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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Insurance

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Insurance.

Fire and Marine.

McAllum, Duncan, Insurance Agent and Valuer, District Agent for the United Fire and Marine Insurance Company, and Secretary of the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society, Brougham Street, New Plymouth. Mr. McAllum was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1852, and received his education in his native town. After leaving school he went to sea in vessels owned by his relatives. He made seven trips round the world, and was for some years in a tea clipper, trading to China and Japan. In 1879, he came to New Zealand, and, giving up a seafaring life, went to the West Coast goldfields; but shortly afterwards he removed to New Plymouth, and took up land in the Omata district. For three years he was wharfinger and deputy-harbourmaster, but established himself in his present business in 1888. Mr. McAllum takes a great interest in athletics, and is connected with the local football, cricket, and rowing clubs. He is also a member of the Taranaki Education Board. Mr. McAllum is married, and has six children.

Mr. D. McAllum.

Mr. D. McAllum.

The New Zealand Insurance Company has had a branch in Brougham Street, New Plymouth, since the year 1897, and the present building, which is of wood and iron, was erected in the year 1898. Part of the premises are let to Messrs Weston and Weston, solicitors.

New Zealand Insurance Company's Offices.

New Zealand Insurance Company's Offices.

Mr. John Paton, Manager of the Taranaki branch of the New Zealand Insurance Company, was appointed on the 1st of May, 1900. He joined the company in 1887, in Auckland.

Mr. H. M. Didsbury, formerly Manager of the New Plymouth branch of the New Zealand Insurance Company, was, before he was appointed to New Plymouth, for twelve years in the company's Wellington office, where he gained a wide experience of under writing.

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Life.

The Australian Mutual Provident Society opened its branch in New Plymouth in March, 1905. The district governed from this office is bounded on the north by the Kawhia, on the south by the county of Patea, and stretches eastward as far as the Wanganui river. Formerly, it was a portion of the Wanganui district. The office in Brougham Street contains public and private rooms, and there are three agents regularly canvausing in Taranaki.

Mr. Charles Albert Benbow was appointed District Secretary of the New Plymouth branch of the Australian Mutual Provident Society in 1905. He was born in Birmingham, England, in the year 1870, and is the only son of Mr. C. H. Benbow, for many years manager for the South British Insurance Company in Wellington. Mr. Benbow came to New Zealand with his father in June, 1875, and was educated at Wellington College. After serving seven months in the National Fire Office, in Wellington, he joined the staff of the Australian Mutual Provident Society on the 7th of November, 1887. As a cricketer, Mr. Benbow played in senior matches from 1886 to 1902 in Wellington, and was a member of the teams playing against one of the Australian teams which visited England, Melbourne and New South Wales, and has played also in local representative matches. In March, 1902, Mr. Benbow married a daughter of the late Mr. George Baynes Birch, of Wellington, and has one daughter.