PROMINENT IN BUSINESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 300, 10 March 1928, Page 12

PROMINENT IN BUSINESS

B. E. HART, 'managing director of Hart Bros., Ltd., is a big man in Auckland commercial and sporting circles. Less than a quarter of a century ago Mr. Hart and his brother opened up a fancy goods shop in Queen Street. To-day he holds the controlling interest in one of Auckland’s leading household emporiums.

The business was a> success right from the start and within a few years had outgrown the original premises to cover three floors near the "Wellesley Street intersection of Queen Street. Drapery and other household necessities had been added to the firm’s activities , while the nucleus of a wide mail order business was established. On February 21 of this year the firm received its first big setback. Mr. Hart was absent at Te Aroha seeing his horse, Schorr, win the hack race, when a disastrous fire destroyed the greater portion of his Queen Street emporium and did considerable damage to the premises. It was then that Mr. Hart’s business acumen was given full play. New premises loere essential to allow the firm to carry on until renovations were completed. Yesterday Mr. Hart finalised negotiations for the purchase of the balance of the stock of Arch. Clark and Sons, valued at £ 50,000, at a discount of over 60 per cent. All the badly damaged stock in the emporium at the time of the fire has been given to the Salvation Army, the slightly damaged and undamaged will be removed to Arch. Clark’s premises, where business on account of Hart Bros, can be expected to commence early next week.

Relaxation from his large and varied business activities is found by Mr. Hart in racing circles, where at the moment his horse, Schorr t is meeting with considerable success.