De Luen, Arthur and Company, Tailors and Costumiers, The Square, Palmerston North. This business was established in Main Street West in the year 1905, and removed in 1907 to the present site. The premises, which are situated in the Square next to the Scott Motor Cycle Company, are well lighted throughout for the display of a large and varied stock of colonial and imported tailoring materials and costume cloths. Style and fit are guaranteed, and the prices charged are very reasonable. Twelve persons are constantly employed in connection with the business.

Mr. Arthur De Luen was born in the year 1873 in Christchurch, was educated at the public schools, and brought up to the tailoring trade. He subsequently went to Australia, worked for a time as a journeyman in Sydney and Melbourne, and then went to South Africa, where he successfully conducted business on his own account for six years. He then returned to New Zealand, and soon after-wards started business on his own account. Mr. De Luen is a member of the Liedertafel Society.

Durward, W. F., and Company, Limited, Drapers, Clothiers, Milliners, and House Furnishers, The Square, Palmerston North. This business was founded in the year 1900 by Messrs. Watchorn and Company, and acquired by the present firm in 1907. The premises stand on the south-east corner of the Square, and consist of a large two-storeyed building, with a frontage of eighty feet, and four plate glass windows. The front portion of the building is divided into several distinct shops, which contain the drapery, clothing, millinery, Manchester, fancy, hosiery, haberdashery, boot and shoe, and furnishing deparements, and at the rear is an office and a very fine showroom. The first floor contains the dressmaking rooms, workrooms, and waiting rooms. Two highly-trained dressmakers are employed, and they are assisted by a staff of thirty-five persons. Messrs. W. F. Durward and Company Limited are direct importers in all departments, keep their stock up-to-date, and retail their goods at most reasonable prices. The staff altogether number about seventy persons. Mr. P. A. McHardy is the chairman of directors, and Mr. W. F. Durward is managing director.

Mr. William Fraser Durward, Managing Director for Messrs. W. F. Durward and Company, Limited, was born in Inverness, Scotland, in the year 1873. He was educated at a Scotch grammar school, and at Barton Private College, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England, and was then apprenticed to the drapery trade at Arbroath in his native country. He was afterwards employed in a soft goods house in Elgin, then went to Durban, in Natal, and, later, accepted an appointment as soft goods traveller for a large drapery establishment in the Transvaal. Five years afterwards he came to New Zealand, and was employed as manager of the gloves and hosiery department in Te Aro House, Wellington, for some years, and in the year 1902 removed to Palmerston North as manager of Mr. C. Smith's local branch. Soon afterwards he was appointed manager of the drapery business conducted by the United Farmers' Co-operative Association, which business was subsequently bought by the above firm. Mr. Durward is vice-president of the Manawatu Kennel Club and a member of the executive. He is married, and has one son.

Mahon, Alfred John, Hatter, Mercer, Clothier, and Tailor, The Square, Palmerston North. This business was established in the year 1905 by the present proprietor, and it has rapidly grown to be one of the finest businesses of its kind in Palmerston North. The premises have a frontage to the Square, and a depth of seventy feet. They are well appointed, and are lighted by five skylights. The shop is fifty-five feet in depth, and has two large plate glass windows, in which the latest goods are tastefully arranged. At the rear are the office and the tailoring department. The shop carries a heavy stock of hats, caps, mercery, clothing, and boots. Mr. Mahon imports direct, and is thus able to supply the best class of goods at the lowest prices. Nine persons are employed in the business. He was born in Auckland in the year 1872, and is a son of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Mahon, for many years drill instructor to the Auckland public schools. He was educated at the Newton East school and the Auckland College and Grammar School, where his brother, Mr. Harold Mahon, B.A., holds the position of assistant master. He was afterwards employed by Messrs. W. H. Fenton and Company, of Queen Street, Auckland, and subsequently removed to Palmerston North as manager of the clothing and mercery department of Messrs. C. M. Ross and Company. This position he held for fifteen years, and in 1905 resigned to start business on his own account. Mr. Mahon is closely identified with the social life of the town, is a member of the committee of the Working Men's Club, a member of the Coursing Club, the Boxing Association, and the Manchester Unity lodge of Oddfellows. He is married, and has one son and one daughter.

The New Zealand Clothing Factory (Hallenstein Brothers, Limited, proprietors), The Square, Palmerston North. The Palmerston North branch of this well-known firm was established in the year 1883. The building has a fine frontage to the main street, and three large plate glass windows are tastefully dressed. The shop carries a well-assorted stock of clothing, mercery, and foot-wear, and four persons are employed.

Mr. William Stewart Lochart Dickson, Manager of the Palmerston North branch of the New Zealand Clothing Factory, was born in the year 1880 in Wanganui. He was educated at Richmond, Christ-church, and at the High School, Masterton, and afterwards joined the Christchurch staff of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, where he gained a thorough experience in all departments. He was then successively employed by the Bradford Woollen Company, in Wellington, and the New Zealand Clothing Factory, in Christchurch. Mr. Dickson was afterwards appointed to his present position in Palmerston North.

Bunting, photo.
Mr. W. S. Dickson.