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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Printers, Stationers, Paper Merchants, Etc

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Printers, Stationers, Paper Merchants, Etc.

Braithwaite, Joseph , Wholesale and Retail Bookseller, Stationer and Fancy Goods Dealer, Braithwaite's Book Arcade, 38 Princes Street, Dunedin; Private residence, Dallon Bank, York Place. Mr. Braithwaite was born in England in 1848, and belongs to a very old English family. He left the Old Country with his parents for Melbourne in 1852, the voyage being saddened by the death of his mother at sea. He was educated at Colonel Templeton's school, Collingwood, and was termed the “aptest boy in the school.” In 1860 he arrived in Dunedin, and for a short time attended the school conducted by Mr. Livingstone in a building that then existed where Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewen's premises now stand in High Street. The death of his father at this period left him a lad of fifteen to fight the world alone. He started, however, in business as a bookseller in a shop about 12 feet by 12, in Farley's Arcade, then the only convenient spot in Dunedin where people could congregate and gossip and purchase their requirements. The business grew apace and necessitated removal to larger premises at the corner of the Arcade and High Street, where Mr. Braithwaite remained for fully twenty years, when the transfer to Princes Street was made. Mr. Braithwaite's business expanded with the growth of the city and “Braithwaite's Book Arcade” is recognised as one of the largest and most successful of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. In newspaper controversies from time to time, Mr. Braithwaite has displayed a clear grasp of polemic and scientific questions, shewing the intellectual value of his early tuition and long connection with standard and current literature.
The New Zealand Bible, Tract And Book Society has its headquarters in large and handsome premises at 48 Princes Street, Dunedin, near the Octagon, with
N.Z. Bible And Tract Depot.

N.Z. Bible And Tract Depot.

branches occupying prominent positions in Willis Street, Wellington, and in Dee Street, Invercargill. The society was founded in 1873, and the object of the institution is to promote, as far as possible, the distribution of Christian literature of an evangelical character, and thus prove an efficient helper of the cause of the Gospel. It has been incorporated by an Act of the New Zealand Parliament under the distinct understanding that none of its promoters shall derive any pecuniary benefit whatever from the business, except that the manager, if a member, shall be entitled to a salary. The whole of the proceeds are thus devoted to the furtherance of the work in hand. For eighteen years a well-fitted and stocked colporteur's van visited the more distant parts of Otago and Southland at a heavy financial loss annually, and another itinerating salesman travelled by rail, opening out his books near every station from Ashburton to Riverton, while a third travelled by sea, visiting annually most of the New Zealand ports. All these have had to be discontinued on account of the heavy losses incurred by the travelling agencies, which could not be recouped in other ways, as well as a local branch at Wanganui; but the society still continues to do good work in the circulation of the Scriptures and Christian literature, although in these days of active trade competition, the necessity is not nearly so urgent as formerly. About 7000 copies of the Holy Scriptures are annually issued from the depots, and an exceedingly large number of religious periodicals are scattered abroad. Invaluable as is the work of Christian ministers and Home missionaries, Sunday school teachers and Endeavourers, these cannot take the place, nor can their work succeed, without the help of good Christian reading, which this society has so largely contributed to bring within the reach of all. The staff of workers are all devoted Christian men, who realise that their work is a work for God and humanity. The manager at Dunedin, Mr. Walter L. Logie, has held his position since March, 1900. He had had over seventeen years' previous experience with the society. Mr. John Reith, of the late bookselling firm of Reith and Wilkie, is in charge at Wellington. Mr. Ernest Rosevear is the society's accountant.
Given, Andrew, and Co. , Paper Merchants, Wholesale Stationers, and Printers' Furnishers and Brokers, 195 Princes Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 1064. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Maitland Street. The proprietor of this large and extensive business was born in 1848 in Edinburgh, where he was educated at the Hamilton Place Private Academy. On the completion of his scholastic course he entered a legal office in Leith, but after a short time became apprenticed to the well-known firm of Messrs. Cowan and Co. (now Alexander Cowan and Sons, Ltd.), paper makers, of his native city. Five years later, when only nineteen years of age, and before the completion of his term, Mr. Given commenced to travel for the house. In 1873 he visited the Vienna Exhibition, also travelling in Germany and Austria, and doing business in London. He was appointed commercial manager of Messrs. Cowan's principal Edinburgh warehouse in 1875, at the same time making occasional business trips. After filling this important and responsible position for a few years, with complete satisfaction to his employers, Mr. Given was transferred to New South Wales to take charge of the Australasian business of the firm in their Sydney warehouse. When the direct steamers commenced to make regular trips to New Zealand. It was deemed advisable to establish an office in the Colony, and Mr. Given was sent to open the branch. From 1884 to 1890 he was in charge of the company's page 357 business in the Colony, and left the firm after twenty-seven years of faithful service to open out on his own account. The business thus established has developed with surprising rapidity, and now extends throughout the Colony. As a dealer in paper Mr. Given is known to be a very large importer, possibly the largest in the Colony. While his shipments include all descriptions of paper, he makes a specialty, amongst other lines, of “news” paper, in which his turnover is truly enormous, his contracts extending to a large proportion of the New Zealand journals. Not only does Mr. Given supply paper, but type, machinery, and every requisite required in the newspaper, stationery, and printing trade. His stocks are so large, too, that he is in a position to completely equip, at short notice, the largest
Mr. A. Given.

