvie, and Charles Ogilvie), Ironmongers, Plumbers, and Tinsmiths. Thames Street, Oamaru. This business was established by the senior partner, in 1869, and is carried on in a two-storey stone building comprising shop, workshop, and residence. There is a very complete plant in the manufacturing departments for the goods required, and a full stock of hardware is maintained. Mr. James Ogilvie, the founder of the firm, was born in Edinburgh, in 1840, and served a seven years' apprenticeship as a plumber, tinsmith and gasfitter in his native city. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “James Nicol Fleming” in 1866, and was in Southland for three years before founding his present business at Oamaru. Mr. Ogilvie served as a member of the Borough Council for two years; for about four years he was on the committee of the Benevolent Society, and he has also been on the school committee. Before leaving Scotland he was for five years a member of the volunteers. As a Freemason Mr. Ogilvie is attached to Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning, and belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter; and he is also a member of the Lodge of Druids. He was married, on the last day of 1859, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Russell, of Leith, Scotland, and has six sons and nine daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters have died.

Reid And Gray , Engineers and Ironfounders, Otago Implement and Machinery Works, Thames and Eden Streets, Oamaru. Head establishment, Dunedin. Telephone 60. P.O. Box 32. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence of manager, Eden Street. A full description of this well known firm appears in another part of this work under Dunedin City. The Oamaru branch, which was originally the headquarters of the business, is erected on a freehold section of over one acre in extent. The buildings are in Oamaru stone, and contain blacksmithing machinery, carpentering, and horseshoeing departments. There is also a five horse-power portable steam-engine, and a complete plant for repairing all kinds of agricultural impiements.

Mahan, photo.
Mr. J. Ogilvie.