Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Tailors

Tailors.

Acme Tailoring Company (Emmanuel Martin, proprietor), 35 Victoria Street West, Auckland. Branch, College Road, Ponsonby. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand, Mr. Martin is a native of Auckland, and was apprenticed to Mr. C. Langsford, with whom he completed his term in 1882. After that he worked at his trade in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, and gained valuable experience. While he was in Sydney he became an expert cutter under Mr. A. Burnham, of the well-known firm of Messrs David Jones and Co., with whom he remained for thirteen months. Mr. Martin commenced his present business in 1892, with a single assistant, but he has developed a large trade by push and energy, and in consequence of the style and finish of all goods supplied by him. He now employs ten hands, and does a large business in the city and country districts. Mr. Martin's specialty is a system of self-measutrement, by which country customers may have suits made and a perfect fit guaranteed at town prices. By this means many people who have never met Mr. Martin personally have become his customers. Mr. Martin has agents in the chief towns throughout the Auckland provincial district. His business premises are of brick and two stories in height, and have a floorage space of 1300 square feet.

Browe, E. C., and Co., Hatters and Mercers, Tailors and Importers of Boots and Shoes, Queen Street, Auckland. This firm's premises stand opposite the “New Zealand Herald” buildings in Queen Street, to which they have a frontage of 26 feet. The building is two stories in height, and is well set off in front with large, handsome windows, in which the firm displays various lines of its stock to excellent advantage. A large business is done by the firm, not only at its headquarters, but also at its branch shop, at 244 Queen Street.

Cash, Edward, Merchant Tailor, Outfilter and Importer, 6 Wellestey Street, Auckland. This business was established in 1868, and has been for nearly a quarter of a century in the hands of the present proprietor. A good city and suburban trade is done, and the styles and stock of the establishment are both excellent. Mr. Cash personally superintends the business, and every article passes through his hands or under his inspection Mr. Cash was born in Belfast in 1845, learned his trade with his father, and as early as 1869 was in business in Belfast on his own account. In 1875 he came to this Colony, by the “Star of Germany,” and shortly after landing he purchased his present business. He is a Freemason, a Rechabite of twenty years' standing, and a member of the Primitive Methodist Church.

Davey And Son, Tailors, No. 5 Wellesley Street East, Auckland. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business was established by the senior partner, Mr. James Davey, in 1866, in Albert Street, and was subsequently removed to its present fashionable site. Mr. Davey, senior, was born at Exeter, Devonshire, England, in 1830. He learned his trade in Exeter, and afterwards carried on business in London, until 1865, when he emigrated to Auckland by the ship “Queen of the North.” Mr. Frederick Davey, the junior partner, was born in Auckland in 1871, and educated at Wellesley Street East School and privately. He learned his trade under his father's instruction.

Erickson, Andrew, Tailor, Wellesley Street East, Auckland. Mr Erickson was born in Sweden, in 1850, and arrived in Auckland in 1872. After residing in the principal cities of New Zealand for several years Mr. Erickson went to San Francisco, where he resided for two years, during which he gained experience in the art of tailoring. In 1885 he returned to Auckland, and commenced business at his present address.

Foster, J. and Co., Tailors and Outfitters. 145 Upper Symonds Street, Auckland. This business was established in 1892. The firm is a direct importer of all tweeds, worsteds, coatings, trimmings, and of every other article used in the trade. Its premises are conveniently situated, and consist of a two-storey brick building, with two work-rooms, where from fourteen to seventeen employees are kept constantly at work. Messrs Foster and Co. keep a traveller always “on the road” between the North Cape and Gisborne, and are well-known for their style and excellent fit. The business has greatly increased within recent years, and bids fair to be among the largest of its kind in Auckland.

Mr. James Foster (formerly managing partner) was born in the North of Ireland in 1872, and is a son of Mr. William Foster, of Ihumata. He came to Auckland by the ship “Alastor” in 1881, and was subsequently apprenticed to the tailoring trade. He was in the employment of Mr. Johnston, page 354 the well-known Gisborne tailor, for some time, and also gained afterwards, in various parts of the Colony, that experience which enabled him to open in business on his own account. Mr. Foster recently went to the Transvaal in South Africa.

Hanna, photo. Mr. J. Foster.

Hanna, photo. Mr. J. Foster.

Murchie, Malcolm, Tailor and Habit Maker, corner of shortland and O'Connell Streets, Auckland. Telephone, 646. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Murchie has been in business as a leading Auckland tailor for upwards of thirty years. His premises are of brick and admirably situated, and occupy the historic building once well-known as “The Bank of Auckland.” Mr. Murchie imports his goods from the best English, Scotch and Irish markets, and does a first-class trade He employs in all twenty-two hands, and his cutter has been brought from the fashionable centres of England. Mr. Murchie was born in 1831, at Arrau, in Buteshire, Scotland, and was educated there, his father, Mr. John Murchie, being a farmer on the island. After serving an apprenticeship in Glasgow with Mr. Johnston, tailor, of Renfield Street, Mr. Murchie gained further experience in Kilmarnock, where he remained five years. In 1863 he sailed for New Zealand by the ship “Robert Henderson,” and landed at the Bluff. He worked in Inyercargill till the winter of the following year, and then removed to Auckland, where, after serving for a few months as a journeyman, he established himself in business on his own account, in 1865 Mr. Murchie takes the greatest pains to give satisfaction to his customers in the important matters of style and of style and while giving the business his most careful personal attention, he also employs competent managers. Mr. Murchie is a Freemason of long standing, and is attached to Lodge St. Andrews No. 418. He is a prominent member of the North Shore Bowling Club. In 1868 Mr. Murchie was married to Miss Buchanan, daughter of Mr. Alexander Buchanan, of Kaurihohore, and has two daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Murchie and family made a trip to the Old World in 1885 and were away almost a year.

