Mr. James Barry, whose name appears first in the style of the firm, has long been well known in the Colony. A man with a bright eye, a firm step, and of upright figure, is a pleasant, although not frequent sight to be met with in a day's journey, but the writer had the pleasure of meeting one such in the course of his many interviews with the leading builders of Wellington, in the person of Mr. James Barry, who owns and resides at a fine residence in Moturoa Street, surrounded by a beautiful garden. Born on the 1st of March, 1836, he is, at the time of writing, fifty-nine years of age, being a native of Morayshire, Scotland, where he was educated. After leaving school he was sent to Aberdeen and apprenticed to Alexander Rennie, the famous builder, of Commerce Street. When his term of apprenticeship had expired he went to Glasgow and worked at his trade for some twelve months and gained a most useful experience in every department of his calling. Like many others, Mr. Barry had heard tales of the gold which was to be had for the picking up in Victoria; so he left the Mother Country in the year 1858, embarking by the sailing ship “Rising Sun,” and arrived in Melbourne a few months later. He did not stay in that city long, having made up his mind to a gold-mining life. Ballarat was the first place of call, and here he, with hundreds of others, mingled in the goldfields, and engaged in the all-absorbing occupation of searching for the precious metal. Mr. Barry did not meet with success, so he returned to Melbourne and worked at his trade for a little time, when his attention was drawn to New Zealand by the glowing accounts of the goldfields there. In 1861 he made up his page 600 mind to cast in his lot with New Zealand, and take his chance in that young Colony. Mr. Barry relates many incidents and anecdotes connected with, his life on the Otago goldfields, where he went after his arrival in New Zealand, which would be highly interesting did space permit of that publication. He encountered many disappointments at that place, but when fortune smiled upon him he was content, and when it frowned, he, with customary good humour, waited for the turn of the tide,” which it is said comes to every man sooner or later. After three years spent in the South, he came to the Empire City and worked at his trade once more. It was then that he met his friend, Mr. William McDowall, and founded the firm which turned out to be, perhaps, the most successful in that line in the city. After having amassed a fortune, Mr. Barry and his partner no longer engaged in business. Mr. Barry is, however, a director of the Wellington Building Society, and takes general interest in the welfare of the city. His character and reputation rank high in social circles, and his record as a business man and as a retired gentleman go to show his many excellent qualities.