The New Zealand Express Company, Limited (Campbell and Crust), General Carriers, Baggage, Customs, Shipping, and Express Forwarding Agents. Head office, Dunedin. General Manager, Mr. Henry Crust. Wellington branch office, Grey Street. Telephone 92; P.O. Box 348. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Cable and Telegraphic address, “Crust,” Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. Codes, A.B.C., 4th Edition, Scotts' and A.1. Branches, Auckland, Christchurch, Invercargill, Oamaru and Gore; agencies in all the principal towns of the Colony and in the leading commercial cities of the world. There are few businesses in New Zealand that have made such rapid progress as that of the Company above named. Established in Dunedin in the year 1867 by Messrs. Duncan Campbell and Henry Crust, under the style of Campbell and Crust, the firm came into existence as carters and carriers. In those days it was a very small concern, only four traps with a like number of horses being employed in connection with the business. After twelve years, during which the volume of trade had steadily increased as a natural result of careful attention to the interests of the public, Messrs. Campbell and Crust added the express forwarding department to the business, at the same time adding “New Zealand Express Company” to the title of the firm. They then first undertook to collect goods, parcels and baggage at any address, and to forward and deliver the same at through rates to any other place without trouble to either consignor or consignee. As they have acted up to their motto, which is “safety, promptitude and economy,” it is not surprising that their business has proved successful. It was necessary immediately upon the establishment of this branch of the business that agencies for the distribution of parcels and goods should be opened in every important centre of population within the Colony, and that responsible correspondents should be secured in other parts of the world. As the page 757 result of this departure was a vastly increased trade, it was soon found necessary to open branch offices in the principal towns. In 1883 Mr. Campbell died, and since his death the whole of the practical management of the business has devolved upon Mr. Crust. In 1895 the concern was formed into a private limited liability company. To give an idea of the magnitude of the business conducted by the New Zealand Express Company, it may be stated that about fifty thousand packages of various sizes pass through the Company's offices during a month, and that they keep about forty conveyances of their own constantly engaged. The head office at Dunedin is under the personal supervision of Mr. Crust, his son being in charge at Invercargill. The Wellington branch is managed by Mr. G. F. Gibb, the Christchurch branch is under the care of Mr. William Ensom, while the Auckland branch is controlled by Mr. Joseph Miller. Altogether there are agencies in eighty towns throughout the Colony, apart from Australia and elsewhere Between fifty and sixty hands are employed by the Company, the wages amounting to about £500 per month. The New Zealand Express Company act as baggage agents for Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son. In every seaport a representative of the firm visits each steamer on arrival. At all the branch offices large and complete sample-rooms are provided for the use of commercial travellers, whose samples receive special attention, the Company's staff undertaking to enter on sight such goods at the Customs, and to obtain refunds of deposits on departure from the Colony. Mr. Henry Crust, the surviving founder of this large and flourishing business, is an enterprising, energetic man. Born at Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, England, in the year 1847, he with his parents left for Victoria in 1851. Mr. Crust was educated there, and in the year 1862 came to New Zealand. He was engaged in stock-riding on a station in the South Island for three years. Afterwards he went to Dunedin, where he started in business with the late Mr. Duncan Campbell, as above described. That partnership proved to be the foundation of one of the best carrying, customs, shipping, baggage, and express forwarding agencies in the Southern. Hemisphere. Mr. Crust's personal qualities have contributed not a little to his success in life. He is admired as an energetic, capable, business man, and is esteemed as a gentleman, pleasant, social and genial, whom, privately or commercially, it is a pleasure to meet. Mr. Crust well deserves the success he has attained.