A PROGRESSIVE FIRM

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 52, 11 February 1902, Page 4

A PROGRESSIVE FIRM

There ;are few;' farmers and fruit growers in New Zen lan l (and also the Australian Commonwealth) who have not heard of the well-known - firm pf Nimmo and Blair, seed merchants and growers, of Dunedin. The concern was founded in 1876 by Messrs Robert Niriimo and John Blair, who succeeded in building up a business of great maguitude. ' Theii present premises have a frontage of TOB feet to the Triangle arid 186 feet to Dowling ‘street, Duhedin. . The partners are Messrs J. Shiel, G. W. Gibson (whoacquired Mr Blair’s interest in 1895) and J. H. Nimmo, son of one of the original founders, who died in 1891. The trio are keen,'enterprising business men, always ready to increase the already large connection of the firm, and ' sparing neither time nor.* money to secure for their clients the latest and best qualities of farmers requisites from English, American and Continental specialists. The staff employed is a large one, and Messrs Nimmo and Blair have seed growing contracts with farmers in Canterbury, Mar : l borough, Otago, Nelson and elsewhere. To keep in touch With these growers, the firm arranges with its travellers to periodically call upon the growers and also their clients, and by this means the representatives are not only able to ascertain their requirements, but also by personal observation make themselves acquaint-' ed with the capabilif es of the various districts.

In pursuhn.ee of the plan mapped out. Mr G. A. Skene. who has been associated with the firm-for-a number of years, has spent a f ortnight in Motu - e ia, Riwaka, Ngatimoti, Pangatotara, and the Moutere. his object being to introduce the special fkuit manures sold by Messrs Nimmo and Blair, and also to bring under the notice of orchard's a new patent blight and insect killer-” called “Montnik,” for which they are the sold New Zealand wholesale and retail agents. The specifie has been tlior ughly and exhaustively tested in the fru't growing localities of Otago and Southland, and after perusing test im nids .fr m rel : able growers who have applie 1 it according to instructions, the conclusion arrived at is that the preparation does what is c’aimed for it ; moreover, the fact that such a firm ! as. Nimmo and Blair has accepted the agency is ample guarantee of its genuineness. Mr Skene has madt a thorough canvass of this territory, on behalf of his firm, with most satisfactory results. In conversation with him the other evening, he expressed himself deeply iin pressed with the capabilities of this portion of the Nelson province for the culture of large and small fruits; also with the appearance of the orchards, which aie in an excellent state of cultivation, the- young trees being free from blight, which was more in evidence in the old plantations. The district, Mr Skene says (and he speaks authoritatively, having visited all parts of the colony), has hitherto been practically unknown to the people through lack of publicity, but he predicts a prosperous future for the settlers. Let us hope so.