UPRIGHT IN BUSINESS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2671, 24 August 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

UPRIGHT IN BUSINESS.

It was once pertinently said of the character of ii certain piano-maker, " Ho is like his pianos—square, uprij/hfc, and grand." Mr William Ellis, for many years underwriter of an Euadish insurance company,couldalso lay claims to these adjectives as that flatteringly descriptive of his own character. In all business transactions ho was governed by a delicate sense of honour, which never allowed him to entertain for a moment the temptation to " sharp practice." At a time when a great fire destroyed the town of Momel, several vessels lying in the harbour were burned, and among them .some which had boen issued in Mr. Ellin's company against tho usual risks at sea. The question might thereforo havo arisen if a vessel burned at her moorings could bo said to suffer injury at "sen." Mr. Ellis, without rai.-iiug tho point at all, paid the total loss in every case, and by bis example, obliged other companies to do tho same. When the success of his company becamo firmly established, tho directors offered him a yearly present of ten thousand pounds above his salary, but this he quietly refused, unless all the employes iu tho office should also receive a bonus in proportion to their respective salaries. Everyone beneath him in official rank was treated with uniform justice and kindness, and tho only complaint made of him during his fifty years of service was that ho took no holidays, ho made others ashamed to take them. Ono more instance of his integrity, and perhaps tho bi.-s f , serve* well to show on what principles ho conducted business. A ship-owner, wh » had for many years insured his vessels in his company, ono day called at tho office, and chanced to menfiou that, owing f.o his absence from town his clerk had omitted to reneiv the policy upon a vessel which had since been burned. " Did you intend to offer jne tho renewal ':" asked Mr. Ellis. " Y09," was the reply, and, without a word further, the ship-owner was indemnified for tie total loss of tho vessel.