A MERCHANT’S FORTUNE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1922, Page 5

A MERCHANT’S FORTUNE.

WEST COAST PIONEER. The late Mr. Felix Campbell merchant. of Greymouth, -who has left an estate valued at £BOO,OOO, was one of the oldest and best-known of the earl; settlers on the West Coast of the South Island. Mr. Campbell, who died on April 23, at the age of 88, was a. native of County Armagh, Ireland. He emigrated to the Colonies as a young man, going first to Melbourne and J^ er to Invercargill and Dunedin. In 1863 he went to Grevmouth, in which town he made his home for the remainder oi his life He commenced business as a general' carrier, most of the business at that time consisting of the delivery of produce from the sailing ships which came direct from Australia and unloaded on the banks of the Grey River, there being no wharf at that early period of -the settlement. He kept on enlarging his business and everything that he touched seemed to turn to gold. He was a leading spirit in the management of the Dispatch Foundry Company, in which he first became interested in 1870 Mining, brewing and timber interests later claimed his attention—in fact, there were few business undertakings in the Grey district to "’lnch he did not lend the aid of his sound business acumen and judgment He collaborated with the late Mr. Martin Kennedv, of Greymouth, and latei of Mel lington. in many schemes, notably in the Brunner coalmines, and in each case achieved considerable success. Just when the West Coast timber trade outlook was gloomiest he took a hand in it and bv his capital and his personal guidance'did a great deal to stabilise that industry. He was an ex-Mayor of Grevmouth and was twice chairman of the'Grev Harbor Board. He was connected with several semi-public and private organisations and his influence in the town and district was very com siderable. He was a member of the Rom*.i Catholic Church,