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

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Mr. John Hislop , who for nearly forty years conducted business as a. watchmaker and jeweller at 74 Princes Street, Dunedin, was a well known colonist. As a man of business he was a credit to his guild, and all the branches of his trade were carried on with enlightened intelligence. The appliances used by him were of the best design and material, and he employed specially qualified persons in connection with cleaning and repairing watches and the manufacture of all kinds of jewellery. It used to be said that Queen Victoria never accepted presents from private individuals. Nevertheless, on the 13th of August, 1886, Mr. Hislop forwarded to her Majesty a scent bottle and paper-knife, together with a letter begging their acceptance. The sequel to this was that, afterwards, Mr. Hislop kept on his shop counter an appropriately framed letter written by Her Majesty's command, and dated the 26th of September, 1886, acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Hislop's letter and thanking him for his very beautiful gifts, for which the Queen expressed great admiration. Mr. Hislop was born in Liverpool in 1832, and served his apprenticeship partly in Scotland and partly in England. He came of a Greenock family, and his uncle, Mr. John Hislop, was a publisher of that place. Mr. Hislop left the Old Country for Australia in 1851 and entered into business at Bendigo, where he continued for most of his time in the sister colony, until attracted by the Otago gold “rush” in 1862, when he settled in Dredin and established his business. He was for several years a member of the North East Valley borough council and also held a seat on the Otago harbour board. As a Freemason he was attached to Lodge Otago Kilwinning, S.C., and had taken the Royal Arch and Knight Templar degrees. Mr. Hislop was married in 1873, and had in all twelve children—six sons and six daughters. He died in his shop, suddenly, on the 19th of October, 1900.