City Flour Mills, Bycroft Limited (James Hume, manager), Flour Millers and Biscuit Manufacturers, Shortland Street, Auckland. The business of Bycroft, Limited, is the oldest established flour-milling industry in the Auckland province. Its inception dates back to over forty years ago, when Mr. John Bycroft started as a miller in the old windmill at Epsom, which is still in existence, serves as a landmark of the old times when the Maoris used to bring grain in kits to be ground at the mill. About 1854 Mr. Bycroft bought a mill at Onehunga, run by water power, the water supply being taken from the Onehunga springs. He carried on the business there until his death, when he was sucseeded by his son, Mr. John Bycroft, junior, who was shortly afterwards joined in partnership by Mr. C. J. Stone, the latter having bought an interest in the business previous to the death of its founder. The business increased rapidly under the management of the new firm, and it finally became apparent that, to keep pace with the times, and the growing trade, it would be necessary to move to Auckland, and arrange for larger premises and greater facilities for manufacturing. This course having been decided upon, the Shortland Street property was purchased about twenty years ago, and a large mill was erected. The firm continued in existence until 1884, when Mr. C. J. Stone died, and it was decided to turn the business into a limited liability company. This was accomplished in the early part of 1885. From that date the company's business was carried on by various managers, until lately, when it was thoroughly reorganised, and the management placed in the hands of Mr. James Hume, who controls affairs at present. In 1890 the stone process was discarded for the roller machinery, almost universally used at the present time, and the mill was refitted with the latest improvements and appliances. The premises, which have a frontage to Shortland Street of over 80 feet, and a depth of about 240 feet, consist of two large buildings, respectively two and three stories in height. There is also a celler or ground floor extending throughout the entire depth and width. The company manufactures two brands of flour, the “Snowdrift” and the “Tulip,” both of which are high in favour with the public. The biscuit factory is worked in connection with the mill, and is well equipped with the most modern plant and machins try, and the biscuits are well and favourably known in the Colony. At the Auckland Mining and Industrial Exhibition of 1898–9, the company was awarded a gold medal for its biscuits, with special mention for excellence and uniformity of quality. It was also awarded gold medals for its “Snowdrift” and “Tulip” flour, and for its wheatmeal.

Mr. James Hume, Manager for Messrs Bycroft, Limited, was for thirty-four years manager of the Hamilton branch and other Walkato agencies of the Bank of New Zealand. He was born at Selkirk, Scotland, In 1837, educated at the local Grammar School, and arrived in Auckland in 1858, per ship “Kingston,” Captain Weekes. Mr. Hume entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand in 1861, and remained at the Auckland office until the early part of 1864, when he was deputed so open the first Waikato agency at Ngaruawahia, where he remained until 1876. During that period he opened branches at Hamilton, Cambridge, and Te Awamutu, subsequently making the first-mentioned town, the Waikato headquarters of the bank. Mr. Hume took a deep interest in the welfare of the Waikato, and was president of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association and chairman of the Hamilton West school committee.

Mr. James Hume.

Doonin, Thomas William, Grocer and Tea Merchant, Hobson Street, Auckland. Mr. Doonin may be looked upon as one of Auckland's representative business men, as he has been engaged in trade in the city for about forty-two years. He was born in the North of Ireland in the year 1829, and educated and brought up to business in that country. In 1849 he came to New Zealand, and after some business experience, he served through the Waikato war with the rank of Garrison Quartermaster and Acting Paymaster to the Auckland militia. In 1856 he established himself in business in Queen Street, but after a while removed to Hobson Street, page 409 where he remained till 1861. In that year he purchased a block of land at the corner of Victoria and Hobson Street, where he erected a commodious two storey building. Five years later, however, he sold that property and purchased the land on which his present premises are built. After the second Maori war was over he purchased another building in Queen Street, where he did a large wholesale and retail trade. In 1870 he disposed of the Queen Street property and afterwards purchased a brick building in Karangahape Road and conducted a large cash business till 1891, when he disposed of his brick store and resolved to content himself with the connection obtained in his Hobson Street shop. Since 1887 Mr. Doonin has conducted a purely retail trade. In common with all classes of the community, Mr. Doonin made heavy losses during the years of depression in Auckland, and also by the failure of the Bank of Auckland in 1865, but he has always been able to keep faith with all his business engagements; which is an honourable record for a man who has experienced the vicissitudes of over forty years of business in a new country. Mr. Doonin has always taken a prominent part in church matters, and has held office as vestryman of St. Matthew's Church for over forty years. He is a trustee of the Auckland Orphan Home, and has the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends who recognise him as a colonist of sterling worth.

