Mr. John Fletcher Best, Sole Proprietor of this large business, is a son of the late Rev. Edward Best, of Auckland, whose portrait and biography appear on page 233 of the Auckland volume of this Cyclopedia. Mr. J. F. Best was born at Cork, Ireland, and at an early age accompanied his parents to New Zealand. He was educated at Dunedin and Christchurch. On leaving school he entered into commercial pursuits, and in conjunction with his former partner, Mr. Towne, started the present successful business in 1900; Mr. Towne retiring from the firm in the following year. Mr. Best always took a great interest in athletic sports, and is a member of the Canterbury Amateur and Cycle Club.