Hanna, photo. Mr. M. Murchie.

Hanna, photo. Mr. M. Murchie.

Possenniskie, Henry Louis, Tailor and Habit Maker, Victoria Arcade, 6 Shortland Street, Auckland. Telegraphic address, “Possenniskie,” Auckland, Telephone 1047. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Park Avenue. Mr. Possenniskie has been established since 1864, and for the past twenty years has occupied his present site, although the Arcade, of which the shop is a part, has not been re-erected more than fifteen years. The large workroom, where about twenty hands are employed, is on the top flat. Mr. Possenniskie's popularity as an employer may be inferred from the fact that several of his employees have been with him for nearly a quarter of a contury. A splendid stock of first-class tweeds, worsteds, etc., is kept, and Mr. Possenniskie attends personally to the cutting and to the general supervision of his business. Mr. Possenniskie was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1842, and learned his business in his native land. When seventeen years of age he went to London, where for five years he was engaged at his trade and gained wide experience. He then came to this Colony, per ship “Portland,” Captain Peters, and landed in Auckland on the 31st of August, 1864, when he almost immediately began in business on his own account. Mr. Possenniskie was marriod in 1876 to a daughter of the late Mr. Myer Levy, and has three daughter, and a son; his eldest son having died in 1893.

Potter, W. H., Tailor, Hatter and Mercer, 246 Queen Street, Auckland, Mr. Potter's business is particularly that of a gentlemen's outfitter, and it is siad that his “specialty suits” have caused more happy marriages than all the matrimonial agencies put together.

Sankey, Henry, Tailor and Outfitter, Karangahape Road, Auckland. Private address, Tennyson Street. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business was established by Mr. San-key in 1887, and has gradually increased. The present fine premises, which were erected some years since, are most central, and well situated in Karangahape Road. There is a handsome two-storey wooden building, with a frontage of about twenty-four feet. Mr. Sankey is a direct importer, and obtains goods in large quantities from English and Continental firms, besides being an extensive purchaser from the local warehouses. His trade extends throughout the whole of the Auckland province, and he has a number of customers residing in various other parts of the colony, even as far south as Christchurch. The work is for the greater part hand-sewn. Mr. Sankey was born in Kent in 1862, and came to Auckland at the early age of seven, with his parents, by the ship “Frenchman.” He was educated and brought up in Auckland, and subsequently decided to learn a trade for himself. After serving his apprenticeship with Mr. Arthur Wright, of Shortland Street, he went to Australia and gained further experience in the trade in both Queensland and New South Wales. He then returned to Auckland, and, having thoroughly learned the art of cutting, accepted the position of cutter to the late firm of Messrs Munro and Milligan, He held the position for seven years, and then he established his present business.

Mr. H. Sankey.

Mr. H. Sankey.

Swales, K. Harry, Merchant and Military Tailor, 131 Victoria Street, Auckland Branch at Coromandel. Mr. Swales was born page 355 in Ponsonby, Auckland, in 1863, and is a son of Mr. J. C. Swales, ex-councillor. He was first apprenticed to Mr. Ford, and subsequently served under Mr. J. Blackburn, of Queen Street, for four years, and was also foreman for Mr. A. Adams, of Grey Street. Mr. Swales was then in the employment of Mr. Wright, of Shortland Street, until 1890, when he commenced business on his own account. He is so popular with his customers that numerous orders come to him from those who have removed to distant districts. Mr. Swales is thoroughly attentive to his business, and is well qualified to work up a large connection. He has taken a prominent part in religious work, and is highly respected in that connection.

Mr. R. H. Swales.

Mr. R. H. Swales.

Wright, Arthur, Tailor, Shortland Street, Auckland. Mr. Wright is a native of Hammersmith, near London, and was apprenticed to Mr. Martin, of Tunbridge Wells, where he completed his term in 1853, and after that he worked at Poole's and Hill's in London. He arrived in New Zealand in 1859 by the ship “Nourmahal,” and founded the present business in 1860. Mr. Wright is an importer of tweeds, linings, etc., from Stewart and McDonald, and Arthur and Co., of Glasgow, Philip Evans and Son, of Stroud, and others. He makes a specialty of legal and clerical robes, and of breeches-making. During the Governorship of the Earl of Glasgow, Mr. Wright was tailor by appointment to his Excellency.

Auckland Police Station. Winkelmann, photo.

Auckland Police Station. Winkelmann, photo.