RETIRING ON PENSION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2207, 21 July 1914, Page 6

RETIRING ON PENSION

MR. R. M. SIMPSON. The general manager in New Zealand for the Phoenix Insurance Conipany, Mr. R. M. Simpson, will retire on pension at the end of the year. Mr. Simpson, who is a well-known figure in Wellington, arrived in New Zealand from Melbourne in 1853, and settled in Auckland, where he was located for some years. He was educated-at Wesley College and at Dr. Kinder's school in Auckland, and began his mercantile career by entering the office of Mr. Strickland, agent for the White Star Line, in the northern city, and from there he joined the staff of Mr. John Robertson, an Auckland merchant. In 1862 he entered the service, of the Bank of Now South Wales, and remained with that institution for five years. Subsequently he was engaged in the sawmilling industry in the West Coast of tho South Island, and after that he was oa the Thames Goldfields for three years. Soon after leaving the Thames he went on a trading voyage to the South Sea Maude, and was appointed accountant for tho Fiji Banking and Commercial Company in Levuka, where ho lived for three years. In 1876 Mr. Simpson returned to Auckland, and enteied the service of the New Zealand Insurance Company. His first duty was to open a branch of'the company's business in Wanganui, and in the following year (April, 1877) he became act-ing-manager of the Wellington branch. He was soon afterwards confirmed in thai appointment, and retained charge here for 15 years, resigning in 1891 to become tho firat general manager of the Phoenix Company in New Zealand.

It is understood that Mr. Herbert G. Smith, Wellington district manager of the company, is to be appointed manager for New Zealand when Mr. Simpson retires. Mr. Smith is a son of Mr. John Smith, ex-Wellingto-n City Councillor, and was born and educated in this city. After leaving school he entered the local office of tho Colonial Insurance Company (since absorbed by the. Commercial Union Assurance Company), under Mr. Frank Allen, and remained'on'the staff years,, resigning the position .23 year's ago to join the Phoenix' Company here.