New Zealand Shipping Company . The Southland branch of the New Zealand Shipping Company was opened in 1878, and early in the “eighties” commenced the export of frozen mutton by freezing on board the sailing clippers “Mataura” and “Opawa” at Bluff. It was, however, not until 1893 that the company's steamers “Ruahine,” “Kaikoura,” “Mataura,” and others included Bluff among the ordinary ports of call for frozen meat, but since then they have called at frequent intervals, especially during the winter months when rabbits and turnip-fed sheep are more plentiful than in other parts of the Colony.

Mr. Robert Dunlop , Manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Southland branch since 1892, has been longer in the shore service of the company than any other officer. He joined the Lyttelton office in 1874, and was accountant and acting-manager at Wellington for eleven years before coming to Invercargill. Mr. Dunlop was born in Canterbury, and for six years was at school in Scotland. He is a member of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, and represents its interest on the Bluff Harbour Board.

Union Steam Ship Company Of New Zealand, Limited . The first representative in Invercargill of this popular shipping corporation was the British and New Zealand Mortgage Company, which relinquished the agency upon the establishment of the branch in 1884 under the present manager, Mr. Charles R. Edmunds. The company's export freights have greatly increased in volume, owing to the enormous development in the growth of cereals in the Southland district.

Mr. Charles R. Edmunds was born at Edgbaston, near Birmingham, England, in 1851, and is the youngest son of Mr. Henry Edmunds, managing director of the Midland Bank, Birmingham. He arrived in New Zealand in 1881, joined the Union Company, took charge of the Gisborne agency during 1883–4, and was afterwards appointed to Invercargill.