Mr. A. Given.

newspaper office in the Colony. Mr. Given is agent in New Zealand for Messrs Parsons Bros., of New York, and for other leading manufacturers. He represents Messrs. A. B. Fleming and Co., of Edinburgh and London, manufacturers of printing inks. Mr. Given's trade is steadily increasing in New Zealand, and his business is being extended in Australia—in fact, it has already been demonstrated that New Zealand can as readily supply Australia as the latter can supply this colony. Considerable developments in respect to the trade with the sister colonies may be looked for at no distant date. Mr. Given's Dunedin premises consist of the basement and cellar of the large and substantial building in Princes Street, and the warehouse extends through to Bond Street. The public and private offices are in front, the rest of the premises being utilised for storing, receiving, and packing the large stocks which are always being handled. The energetic proprietor makes periodical trips over New Zealand in the interests of his business, which has already become firmly established in the Colony. In 1883 Mr. Given was married to the youngest daughter of the late Mr. John Moncrief Robertson, solicitor to the Supreme Courts of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Swan and Co. (John Swan and James Swan), Engravers, Die-sinkers, and Engineers, Bath Street, Dunedin; Telephone 892; Bankers: Bank of New Zealand. The present firm was established in 1889 at the above address, where it carries on one of the leading die-sinking and engraving establishments in the South Island. The business also extends to the North Island, thus enhancing the success which has attended its very excellent productions. Messrs Swan and Co are also the inventors and makers of the Swanholm Gas and Oil engine (see the “Otago Daily Times” on the 8th of October, 1897.) Mr. John Swan, the senior partner, who was born in Dunedin in 1869, is the third son of the late Mr. Robert Swan, and was educated at the Albany Street school. He was apprenticed to Mr. S. Reading, formerly proprietor of the establishment, and after completing his term, became part proprietor along with his brother, Mr. James Swan. Messrs Swan have been associated with the Dunedin Amateur boating club, of which the late Mr. Swan was one of the vice-presidents. Mr. J. Swan is a comic amateur vocalist of great ability, and his talents are much appreciated by Dunedin audiences.

Sligo, Alexander , J.P., Bookseller, Stationer and Bookbinder, 42 George Street, Dunedin. Telephone, 410. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Established 1871. Mr. Sligo is an importer of all classes of stationery and books. He acts generally as a news agent, and conducts a considerable business as a bookbinder and paper ruler. Mr. Sligo is further referred to as a former member of Parliament.

Wilkie and Co., Limited , Wholesale and Retail Manufacturing Stationers, 92 Princes Street, Dunedin. This firm was founded by the late Mr. James Wilkie in the early seventies as booksellers and stationers, and began in premises situated in what was then known as the Princes Street Cutting. In 1885 it was decided to drop the bookselling department and take up the manufacture of stationery, for which purpose the firm took new premises at 92 Princes Street. These premises had to be enlarged at various times to accommodate the steadily increasing business, and in 1892 it was found necessary to secure new premises for the manufacturing departments. The factory is a large two-storey building opposite the Union Steamship Company's office, Water Street, with frontages also to Vogel and Cumberland Streets. The factory is replete with the very latest machinery in all the various branches, and the firm is well known throughout the colony for its high class lithographic work. From 1894 to 1902 the business was carried on under the same style, by Messrs W. G. Sommerville, P. L. Clarke, and T. Sommerville, and in 1902 the business was turned into a private Limited Liability Company, under the same management as formerly.

Wise, H. and Co. (Henry, Arthur, and George Wise), Publishers, Australian Mutual Provident Society's Buildings, Princes Street, Dunedin. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residences: Messrs H. and A. Wise, “Burkes”; Mr. G. Wise, 49 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Branches: Cathedral Square, Christchurch; Hay Street, Perth, West Australia; 108 Pitt Street, Sydney; 49 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne; King William Street, Adelaide; 53a Queen Street, Brisbane; Exchange Chambers, Hobart. “Wises' Directories” may be said to mark an era of New Zealand progression, as they have been coincident with the increasing trade of the Colonies. The first issue of the directories by the firm was “Wises' Dunedin Directory,” published in 1865, nearly thirty years ago; and it was followed later on by a Directory of
Mr. H. Wise.

