Mr. John Hunter, who is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, was brought up to the building and monumental trade. He arrived in Otago in 1862, and spent a considerable time on the goldfields with somewhat unsatisfactory results. In 1864 he settled in Dunedin, where he followed his trade in the monumental page 294 and stone carving line, until he became partner in the erection of the First Church on Bell Hill. Mr. Hunter came to Christchurch in 1872, and for four years he was foreman to the late Mr. William Stocks, to whose business he ultimately succeeded. About 1876 he entered into partnership with Mr Greig, and the firm of Messrs Greig and Hunter, contractors and builders, carried on a most successful business for many years. Some of the finest buildings around Christchurch were erected by the firm during the partnership. The Boys' High School, Girls' High School, portions of the Canterbury College buildings, the Grain Agency, Loan and Mercantile, and Hobbs' Buildings, two large additions to the Sunnyside Asylum, and numerous other important public buildings testify to the skill and general character of Messrs Greig and Hunter's workmanship. The firm ultimately dissolved partnership, and Mr. Hunter took over the business of the late Mr. Stocks, and has conducted it since 1894 under the title of Messrs John Hunter and Co.