McMillan and Thompson (Robert McMillan and Henry Thompson), Builders, Contractors, Undertakers and Monumental Masons, Gibson's Quay, Hokitika. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. P.O. Box 26. Private residences:— Mr. McMillan, Sale Street; Mr. Thompson, Weld Street. The firm's freehold premises are built on a double section with a frontage of 30 feet. They include an ironmongery store, well equipped with a full and complete stock of furnishing and building materials. Messrs McMillan and Thompson have a most complete plant for the carrying out of the work entrusted to them. Their machinery is driven by means of a Campbell's gas engine. Among the buildings which testify to the enterprise and ability of this firm may be mentioned the Hokitika Club and Horticltural Hall and the business premises of Messrs Thomas Cahill, E. J. Lloyd and J. H. Arthur. Besides transacting an extensive business as builders, the firm does a considerable trade as undertakers, and imports the best monumental materials direct from Italy. In all cases the firm's customers can depend upon prompt and efficient service.

Mr. Robert McMillan , the senior partner of the firm, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1861. When quite an infant he came to New Zealand with his parents in the ship “Brother's Pride,” well known to old colonists on account of forty-nine deaths occurring through fever during the voyage, and two after the vessel was quarantined. He commenced to work at his trade with Messrs Shain and McGregor, of Hokitika, but left page 510 them after three or four years and went to Christchurch, where he was enabled to gain further experience with Mr. D. Reese. He eventually returned to Hokitika, and was with the firm of Sinclair and Jack for some years. Mr. McMillan is a prominent member of all the local sports clubs, in the interests of which he has always been a hard and intelligent worker.

Mr. Henry Thompson is a son of Mr. W. A. Thompson, a coal merchant in Hokitika. He was born in Hokitika, in 1874, and joined Messrs Sinclair and Jack, whose business Mr. Thompson, in conjunetion with Mr. McMillan, took over on the the death of the surviving partner in 1895. As a footballer, Mr. Thompson has done a good deal of work as one of the Hokitika Club's first fifteen.