Mr. H. Wise.

Hokitika, when gold was discovered there and a town formed. The colony having advanced during this time, a Directory of New Zealand was started; and the first issue was a small volume published in 1872. Although this was not a work of great magnitude — from a present day point of view — travelling from place to place for the compilation was not only difficult, but very expensive for so small a work. As the means of communication between the various towns became easier and cheaper, the trading population rapidly increased, and with increasing population so the directory increased; until it became in 1875, a large volume with 35 maps and plans of the various chief towns in the Colony. In 1880, owing to an increased demand from abroad for the directory, an office was opened in London; and in 1883 by permission of the Post Office, “Wises' Directory” came out as the New Zealand Post Office Directory, by which name it is well and favourably known outside the Colony as in it. With the opening of the London office, exporters of all kinds, both British and foreign, were made page 358 acquainted with New Zealand, and it added greatly to the facilities of the export trade, which was opened up shortly afterwards by direct steam service from Great Britain. As the population and trade of the Colony further increased, so also did the directory; and it gradually assumed greater proportions, until it is now a volume of 2000 pages, and requires a large staff of writers and compilers for its compilation alone. In the year 1884 Mr. Henry Wise opened offices in Melbourne for the publication of the “Victoria Post Office Directory,” and following that, made arrangements for a staff for New South Wales, opening offices there the same year for the issue of the “New South Wales Post Office Directory.” The large territory of New South Wales was completely gone over and the directory compiled in eight months' time; quick work for a first issue. At this time Messrs. George and Arthur Wise joined the firm as partners and under the able management of the triumvirate, operations were commenced in Queensland, to establish the “Queensland Official Directory”; the first issue being in 1890. Tasmania being at this time at the height of its prosperity with its mining industry, the “Tasmanian Post Office Directory” was issued. The offices and working staff of these directories having by this time become very numerous were able to undertake more work, and arrangements were made with the Government of West Australia to publish a directory for that Colony. Many difficulties had to be faced with this work as there were extensive townships scattered all over the Colony (which is 1,060,000 square miles in extent) without any mail communication at all with Perth. However with the complete and rapid system of working and compiling, which had matured so well under drilling and active management, compilation was rapidly completed in six months' time, the result being an issue, in 1895, of the “Western Australia Post Office Directory,” a work of some 400 pages; a small volume for the amount of labour and expense entailed in the compilation. This work like the Colony it so worthily represents, increased annually in bulk until the fourth issue in 1898, when it trebled its size. Simultaneously and in conjunction with the first issue of the Westralian work, the “South Australian Post Office Directory” was commenced and completed; but as these Colonies were too big to be amalgamated in continuous issues of one volume, they have since been dealt with separately. In ten years' time the Messrs. Wise became the publishers of separate directories for all the Australian Colonies, their works now comprising directories of New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales, West Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania, as well as many smaller local works; and so extensive is this territory that an area of over 3,000,000 square miles of country is traversed for information. From Torres Straits in the North of Queensland, to Foveaux Straits in the South of New Zealand, “Wises' Directory” staff is always on the move. The ramifications of the firm are now so great that it says much for the able management that directs and controls a great number of men, all working from different points without any hitch in the machinery. As accuracy in names and figures is a sine qua non, the work of checking and of counter-checking is most carefully supervised at all times. Each of the works mentioned is now issued regularly for each Colony, and a new work in the shape of a “Trades Directory” for all Australasia, to be issued in one volume, has been taken in hand.

Mr. James Horsburgh was born in Edinburgh in 1851, and was apprenticed to the wholesale stationery business in his native city. In 1875, he came out to the Colony of New South Wales to take the management of a large paper mill, and after three and a half years crossed the Tasman Sea to Dunedin and established an extensive bookselling and stationery business, which he carried on at 97 George Street. During his residence in Dunedin Mr. Horsburgh was always ready to assist any movement for the public good of Otago. For six or seven years he was a member of the Mornington borough council, and occupied the mayoral chair for one year. In 1896, he was elected a member of the Dunedin licensing committee, on which he long held a seat; for many years he was chairman of the Mornington school committee, and took a prominent part in promoting the erection of the new school premises in that suburb. Mr. Horsburgh also took a keen interest in the establishment of the Dunedin retailers' association, of which he was a vice-president. Some time ago his business was bought out by Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs Limited, and he is now (1904), a buyer in England for that firm.

Princes And High Streets, Dunedin.

Princes And High Streets, Dunedin.