YEARS AGO

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 101, 20 July 1927, Page 10

YEARS AGO

PERSONALITIES AND DEALS AMONG THE EARLY AUCTIONEERS OF AUCKLAND

“ROSTRUM’S” MEMORIES THE SUN has been fortunate in securing the story of some early auctioneers and land and estate agents of Auckland. This is the first article by “Rostrum” (whose association with “The wielders of the hammer” goes back as far as 1872), and it deals with remi niscences of the early auctioneers. In later articles stories will be told of big land deals that have laid the foundation of what we later generation know as the city of Auckland. Freehold property in Grey Street with 10-roomed house. R. C. Carr and Sons at their rooms on July 22: Two houses at Ponsonby. Cottage at Morningside. Section at Papatoetoe. Neville Newcombe, Ltd., at their rooms on July 29: Five sections at Remuera.

Robert C. Carr, of the old-time firm of B. Tonks and Co., whose premises known as “The Brunswick Mart,” stood on the present site of Brunswick Buildings in Queen Street. Although handling New Zealand produce, the firm did a big turnover in various consignments from England, America, the Orient and South Pacific Islands. In conjunction with the business an extensive land and estate agency branch was conducted, one estate sale alone in one day realising £BB,OOO, a record sum for those early days. As an auctioneer, Mr. Carr was short, sharp, but convincing in speech, and always commanded the respect and attention of his large audiences. Mr. D. Dingwall, a recently deceased benefactor of Auckland, was chief accountant to the firm for 20 years. Mr. Carr’s shingle still hangs out in Swanson Street, his son, Mr. F. C. Carr, carrying on as land, estate and general auctioneer. Mr. Robert C. Carr’s first annual licence dates back to the year 1863. James Dacre, who wielded the ham mer for the old-time firm of Sam Cochrane and Son after Mr. Coen pane’s retiring. Their first location was as far as 1 remember in Fort Street on the site of the present Victoria Arcade. Household furniture, furnish ings and effects were this firm’s leading lines, though at times a wander through the mart would give the impression of a small museum. The firm later removed to the present J. R. Robertson’s mart in Queen Street. Here property held an Important part in

their sales. Their first mart manager, Mr. James Stitchbury, is still alive. R. J. Carbines, of the firm of Carbines and Taylor, grain and produce auctioneers. Their mart stood next to the present English and Foreign Piano Company's premises in Queen Street. The firm dissolved partnership after a few years’ trading, Mr. Carbines going into a different line of business. It is of note that in the late “seventies” and early “eighties’ the name of Massey was writ large in this firm’s books as vendors of general farm produce. The name covered the personality of our late Premier, his father and his brother John, who were leading Mangere farmers. Mr. H. O. Nolan, of the firm of Hunter and Nolan, station, farm, and live stock auctioneers. This firm merged with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., of which he still holds the reins. He took up the hammer on the death of his predecessor, James Philson. Charles G. Brookes, of the firm 01 Alfred Buckland and Sons. “Charlie,” as he is popularly known, received his first tuition under Alex "Sandy Aiken, an auctioneer who held forth for a few years first in the old Cit} Markets and later in Queen Street on the site of the present Queen’s PIC' ture Palace. Bluff and heart, in manner, and with a full knowledge of the lines he is offering, he appeals to his big (mostly farmer) audiences as being an ideal auctioneer. His predecessor, if I remember aright, was the late Seagare Buckland.