SUCCESSFUL MEN OF BUSINESS.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 124, 27 January 1883, Page 310

SUCCESSFUL MEN OF BUSINESS.

Mb. Henry IST. Abbott. We give a cartoon this -week of Mr Henry Natahiel Abbott, the popular host of the United Service Hotel, and the enterprising proprietor of the Wellesley-street Opera House, better known as Abbott's Opera House. Mr Abbott was born in the picturesque town o£ Alford, in Lincolnshire, and on leaving school he was apprenticed to a chemist and druggist. After serving his time, finding pharmacy not to his taste, he migratod to Victoria, landing in Melbourne in 1855, where he commenced business as coach proprietor, running conveyances between Melbourne and those now delightful bathing resorts of the Victorian public — St. Kilda and Brighton. Finding, however, his energies confined in the humdrum life of a coach proprietor, he sold out the business, and went to the OTens goldfields, from whence, after a short stay, he proceeded to New Zealand, landing at Otago in 1862, and making his way to Huntloj and Emily's rush on the Molyneaux Eiver, where he started storekeeping, being the pioneer storekeeper in the West Coast goldfields, doing a very large and profitable business, and establishing stores at all the principal rushes on the Coast. In 1567, MiAbbott paid a visit to the Old Country, returning to New Zealand in 1868, and proceeding to the Thames goldfields, whore ho built the Exchange Hotel. Subsequently he came to this city and purchased the lease of the Waitemata Hotel, afterwards becoming the lessee of the City Club, and eventually tho subject of this sketch became the proprietor of the United Service Hotel, and his regime in that establishment has made it one of the best bar-paying hotels in Auckland. In 1882, Mr Abbott, with an enterprise worthy of so good a citizen, built the splendid building known as Abbott's Opera House, adjoining the hotel, which, for elegance of design and finish of the interior, acoustic properties, ventilation, lighting, and arrangements for the comfort of visitors, cannot be surpassed in this or the Australian Colonies.