Cooke, William, and Sons
, General Storekeepers, High Street, Blenheim. This business was established by Mr. William Cooke, in a small store at the corner of High Street and Dashwood Street, in the year 1874, and, ten years later, he removed into the present commodious premises in High Street. There are several departments in the establishment, and full stocks of groceries, drapery, ironmongery, and other wares in general household use are kept. Messrs Cooke and Sons conduct an extensive trade throughout the district.
Mr. William Cooke
, of Messrs William Cooke and Sons, of High Street. Blenheim, was born on the 15th of November, 1843, near Belfast. Ireland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand in 1865, and, after working for about six months at road making in Auckland, he sailed by the schooner “Eclipse,” for the Hokitika diggings. The vessel, however, was wrecked in attempting to enter the Nelson harbour for supplies, and Mr. Cooke in company with several other hopeful and hardy colonists, undertook the journey from Nelson to the Buller on foot. About a year later, after considerable success on the goldfields, he went to Blenheim on foot, over the rugged, bush-clad, and, in parts, unexplored country that separated the Buller from Blenheim; and for a few years he took part in clearing and improving the land with the
early settlers in the Wairau. In 1869, Mr. Cooke was employed at Captain Dalton's sawmill, on the Picton Road, and five years later he established his present business, subsequently taking two of his sons into partnership with him. He was for four years a member of the Blenheim Borough Council. Mr. Cook is married, and has five sons and one daughter.
Daines, Walter Fox,
General Storekeeper, Grove Road, Blenheim. Private residence, Fell Street. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Daines' business premises have a frontage of 40 feet to Grove Road, and he is doing a good sound town and country trade. The business was established in 1888. Mr. Daines was born in Norwich, England, in 1856. When he was ten years of age he came to New Zealand with his parents in the ship “Wild Duck” (Captain Bishop), and landed at Wellington. Thence the family removed to Blenheim, where, after leaving school, he was appointed manager of Messrs R. and W. Parker's store in the Hon. Captain Baillie's bush, during the construction of the Blenheim-Picton railway. Five years later he purchased the business, and conducted it on his own account. After the railway had been finished and the sawmills worked out, Mr. Daines relinquished business in Baillie's bush in 1883, and removed to Blenheim, where he speedily found employment with the Messrs Parker, with whom
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he remained until 1888. He then established his present business, which he has carried
on successfully ever since. Mr. Daines has been associated with the Freemasons for many years, and his connection with the Foresters dates back to 1874.
Sowman, William Alfred,
Grocer, Market Street South, Blenheim. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Manse Road. This business has been established for some years, and is doing a good sound trade. The shop is in the heart of the town, and has a frontage of about 30 feet to Market Street. Mr. Sowman is well-known throughout the district, and has an extensive connection with town and country residents throughout the whole of Marlborough. He finds steady employment for several assistants, and keeps an express constantly running into the country. Mr. Sowman is sole agent in Marlborough for Cooper's flower and vegetable seeds, and also for the famous Kandewaller teas, which he circulates widely throughout the province. Like all other Marlborough grocers, he is connected with the produce trade, and he ships produce to Wellington, where he finds a ready market for it. Mr. Sowman was born in Nelson in 1862, and was educated at the Bishop's school. On leaving school he removed to Blenheim, where he was apprenticed in the grocery business to Messrs Litchfield and Son, with whom he remained for over twenty years. He was for more than twelve years a successful breeder of poultry, and took several first prizes at the Wellington and Nelson shows. Mr. Sowman is married and has for the past twenty-five years been associated with the Ancient Order of Foresters.
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