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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Gear, James

Gear, James, Settler, Okariai, Porirua. Born in 1837 in Somersetshire, England, the subject of this notice was brought up to business as a butcher from the age of ten years. After arriving in Melbourne in 1857, he was employed at his trade for four years, and came over to the Gabriel's Gully rush in Otago in the early sixties. Eighteen months later Mr. Gear came to Wellington and established himself in Lambton Quay, taking a shop opposite Mr. George Moore's wharf. About two years afterwards he bought a business conducted by Mr. Ling, which had been originally founded by Mr. Luxford, who established the first butcher's shop in Wellington. Subsequently Mr. Ling joined Mr. Gear in a partnership, which subsisted for many years. After Mr. Ling finally retired from the firm Mr. Gear carried on a large and growing business, to which the meat preserving branch was added. The trade became so considerable that Mr. Gear decided on the formation of a public company—the Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of New Zealand, Limited—of which he has been managing director since the date of its incorporation in 1882. Mr. Gear has steadily declined to enter local politics, his time and energies having been fully absorbed in his large business, which was considerably increased by the acquirement of the Te Horo station—referred to elsewhere in these pages. In 1890 he was unanimously elected patron of the Wellington United Butchers' Association, which office he still holds.

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In 1879 Mr. Gear was married to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Milstead, of Wellington, settler, and has a son and two daughters.

Mr. J. Gear.

Mr. J. Gear.