Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Fernandos, Nicholas, Fishmerchant and Curer, 161 Lambton Quay, Wellington. Telephone 105. Bankers, Colonial Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Fernandos is a native of the Island of Ithaca, Greece, and worked his passage as a sailor to Melbourne in the ship “Douglass” in 1873. The year following he arrived in Wellington, and for three years worked on the West Coast goldfields. In 1877 he settled in Wellington, and commenced the above business, which has been conducted in the premises he now occupies for over eight years. His trade has now reached very large proportions; six hands are employed in the shop and curing-house, in addition to between thirty and forty men who are engaged in fishing on the coast. Mr. Fernandos, in his efforts to supply the large and growing demand for fresh and cured fish, has built a steam trawler of considerable size, named the “Ithaca,” after his native place. This vessel is fitted up with every improvement in the way of machinery, etc. She requires four men to work her, and the result page 704 has been satisfactory to her enterprising owner. A constant supply of fresh fish is always available at Mr. Fernandos' central establishment. Medals and certificates of merit have been gained by him at the various exhibitions at which he has competed. In 1885, at the local exhibition, in the following year in the Colonial and Industrial, at Melbourne in 1888, and at Paris in 1889, Mr. Fernandos secured certificates and medals for preserved whitebait, lobster, etc. The premises, which are commodious, are kept thoroughly clean. The floorage space is about 4000 square feet, including the curing and smoke-house, which is situated behind the shops. Mr. Fernandos' trade extends far and wide. In addition to supplying leading hotels, clubs, and families in and around Wellington, he holds the present contracts for supplying the Union Steamship Co., New Zealand Shipping Co., Shaw, Savill and Albion Co., and Huddart, Parker and Co.