Mr. T. W. Doonin.

Ellyett, A. J., Family Grocer and Provision Merchant, 52 Hobson Street, Auckland. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Ellyett was born in Auckland, in 1863, and is a son of Mr. J. Ellyett, the well-known grocer of Queen Street, whose business he managed for ten years. The present business was established some years ago, and Mr. Ellyett rapidly acquired a good connection, one by no means confined to the city; in fact, he lately had to move from 170 Hobson Street into larger premises at his present address. He has a far reaching and growing connection with the country districts, north and south, and does besides a good trade with many of the best families in the city. He keeps full stocks of general groceries, provisions, etc. Mr. Ellyett is well known in musical circles, and has been an active member of several leading musical societies.

Mr. A. J. Ellyett's Premises.

Gunson, W., and Co., Grain and Produce Merchants and Commission Agents, Customs Street East, Auckland. Telephone 398. Mr. William Gunson was born in 1851, at Ayside, Lancashire, England, and is the son of Mr. James Gunson, timber merchant and bobbin manufacturer. He was educated at Stavely, and came to New Zealand in 1873. For some years Mr. Gunson was in the employ of the once well-known firm of Messrs. Jakins and Wilcox, grain and provision merchants, Customs Street, Auckland, and there he became familiar with the business which he has since followed. Establishing himself in 1881. Mr. Gunson has met with considerable success commercially, and socially is greatly respected. For twenty-one years he was a teacher in the Pitt Street Wesleyan Sunday School. He is now circuit steward of the Pitt Street Circuit, and trustee for several of the church properties. Mr. Gunson represented the same circuit at the annual conferences of 1896–97, and was a member of the general conference of the Wesleyan body, held in Auckland in 1897. As a member of the Mt. Eden School Committee and in a variety of other ways, Mr. Gunson has most unobtrusively done great service in promoting the welfare of the district in which he resides. Mr. Gunson was for several years a member of the Auckland Harbour Board. In 1877 he was married to Miss Burton, daughter of the late Mr Joseph Burton, of Bradbury, England, and has one daughter and three sons.

Mr. W. Gunson.

Laxon, Neill and Co., Limited (John M. Laxon and Robert Neill), Grain and Produce Merchants, Gore Street, Auckland. The senior partner is elsewhere referred to as a member of the Borough Council of Newmarket, and as an ex-mayor of the borough.

The Northern Roller Milling Company, Ltd. This company's mill is what was known as the Eight Hours Roller Mill, which was built by the late Mr. J. C. Firth, and is now run in conjunction with the roller mills formerly known as John Lamb's, under the management of Mr. Peter Virtue. Both the mills are of the modern type, and both are up to date, but the Eight Hours 11 is much the finer of the two. The five floors of this immense establishment are closely packed with machines of American manufacture, all dependent upon each other and engaged in the one operation of preparing flour and other products of wheat. The process vividly shows the great advance flour-milling has made from the millstones and flour-dressers of a few years ago to the wonderful combination of roller mills, scalpers, purifiers, centrifugals, universal flour-dressers, dust-collectors, wheat-cleanes, brushers, graders, and elevators now in use. The wheat is shot from the sacks into a bin, whence it is elevated into automatic weighers, which record the weight of the wheat as it passes into bins with a capacity of 40,000 bushels. After going through separators, scourers, brushers, blowers, and cockle separators, in which all imperfect grains, weeds, chaff, and dust are removed, the cleaned wheat passes along a conveyer to the mill proper, where it is again automatically weighed, to show the exact loss in the cleaning operations. It is then deposited in a grader, where the large and small grains are separated and passed on to the respective roller mills for the first break operations. After traversing seven miles of elevators, spouts, and conveyors, the separations are finally made, and the flour of the various grades passes through the respective packers page 410 into sacks and bags of the requisite sizes. Not a pound of wheat or flour is handled after the wheat is first shot from the sack. The capacity of the mills is 60 tons of flour per day, and, run on full time, they require about 900,000 bushels of wheat per annum. The machinery is driven by a Corliss double engine, of 250 horse-power nominal. The mills known as Lamb's are also very complete and efficient, but they differ from the Quay Street Mills to the extent that the machinery throughout is of the English pattern. The turnover of the two mins is equal to about £100,000 per annum.

