IN DAYS OF OLD

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2461, 14 May 1915, Page 3

IN DAYS OF OLD

VETERAN TRAVELLER'S TALE,

• In tie course of his remarks at the little ceremony given by the directors and staff of E. W. Mills and Co. in honour of the completion of fifty years' service with the firm by Mr E. W. Gibbs on Wednesday evening, the latter gave an interesting review of his connection with the firm. He said that he had often been asked how he and others had stayed so long with the one firm. The secret of that peculiarity lay with the founder of the firm, the late Mr. E. W. Mills, who, among his many good qualities, possessed the great virtue of having confidence in Tiis men, a confidence that in return inspired the best service. This quality, he was pleased to say, had descended to his son, Mr. J. F. Mills, and was also possessed by the manager, Mr. C. A. Briggs. He (Mr. Gibbs) had joined the firm away back in February, 1863, when it occupied a small ironmongers' shop in the bend of Lambton Quay, just above where the City Buffet Hotel stands today. The staff then consisted of three —Mr. E. W. llills, Mr. Geo. Brown (assistant), and the boy—Gibbs. The business' grew until it had to be transferred to larger premises, which were erected on the present site of Levin-and Co.'s building in Customhouse Quay. He (the speaker) often thought of the crisp little business they used to do in that old shop, especially by letter orders from the country, chiefly from the Wairarapa. There were no trains in those days, but a wagon came in once or tivies a. week. Frequently it was the wagoner who brought uhe order, which had to be mado up in' time for him to load up the same day. Whilst they were in this shop Mr. G. M. Snelson arrived from England, and brought with him a consignment of Howard's ploughs and cutlery. Ho was a tkilted ironmonger, and was at once given a position, practically as foreman. Mr. Gibbs> considers that he learnt his business from Mr. Snelson (who was later Mayor of Palmerston North for some yeais). Thereafter the business in agricultural implements and machinery increased, and with its growth other premises had to bo built on the Quay, opposite tho bend of Grey Street, where -he Trocadeio now stands. Among others employed there were the late Messrs. Henry Carpenter and C. E. Zolirab. Opposite where ;fche New Zealand Insurance Company's building now stands was an empty section, known as Thatcher's corner, after its then owner, who was a popular wag and comic singer, and. on that section they used to give demonstrations of the new agricultural implements now in everyday use, but then novelties of the rarest interest. Later 011 they had to find bulk storage in a building on the site now covered by Joseph Nathan and Co.'s building in Foatlierstoii Street, and alst>_ had n bulk store and yard whore Waddell, M'fv.'od, and Weir's timber yard is to-day. E. W. Mills and Co. was the first firm to have a private telephone communication in Wellington. Later lliev had to compete v ith Waring 'laylor, James Dawson, and later .lohn Dutjiio nhd Co., and to-day thev had a Mud' ot 70 bauds, including U#v.