DEATH OF MR W. STRANGE

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 248, 23 November 1914, Page 6

DEATH OF MR W. STRANGE

A PIONEER BUSINESS MAN.

FOUNDER OF W. STRANGE & CO,

Mr William Strange, one of the bestknown figures in the commercial life of Christehurch, died on Saturday evening. The late Mr Strange was one of the city's pioneer business men, having founded the extensive soft-goods firm of Strange & Co. in the early 'sixties. His start was a very modest one, but. as the years passed by, he succeeded, by the exercise of marked commercial ability and enterprise, in increasing his business until to-day it is one of the greatest in the Dominion. The late Mr Strange was widely-known in the commercial world as a man of un-

doubted integrity, and as such he was respected by, all with whom he ever had any dealings. He did not take a prominent part in public life, but there lire hundreds who have cause to revere his memory for acts of, quiet charity, and there was never any genuine appeal to the public for the. assistance of the unfortunate which did not meet with a ready response from him. • - .

v. Mr: Strange was a native of Brackley, >1 iin Northamptonshire, gained: his -first jexperienec of the drapery, business at the age of 12 years, when he- enfrerexl into apj prenticeship " ; at "' Oxfordshire, i Life in a provincial town, however, was too quiet, and when news of the discovery of gold in Australia reached England in 1851, his adventurous spirit prompted him to leave for the' El Dorado. He arrived in Sydney on February 20, 1852, being, s.t that time 18 of age. After a couple of unsuccessful ventures on New-South Wales gbldfields, he' returned; to his -trade in Sydney. - Still hie'could not settle: down, and made two other attempts at amassing, a fortune on *the fields, first in Victoria, and then in Queensland. Still unsuccessful, he wisely decided to devote himself tb business, so he returned to Sydney, v and. took employment in the. firm of 1 Farmed Williams, and Giles. A: few years latei\ •Mr Giles opened a business of his owny ] ainfr Mr' ; Stranjge. became 1 manager. After about four years in this position he left for New Zealand, arriving; in Christchurch in 1863: On November 25 of that year, almost exactly 51 years ago, he ; opened" up business in small premises standing on a portion of the site of the present huge building of Strange & Co. In 1882 Mi- Strange ventured upbii 'slieep farming, and acquired two valuable properties, one at' Selwyn..-and the other at Ashburton. For years, he sold .all his wool to the • Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, and'much -of it found its way; back to his;'sliop in the manufactured state. In 1891 Mr Thomas Coverdale was appointed manager Of Mr Strange's business, and their asso--. ciation eventually developed into a partnership: When Mr Coverdale retired in 1907, Mr Strange acquired the whole of. his interest in the company, and at. the time of hi si death \yas practically sole pror pvietor !of the business. He leaves five daughters and one son, his wife having pre-deceased him by four years. The funeral is being, held this afternoon. The premises of Strange. & Co; have been dosed ail day.