Mr. Frederic Barkas, Manager of the Christchurch Produce Department of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., was born at New-castle-on-Tyne in 1854. He was brought up as an analytical chemist, and was in charge of large chemical works near Newcastle-on-Tyne for some years. Mr. Barkas came to the Colony in 1881, as lecturer on chemistry and physics at the Lincoln Argicultural College. He joined the company in 1883 as salesman, and was appointed to his present position in July, 1896.