Miles Archer & Co building - Views of Timaru and District by Adolf Fischer South Canterbury Museum 3868
Miles Archer and Co brick building on the Terrace - Photography By Roselyn Fauth
D C Turnbull and Co and the old Miles Archer and Co store Timaru South Canterbury Museum 202211019
Francis John Wilson practically rebuilt Timaru after the 1868 fire. He was a South-African born architect who was resident in Timaru for 30 years. During this time, he worked as a hotel proprietor, building contractor, carpenter, architect and was prolific at these trades, building and designing many buildings in Timaru after the fire of 1868. He was also a councilman in 1869.
Unknown Timaru c1880s Hocken Digital Collection
Miles Archer and Co Timaru by Muir and Moodie Te Papa C014369 Section
MilesArcher-Turnbull-23-05-1938-SurveyNoSN86-PhotoNo52
The lifeboat returning to the bay in 2025 going past the historic Miles Archer and Co property. This is very close to the shed that originally housed the lifeboat - photo Geoff Cloake
Page 1012
THE CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW ZEALAND.
DALGETY AND CO., LIMITED: South Canterbury branch, Stafford Street, Timaru; head office, Christchurch. The business of this branch is in charge of Mr. Hugh Lowry, manager and auctioneer. Auction sales are held periodically throughout the district.
NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY, LIMITED: South Canterbury branch (M. White, manager), Stafford Street, Timaru; head office, Wellington. The South Canterbury branch of this company was established in 1875, and conducts business in a two-storey brick building in Stafford Street. The ground floor is occupied by the public and private offices, and the machinery department is at the back. There is also a large grain store, close to the railway siding. Regular auction sales of stock and produce are periodically held throughout the district. The machinery department occupies a large space, and is approached by a passage from Stafford Street. It contains an extensive showroom, with a top-light. There are several large store sheds in the yard which has an entrance from George Street. The branch keeps a large stock of agricultural implements, machinery and plant, and dairy utensils, and represents the Walter A. Wood Company, and many other well known manufacturers.
Mr. MOSES WHITE, Manager of the South Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, is an Irishman, and was born in the North of Ireland. He was educated in Fermanagh, and came to New Zealand in 1869. For a time Mr. White acted as secretary for the Timaru Landing and Shipping Company, under the late Mr. F. Le Cren. When that gentleman started the Timaru branch of the New Zealand Loan Company, in 1875, Mr. White became accountant, and held the position till the 1st of January, 1902, when he took up the duties of manager. Mr. White has always taken an intelligent interest in the development of the district, and was for several years president of the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute. For some years he was churchwarden of St. Mary’s, and has been secretary of the Timaru Bowling Club for some time.
Mr. M. White.
STONYER, H. M., Timaru, for thirteen years travelling representative and expert for the Walter A. Wood machinery, and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, in South Canterbury.
Mr. H. M. Stonyer.
MEE, JOHN, Grain, Wool, Tallow, Coal, and General Produce Merchant. Offices and stores, Strathallan Street, Timaru. This extensive business, so well known in South Canterbury, is conducted on a prominent site adjacent to the railway station and harbour. The premises, consisting of brick stores and offices, extend over an area of three and a-quarter acres, a private railway siding alongside the stores affording facilities for shipping direct into vessels at the wharves. Besides the wool and grain business, a very large trade is done in coal. Mr. Mee imports direct from Newcastle, and has heavy shipments from Westport and other localities in the Colony. He is the Timaru agent for the Springfield Coal and Potteries Company, and represents the Victoria Marine Insurance Company, Liverpool and London and Globe Fire Insurance Company, and acts as agent for Little’s sheep dip. Mr. John Mee ranks almost as an old identity, having arrived in New Zealand in 1863 with his brother, Mr. George Mee, the well-known chemist of Wellington. Soon after his arrival, he joined the old firm of Miles and Co., of Christchurch, and was shortly afterwards appointed to represent them in Timaru, where he resided for over thirty years. On the company (Miles and Co.) going into liquidation, Mr. Mee took over their extensive stores with the wool, grain, and seed business, which he has since carried on upon his own account with marked success. He is well and favourably known to all farmers and business people of South Canterbury district, in which he has so long resided. Mr. Mee is an ardent supporter of all athletic pursuits, and though he is now over sixty years, he is still very active, and, in his leisure hours, dispels the cares of business with tennis, cycling, bowls, and boating.
Mr. J. Mee.
Page 1013
TIMARU.
Mr. J. Mee’s Grain and Produce Stores.
SOUTH CANTERBURY WOOLLEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY (James Lillico, James Crosbie, and John Macrae, proprietors), Arthur and Bank Streets, Timaru. The business was originally established in 1885 by a local Limited Company, who built the commodious mill and commenced manufacturing work. Unfortunately, after a few months, probably in consequence of want of experience, the company went into liquidation, and the mortgagee entered into possession of the mill and plant. For some time the capitalist, into whose hands the mill had fallen, had the mill on his hands; but finally he leased the works to Messrs Atkinson Brothers, who worked the mill for about three years. The property was then idle for about a twelvemonth, and in 1892 it was purchased by the present proprietors in conjunction with three others. The purchasers were all practical men, who thoroughly understood every department of their business. They put the mill into working order, and bent their united energies towards making their work a success. The result has been that since 1894, the mill has been fully [employed] night and day. The land upon which it stands comprises three quarters of an acre of freehold, and the three-storey brick building which contains the main portion of the machinery, occupies the whole frontage of Arthur Street, the entrance being from the corner of Bank Street. There are iron and wood annexes to the building, where the various preliminary processes in connection with woollen manufacture are conducted. The old machinery, which was in the mill when taken over by the proprietors, has all been removed, and the latest and most improved appliances have been imported to take its place. The entire produce of the works is sold to warehouses in New Zealand, and the goods are well known to be of a superior quality. Bannockburn and saddle tweeds, in all varieties, are among the products of the mill, and the proprietors also produce rugs, blankets, shirtings, flannels and hosiery yarns for knitting manufactures. About one hundred hands find regular employment, and the company pays away on an average about £8000 a year in wages. There can be little doubt that the company’s success is due to the
Ferrier, photo.