Mr. James Bennie Reid, the Representative in New Zealand of the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Limited, is the second son of Mr. John Reid, of Elderslie Station, Otago. Born in Australia and educated at the Dunedin High School, Mr. J. R. Held was brought up to station life, and subsequently entered into partnership with Mr. Maclean, of Dunedin. under the style of Reid and Maclean, as auctioneers and general agents. Several years later Mr. Reid became managing director of the Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand, whose business was afterwards purchased by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Limited. Mr. Reid then accepted the position of representative in New Zealand for the above-named company.