Peet, W. And J., Family Grocers, Tea Dealers, etc., Co-operative Store, Karangahape Road, Auckland. Telephone, 731. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This business was established in 1889 and since then very good progress has been made. The premises are of two stories, the frontage to Karangahape Road being thirty feet by a depth running through to Cross Street, from which there is a business entrance, and where the stables and stores are located. Ten assistants are employed in the business, four horses and two delivery vans are kept going, and a good trade is done in town and country. The “Ok” is the firm's special brand of tea, and in this an increasing trade is done, three hands being constantly employed in this branch. Mr. William Peet, who was born in London, came to this Colony with his parents, and was educated in Auckland. He learned his trade with the late well-known grocery firm of Glanville and Ellyett. In 1884 he started business on his own account in Wellington Street, and five years later he removed to his present address, and was then joined by his brother who was born in Auckland and educated and trained for business in the city.

Whitehead, Frederick, Tea Specialist and Grocer, 81 Victoria Street, Auckland. Private residence, Vincent Street. Telephone, 503. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Few colonist have had a wider experience than Mr. F. Whitehead. He was born at Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, on the 1st of July, 1840, educated at Edenfield House, under Principal John Croom Lane, and articled to the tea and provision trade with Mr. John Chesman, of Great Grimsby. Owing to lameness he was released at seventeen from his indentures and removed to Whitby, where he entered the employment of Messrs Corney and Andrew, wholesale and retail confectioners, as clerk and assistant. At eighteen he decided to try his fortunes in London, where he served three years in the wholesale tea house of Messrs R. A. Wilson and Co., of the Society of Friends. At twenty he was examining teas at the London Docks, and attending Mincing Lane market; but he resigned twelve months later, and again went into the country trade, taking in succession the management of branch houses at Bushey and Pinnen, for Mr. Henry Kingham, of Watford. At twenty-three he again returned to Grimsby to manage his brother-in-law's business. In 1864 Mr. Whitehead took ship for Auckland, where he landed on the 4th of November, by the “British Trident.” Early in 1865 he went to Hokitika, but soon returned page 411 to Auckland, where he commenced business in Hobson Street, as partner in the firm of Whitehead and Airey. Business, however, proved to be on the down grade, and he went to Greymonth early in 1866, and spent his time in mining, until the Thames goldfields broke out, when he removed to the Thames. There he was made a Government mining assessor, and was also member of the Mining Conference under the Hon. J. Williamson, superintendent of the Province of Auckland, and manager of several properties. He afterwards left mining as a calling, and returned to commerce, in connection with which he successively represented Mr. Issac Phillips, Messrs W. J. Vance and Co., Mr. John Buchanan, and other leading merchants of Auckland, and holds first class certificates for his various services. Mr. Whitehead took over his present business in 1875, when he re-built the premises, and has since conducted a trade of varying magnitude. As a trader and citizen he is trusted and esteemed, and as a business expert his services have been requisitioned by the leading merchants of the city, where his labours have given the greatest satisfaction.

Winn, William, Family Grocer and Provision Merchant, 20, Karangahape Road, Auckland. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Winn's premises are conveniently arranged, and cover an area of thirty feet by fifty feet, with good cellar storage. Mr. Winn devotes himself almost exclusively to his private affairs. He has secured a good connection, and does an extensive and ever-increasing business.

Hallett, Henry John David, Head Assistant in the Dress Department of the Direct Supply Company, Auckland, was born in Gisborne in 1872, and educated at Alexandra. He has had exceptional experience in his calling, having been for eighteen months with Messrs. David Clarkson and Sons, warehousemen, Christchurch, six years with Messrs. T. and J. Thomson, the well-known drapers, of Timaru, and for two years in charge of the Manchester department of the Napier Drapery Company at Napier. In 1896 he accepted an engagement with the Direct Supply Company, and was for some time in the head establishment at Auckland. In May, 1897, Mr. Hallett was sent to Coromandel to take charge of the branch business there. He is now head assistant in the Company's dress department in Auckland.

Mr. H. J. D. Hallett.

Auckland From Mount Eden.