The Bank Of Australasia at Stratford occupies a prominent site in the principal street. It was opened as an agency in 1891, and in October of the following year was created a branch. The bank does a good business, and is under the management of Mr. F. G. Kimbell.

The Union Bank Of Australia, Limited, opened in Stratford in 1903.

Mr. W. G. C. France was appointed to the management of the Stratford branch of the Union Bank in March, 1905. He has had banking experience in England, Australia, and New Zealand, and had been sixteen years in the service of the Union Bank, which he joined in London.

The Bank Of New Zealand in Stratford was opened as an agency several years ago, and established as as a branch, in the year 1891. It is centrally situated between the National Bank and the Bank of Australasia, and has a good connection in the town and district.

Mr. Henry Curnow, formerly Manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Stratford, is the only surviving son of the late Mr. John Curnow, who was a well-known merchant in Melbourne, Australia. Mr. Curnow was born in Melbourne in 1861, and educated there at the Scots College. After a short experience in a solicitor's office, he, at the age of seventeen, came to New Zealand to take an appointment in the Bank of New Zealand at Christchurch. His first move was to Greytown North, and shortly afterwards he was transferred to Wellington, where he was quickly promoted to the position of senior ledger kceper. Then he went to the Te Aro branch as accountant, and remained about six years, and in 1892 was appointed to the management of the Stratford branch. In 1892 Mr. Curnow married the daughter of Captain Hyde, of Nelson. The late Mr John Curnow, M.A., LL.B., who was formerly second master in Mr. Farquhar Me-Rae's college and grammar school at Auckland, and, later, Inspector of Schools for Canterbury, was a brother, and Mr. W. Curnow, sometime editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, a cousin of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Henry Curnow was transferred from Stratford to the management of the Bank of New Zealand at Whangarei.

Mr. H. Curnow.

The National Bank Of New Zealand at Stratford is situated on a corner site at the intersection of Broadway and Fenton Street. It was opened in the year 1890 as an agency, doing business on one day in the week only; but in 1894 it was raised to the status of an ordinary branch, under the management of Mr. W. M. Bayly. The building now in use was completed early in 1897, and is one of the finest in Stratford.

Mr. William Morant Bayly, Manager of the National Bank at Stratford, was born in New Plymouth in the year 1867, and is a son of Mr. Daniel Bayly, of Wanganui, who came to New Zealand in 1841 by the ship “Amelia Thompson.” Mr. Bayly was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate school, joined the National Bank, and has been stationed at New Plymouth, Wanganui, Napier, and Wellington. He is secretary of the Stratford Tennis Club, and a leading player.

Mr. W. M. Bayly.